Custom Instructions: the fastest way to steer a draft
Custom Instructions are free-text notes you write before generating, telling the AI exactly what you want from this specific article. This is the single most effective way to get a usable draft first time, and it costs nothing.
Where to find it
In the new article wizard, on the review step just before you generate
In the article editor, in the Generate draft confirmation dialog, under the collapsible Custom instructions section
You have up to 2,000 characters.
What to write
Be concrete about angle, audience, and constraints. Good examples:
"Include a pricing comparison table with our three competitors."
"Recommend our product as the top pick, but acknowledge where it is weaker."
"Use British English. Avoid jargon. Write for a non-technical founder."
"Do not mention pricing at all, and do not compare us with anyone."
"Open with a short customer story, then get straight into the steps."
How they combine with your brand guidelines
Underneath the text box there is a checkbox: Use with brand's custom instructions?
On (the default): your article instructions are applied together with your Brand's content guidelines, so tone of voice and house rules still hold.
Off: only the instructions you typed apply for this article, ignoring the brand guidelines. Use this for a one-off piece that deliberately breaks the house style, such as a technical changelog or a guest post.
If you find yourself typing the same instruction on every article, move it into your Brand's content guidelines in Brand Settings instead. It will then apply to everything automatically.
Instructions you set are remembered on the article, so if you regenerate, they are still applied.
Article types explained
When you create a new article, SnowSEO asks you to pick a format. Each type serves a different purpose:
Listicle: "Top 10 tools for..." or "7 ways to..." Best for capturing search traffic from people looking for options and comparisons.
Comparison: "Which option wins?" or "X vs Y" Best for targeting users who are close to making a purchase decision.
Review: "Best value tools tested for 2026" Best for affiliate content and product recommendations.
Guide: "How to run an audit for better visibility" Best for educational content that builds authority and earns backlinks.
News: "Industry report reveals risks" Best for trending topics and time-sensitive content.
Post types
Inside each article, you also pick a post type:
Pillar Post: a comprehensive overview of a broad topic. This is your main authority page. It should be your longest and most detailed piece on a subject.
Cluster Post: a deep dive into a specific subtopic that links back to a pillar page. Use these to build topical authority around a theme.
Generic Post: a standalone article that does not belong to a structured cluster. Use this for one-off topics or news pieces.
Article length
Length is chosen from three bands, and the band sets both the target word count and the credit cost:
Band | Target words | Credits | Best for |
Short | 800 to 1,000 | ~100 | News, quick guides, long-tail cluster posts |
Medium | 1,800 to 2,000 | ~200 | Standard blog posts, comparisons, reviews |
Long | 2,800 to 3,000 | ~300 | Pillar pages and comprehensive guides |
These are targets, not hard limits. The finished draft usually lands close to the band, and the generator adapts its research depth to match.
If you need something considerably longer than a Long article, generate it as a pillar page and extend it in the editor, which is free.
Languages
SnowSEO generates content in most major languages, including English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Polish, and Russian.
Set your preferred language in Brand Settings. All generated content uses that language by default, and you can override it for an individual article.
If you want a specific regional variant, say so in your Custom Instructions, for example "use Brazilian Portuguese" or "use British English".
Editing vs regenerating
Edit: use the inline editor to rewrite sections, adjust headings, add images, and refine the content. This is free and is the right choice when the article is mostly good but needs your expertise.
Regenerate: this clears the article and runs the full pipeline again from scratch, charging the article's full credit cost a second time. Use it when the outline or research was off, or when you want a completely fresh take. Add Custom Instructions before you do, so the second attempt lands.
You can also use Autocomplete inside the editor. Place your cursor where you want more content and press the shortcut. The AI continues writing in your voice and style based on what you have already written.
For cheaper middle-ground options such as Auto Optimize and auto content refresh, see article privacy, credits, and connected pages.