Cornerstone Content

on-page intermediate

Definition

Foundational articles or pages that cover a topic comprehensively and serve as reference points in the site architecture.

Cornerstone content (pillar content) refers to the most important and comprehensive pages on a site, covering a topic exhaustively. These pages serve as central hubs in the site architecture, receiving numerous internal links from more specific articles. Cornerstone content is typically long (2,000+ words), very thorough, regularly updated, and targets the site's most competitive keywords. It forms the core of a siloing and internal linking strategy.

Pillar content Foundation content Core content

Key Points

  • The most important and comprehensive pages on the site
  • Central hub in the internal linking architecture
  • Typically long (2,000+ words), targeting the most competitive keywords

Practical Examples

Link building pillar page

A 5,000-word page titled 'Complete Guide to Link Building' covers all aspects (definition, techniques, tools, mistakes) and receives internal links from 20 more specific articles.

Thematic hub

A 'Technical SEO: Complete Guide' page serves as a central hub linking to detailed articles on Core Web Vitals, HTTPS migration, crawl budget, etc.

Frequently Asked Questions

Ideally 5 to 10 for a medium-sized site, one per main topic. Each cornerstone piece should be the best possible content on its subject and serve as a hub for related articles.

Evergreen content remains relevant over time. Cornerstone content is the most strategically important. Content can be both: a comprehensive, timeless guide that serves as a central hub is both cornerstone and evergreen.

Go Further with LemmiLink

Discover how LemmiLink can help you put these SEO concepts into practice.

Last updated: 2026-02-07