# Smart Writer – User Guide | Agility Writer Help

> Let’s be honest – over time, we added a LOT of features to Agility Writer. Advanced Mode, Optimize Mode, Product Roundup writer, Website Page writer…

URL: https://agilitywriter.ai/help/smart-writer-user-guide/
Last-Modified: 2026-03-04
Author: Adam Yong

## **Why We Built Smart Writer**

### **We Heard You: Too Many Options**

Let’s be honest – over time, we added a LOT of features to Agility Writer. Advanced Mode, Optimize Mode, Product Roundup writer, Website Page writer, YouTube to Article, and a dozen settings. Each feature solved a real need, but we created a new problem: too many choices.New users would see our menu and think: “Where do I even start? Which mode should I use? What’s the difference?”We heard this feedback constantly:

-   “I love the tool, but there are too many options”
-   “I just want to write a good article without becoming an expert”
-   “Which settings actually matter?”

### **Our Solution: Best Practices Built In**

Smart Writer

3 simple steps

### **Who Is This For?**

-   **New Users**\*\*:\*\* Get started immediately without learning 15 different settings first
-   **Agencies**\*\*:\*\* Produce consistent articles quickly – same quality, less setup time
-   **Local Businesses**\*\*:\*\* Create service pages without needing to understand technical options
-   **Anyone Who Just Wants to Write**\*\*:\*\* Skip the configuration and focus on your content

### **What About the existing Writing Modes?**

Nothing changes for power users. If you prefer Advanced/Optimize Mode and want to tweak every setting manually, it’s still there – exactly as before.Smart Writer is an additional option, not a replacement.

The same writing engine powers everything. Smart Writer just pre-configures the settings that work best.

## **How Smart Writer Works**

| Step | What You Do | Time Required |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1. Configuration | Enter your topic and select article type | ~30 seconds |
| 2. Outline Review | Review and optionally edit the AI-generated outline | ~1-2 minutes |
| 3. Final Settings | Choose image preferences and confirm cost | ~30 seconds |

Total time to submit: Less than 3 minutes

## **Getting Started: Dashboard Entry Point**

![](/images/help/Smart-Writer-1.jpg)

You can access Smart Writer from two places:

1.  Dashboard Hero Section – The purple banner with “What would you like to write today?” lets you enter your topic and click “Start Writing”
2.  Navigation Menu – Click the prominent “Smart Writer” button in the top menu

When you enter a topic from the Dashboard and click “Start Writing”, it will pre-fill the Article Title field in Smart Writer.

### **Step 1: Configuration**

![](/images/help/Smart-Writer-1-1.jpg)

**Header Section**At the top of the page, you’ll see:

-   **Project Selector** – Choose a project to auto-populate settings
-   **Credits Remaining** – Your current credit balance
-   **Learn More Link** – Access help documentation

💡 Pro Tip: Use Projects for One-Click SetupIf you’ve already configured a Project in Settings, simply select it from the dropdown and Smart Writer will automatically populate:

-   Region & Language
-   Writing Style & Readability
-   Point of View
-   Business Name & Background (for Local Service articles)
-   Negative Terms

This saves significant time when creating multiple articles for the same client or business!

**Choosing Your Article Type**

The wizard presents 4 main article type cards plus additional options:

| Type | Best For |
| --- | --- |
| Blog Post | General informational content, how-to guides |
| Listicle / Top X | Improve AI Visibility, “10 X to…” articles |
| Product Roundup | “Best X Products” comparison lists |
| Local Service/Webpage | Local business pages, service descriptions |

Dropdown “More Types”:

-   Competitors Alternatives – “X Alternatives” content
-   Press Release – Official announcements
-   News – Timely news articles
-   Single Product Review – In-depth product analysis
-   Side-by-Side VS Comparison – “X vs Y”, direct product comparisons
-   Glossary – Term definitions and explanations

**Step-by-Step: Creating a Blog Post**

1.  Select “Blog Post” by clicking the card (highlighted with blue border when selected)
2.  Enter Your Article Title

-   Type your desired title, or
-   Click “Get an Article Title” to get AI-generated SEO-optimized suggestions

3.  Configure Region & Language

-   Region: Select your target country for SERP analysis
-   Output Language: Choose your content language (English works best)

4.  Add Keywords (Optional)

-   Enter related keywords, one per line
-   Character limit: 2,500 characters
-   Counter shows: “0/2500”

5.  Click “Create Outline” button.

## **Local Service/Webpage: Business Information**

![](/images/help/Smart-Writer-2.jpg)

| Field | Required | Example |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Business Name | Yes | “Speedy Plumbing” |
| Type of Business | Yes | “Plumber in Melbourne” |
| Business Website URL | No | https://example.com |
| Business Background | Yes | Services, history, unique selling points |

**Pro Tip:** Click “Fetch Info” next to the website URL to automatically pull information from your website!

The Business Background field has a 15,000 character limit with a counter.

Loading Screen

![](/images/help/smart-writer-4.png)

After clicking “Create Outline”, you’ll see:

-   A loading spinner
-   Message: “Analyzing competitors and generating outlines…”
-   Timer display showing elapsed time (typically 30-90 seconds)

The AI is:

1.  Analyzing top-ranking competitors for your topic
2.  Identifying content gaps and opportunities
3.  Generating 3 optimized outline structure

### **Step 2: Outline Review**

![](/images/help/Outline-review.png)

**The Outline Interface**Once generation completes, you’ll see:

1.  Progress Indicator – Shows Step 2 (Outline Review) is active
2.  Outline Label with Help – Click the “?” icon for formatting tips
3.  Outline Selection Radio Buttons

-   #1, #2, #3 – Click to switch between generated options
-   Each option has a different structure optimized for your topic

4.  Outline Editor (Textarea)

-   Large editable text area showing the selected outline
-   Monospace font for clear structure visualization
-   No text wrapping (scroll horizontally for long lines)

5.  Regenerate Outline Button

-   Click if none of the 3 options fit your needs
-   Generates 3 fresh outlines

6.  Word Count Estimate Box

-   Shows: “📊 Estimated: ~3,135 words”
-   Shows: “Lines used: 32/60”

**Outline Format Guide**1\. Introduction

2.  Main Heading (H2) – Sub-heading (H3) – Sub-heading (H3) 3. Another Main Heading – Sub-point 4. Main Section … 12. Conclusion

**Rules:**

-   Lines starting with numbers become H2 headings
-   Lines starting with – become H3 sub-headings
-   Maximum 60 lines recommended
-   Always include Introduction and Conclusion

Outline Settings (Expandable Section)

![](/images/help/smart-writer-5.png)

| Setting | Options | Default | Purpose |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Article Length | Auto, Auto – More H2, 750-5,000+ words | Auto | Control output length |
| AI Friendly Outline | Checkbox | Off | Off Optimize for LLM/AI visibility |
| Let AI auto improve content gaps | Checkbox | On | Allow AI to enhance outline |

**Note:** When “Let AI auto improve” is checked, the AI Model defaults to GPT-5.2 (DeepPolish+) in Step 3.

**Navigation**

-   ← Back – Return to Step 1 to modify configuration
-   Next: Final Settings → – Proceed to Step 3

### **Step 3: Final Settings**

![](/images/help/smart-writer-6.png)

**Header Display**The heading shows: “Final Settings (Blog Post)” – confirming your selected article type.

**AI Images Selection**Choose your image preference from 4 options:

| Option | Cost | Images | Quality |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| None | Free | Dolor | – |
| Up to 2 (Free) | Free | 2 | Standard |
| 3 Smart Visual | + 1 credit | 3 | Premium |
| 7 Smart Visual | + 2 credits | 7 | Premium |

Image Customization (Expandable)

| Setting | Option | Default |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Image Style | Photo, Photo (Raw), Cinematic, Creative Photo, Anime, Comic Book, Flat Design | Photo |
| Size | Landscape 16:9, Landscape 3:2, Portrait 9:16, Square… | Landscape 3:2 |
| Alt Tag | None, Short, Long, Short + Keyword, Long + Keyword | Short |
| Ethnicity | Any, Black, Caucasian, East Asian, South Asian, Hispanic | Any |
| Reference Images | Up to 3 images | None |

Advanced Settings (Expandable)

![](/images/help/smart-writer-7.png)

| Settings | Options | Default |
| --- | --- | --- |
| AI Model | Standard: GPT-4o-mini, ⭐ GPT-5.2 (DeepPolish+), ⭐ Gemini 3.0 Pro | Depends on article type |
| Writing Style | Default, Auto from SERP, Authoritative + Conversational, Humanize, Health, Local Biz, News, SEO, Narrative | Depends on article type |
| Readability | 5th-16th+ grade levels | 7th grade |
| Point of View | Auto, First Person (I/We), Second Person, Third Person | Auto |
| Negative Terms | Checkbox + text area | Enabled with defaults |

**Why These Defaults?** These aren’t random choices. GPT-5.2 with DeepPolish+ produces the most polished output. “Humanize” writing style reduces AI-sounding patterns. 7th grade readability ensures broad accessibility. These settings consistently produce high-performing articles.

**Estimated Cost Box**The “Estimated Cost Box” provides a clear breakdown of the total cost in credits, starting with a Base cost of 2 credits, adding 0 extra credits for the AI Model and 1 extra credit for AI Images, resulting in a Total cost of 3 credits.

**Submit Your Article**Click “Add to Writing Queue” (green button) to submit.

**Success:** A modal appears with options:

-   **Write Another** – Start a new article
-   **View Queue** – Go to History to monitor progress

### **Special Article Types**

Product Roundup & Competitors AlternativesThese types require product validation:

1.  Product List Section appears in Step 2 Enter products in format: Product Name | 
    
    https://product-url.com
    
    [https://product-url.com →](https://product-url.com)
    
     Another Product | Auto
2.  Counter shows: “Added products: 3/15”
3.  Click “Validate Products” before proceeding
4.  Fixed AI Model: Full GPT 4-o (cannot change)
5.  Base Cost: 4 credits

**Press Release & News**Simplified workflow:

-   No outline generation (textarea disabled with message)
-   No Outline Settings section
-   No word count estimate
-   Fixed AI Model: Claude 4 Sonnet
-   Images: Only “None” and “Up to 2 (Free)” options
-   Base Cost: 1 credit
-   Next button: Always enabled (no outline validation)

## **Tips for Best Results**

**Before You Start**

1.  Set Up Projects First: Go to Settings → Projects and configure your business info, preferred region, language, and writing style. When you select this project in Smart Writer, all settings auto-populate instantly.
2.  Research Your Topic: Have a clear angle before starting
3.  Know Your Audience: Consider who will read your content

**During Configuration**

1.  **Be Specific with Titles:**

-   ✅ “How to Choose the Right Coffee Machine for Your Kitchen”
-   ❌ “Coffee Machines”

2.  **Use Keywords Strategically:** Add terms you want the AI to incorporate
3.  **Match Article Type to Goal:** Each type has optimized defaults

**During Outline Review**

1.  **Review All 3 Options:** Often #2 or #3 has better structure
2.  **Edit Sparingly:** AI structure is based on competitor analysis
3.  **Add Unique Angles:** Insert headings competitors missed

**Final Settings**

1.  **Trust the Defaults:** Based on thousands of successful articles
2.  **Use Reference Images:** For brand consistency
3.  **Verify Credits:** Check balance before submitting

## Frequently Asked Questions

\*\*Q: How long does outline generation take?\*\*A: Usually 30-90 seconds. The timer shows elapsed time during loading.

Q: Can I edit the article after generation?A: Yes! All articles are fully editable in the History section.

\*\*Q: What if I need more control?\*\*A: Use Advanced Mode (Write menu → Advanced Mode) for 50+ customization options.

\*\*Q: Why does Product Roundup cost more?\*\*A: These articles require additional product research and comparison structure.

\*\*Q: Can I use any language?\*\*A: English variants work best. Other languages are in beta.

\*\*Q: What’s the difference between Smart Writer and Advanced Mode?\*\*A: Same writing engine, different approach. Smart Writer pre-configures settings based on what works best, you make 2-3 decisions. Advanced Mode shows you everything and lets you customize 30+ parameters. Choose based on how much control you want.

\*\*Q: How do I get AI title suggestions?\*\*A: Click “Get an Article Title” – it analyzes SERP data for SEO-optimized suggestions.

\*\*Q: Will my settings be saved?\*\*A: Yes! Region, language, and preferences persist across sessions.

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