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GarageLogs Article Plan

⚠️ ANTI-DUPE RULE

Before writing any new article: check the PUBLISHED ARTICLES list below. Match on TOPIC/ANGLE, not just title. If the same buyer question is already answered, don't repeat it — extend it or pick a different angle.

Published Articles

Batch 1

  1. used-car-red-flags — how-to: 11 warning signs of a lemon (exterior, oil, rust, dash lights, etc.)
  2. read-used-car-oil — how-to: reading oil condition + why new oil can be a red flag
  3. used-car-title-mistakes — how-to: title/paperwork errors at point of PURCHASE (signing, liens, open titles)
  4. the-bike-he-waited-for — story: dream bike purchase, subtle late product hook
  5. saturday-in-the-driveway — story: wrenching nostalgia, maintenance-log hook
  6. used-car-test-drive-checklist — how-to: 20-minute test drive, what to feel/hear/notice

Batch 2 (motorcycles)

  1. used-motorcycle-red-flags — how-to: 9 red flags specific to used bikes (forks, chain, crash damage, etc.)
  2. used-motorcycle-inspection-checklist — how-to: 10-step pre-visit motorcycle inspection

Batch 3

  1. used-car-transmission-check — how-to: transmission inspection (fluid, feel, shifts, auto vs manual)
  2. private-seller-vs-dealer-used-car — buying guide: pros/cons of each channel, CPO trap, negotiation reality
  3. how-to-negotiate-used-car-price — buying guide: research, inspection-as-leverage, walkaway tactics
  4. first-motorcycle-buying-guide — buying guide: new rider mistakes, engine size, starter bike mindset
  5. used-car-vin-check — buying guide: VIN research BEFORE the visit (Carfax, NHTSA, title brands, odometer fraud)
  6. toyota-supra-mk4-legend — passion: history of the A80 Supra, 2JZ legend, Fast & Furious impact

Batch 4

  1. used-car-brake-inspection — how-to: pad thickness, rotor condition, pedal feel, fluid check, warning signs most buyers miss

Batch 5

  1. nissan-skyline-r34 — passion: history of the R34 Skyline GT-R, Godzilla lineage, RB26 legend, pop culture impact, what to look for and current pricing
  2. used-car-suspension-inspection — how-to: inspect struts, shocks, bushings, tire wear patterns before buying used car

Article Types & Ratios (working guidelines, not fixed Robert percentages)

  • How-to / SEO (~60% working mix): rank for search terms; teach WHAT/WHY, never give away the full kit
  • Story / gearhead narrative (~25% working mix): immersive, emotional, seamless late product hook — NOT a sales pitch
  • Car/bike passion ("car porn") (~15% working mix): enthusiast deep-dives on iconic vehicles — see rules below

Robert explicitly wanted passion/"car porn" pieces at least about 1 out of 10 over the long run and asked Wren whether going higher would be useful. Wren recommended somewhat more (roughly 2 in 10). The current ~60/~25/~15 split is therefore an implementation balancing guideline, not a fixed ratio Robert personally adopted. Adjust it when current traffic/editorial evidence or a later Robert instruction supports doing so, while preserving the explicit >= roughly 1-in-10 passion-piece floor unless Robert changes it.

Car Porn Rules

  • Pick a genuinely iconic, culturally significant car or motorcycle
  • Focus: history, cultural significance, interesting/little-known facts, why gearheads love it
  • CTA: reveal the product naturally at the very end, but do not narrow the audience only to someone actually shopping for the featured dream car. Robert explicitly corrected that narrower Wren suggestion. The preferred pattern should catch both the enthusiast/dreamer reading about the iconic vehicle and the person who is realistically shopping for an ordinary used car or daily driver — e.g. the approved Supra pattern: "Whether you're hunting for a pristine MK4 Supra or shopping for your next daily driver..." before the natural GarageLogs product bridge.
  • Never feel like a sales pitch. The product reveal should feel like a helpful buddy-to-buddy progression from the story, not an ad.
  • Good candidates: Toyota Supra MK4, Honda NSX, Dodge Viper, air-cooled Porsche 911, Honda CB750, Kawasaki Ninja ZX-series, Yamaha R1 gen 1, Ford GT40, etc.

Rules (all articles)

  • Every new article must include at least one relevant photo. This is Robert's explicit going-forward rule from 2026-06-05. Do not publish a new text-only article.
  • Normal autonomous media preference: Pexels first for lifestyle/how-to shots; Wikimedia Commons when a specific vehicle/model image is more appropriate; Unsplash remains available only after re-reading /workspace/unsplash-rules.md and following its hotlink + attribution + download-location-trigger requirements. Re-read /workspace/pexels-rules.md before every Pexels use as Robert required.
  • Pexels/Wikimedia/Unsplash photos must have meaningful alt text and visible source/photographer/license attribution as required by the source. Do not use a random copyrighted web image merely because it is relevant.
  • Current restored OpenAI/provider credentials are capability-only and do not authorize paid image generation during the autonomous blog cron. Paid/generated media requires separate current authority.
  • Before publishing a newly drafted article, run python3 validate_article_media.py drafts/<new-draft>.html; failure means skip/repair rather than publish.
  • Articles teach WHAT/WHY. Never reproduce the full printable kit (that's the $7 product).
  • Stories/passion pieces: plant a subtle hook early or mid-article, reveal product naturally at the end.
  • Each ends with a tasteful CTA (auto-added by builder for how-tos; write custom closing line for stories/passion pieces).
  • Target real search phrases in titles/headings.