> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.topify.ai/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Generating content

> The Optimization > Actions form (prompt, keywords, references, file uploads, word count) and the research → draft → GEO-optimize pipeline that produces a finished article.

This page covers the article-generation workflow under **Optimization > Actions**: the inputs you supply (prompt, optional keywords, reference links, files, word count) and the asynchronous pipeline that turns them into a draft with SEO metadata and images.

## Creating an article

Navigate to **Optimization > Actions** and fill in the content configuration form.

### Required input

* **Prompt** -- describe the article topic and any specific instructions (1--1,000 characters)

### Optional inputs

* **Keywords** -- up to 10 target keywords the article should incorporate
* **Reference links** -- up to 5 URLs that the article should draw information from
* **File uploads** -- reference documents in PDF, DOCX, CSV, or XLSX format
* **Word count** -- minimum and maximum word count targets (100--10,000)

<Tip>
  Providing keywords and reference links produces more targeted, higher-quality articles. The more context you give, the better the output.
</Tip>

## How generation works

After you submit, Topify runs a multi-step pipeline in the background: **research → reference extraction → file processing → outline → drafting → GEO optimization → image generation → HTML conversion**. The pipeline runs asynchronously; you can check progress from the generation history table.

For a step-by-step walkthrough including the research dossier, outline approval, and publish flow, see [Tutorial: Generate articles](/tutorials/generate-articles).

## Generation history

The history table lists all your generated articles with:

* **Title** -- article title
* **Status** -- pending, processing, completed, or failed
* **Data sources** -- what inputs were used (web search, reference links, uploaded files)
* **Created date**

Click on any article to view its full output.

## Article output

A completed article includes:

* **Content** -- full article in Markdown format
* **SEO metadata** -- optimized title, meta description, and URL slug
* **Keywords** -- target keywords used in the article
* **Featured images** -- generated images (when available)

## Editing and publishing

After generation, you can:

* **Edit** the article content, title, slug, and SEO fields directly in the platform
* **Change status** between draft, published, and archived
* **Regenerate images** if you want different featured images

## Plan limits

Each article consumes one generation credit. See [Billing and plans](/platform/billing-and-plans) for credit allowances and how unused credits accumulate.

## FAQ

### Does a failed generation use a credit?

No. Credits are consumed only when an article completes successfully. If any step in the pipeline fails, you can retry the same task at no cost.

### What types of content can Topify generate?

Long-form articles optimized for AI visibility using proven GEO techniques — blog posts, thought leadership articles, comparison pieces, and educational guides. Each one incorporates citations, statistics, and authoritative language designed to maximize the chance AI providers will quote it.

### How does AI-optimized content differ from traditional SEO content?

Traditional SEO content optimizes for keyword density, backlinks, and meta tags so it ranks in Google's blue links. AI-optimized (GEO) content optimizes for being **quoted by an AI assistant**: clear factual statements, named statistics, source citations, and an authoritative tone that AI models are willing to surface in their answers.