# Linkio's article system

What runs when Linkio writes the article, what it costs, how long it takes, and how you follow it.

## What runs

Linkio's article system writes a guest post for one placement and puts it in a Google Doc. It runs these steps in
order: `topic-generation`, `article-draft`, `content-audit`, `fact-checking`, `final-polish`, `formatting-qa`,
`internal-links`, `client-mention`, `client-link`, `images` and `url-suggestion`. One article takes 15-30 minutes.

## Before you start

- The placement needs a target page and anchor text. `article_gen_readiness` says whether an order's sites can
  start writing, and names the blocker when one cannot. It is free.
- The topic comes first. An agent picks it with you one site at a time: keywords the site can rank for that fit
  your target page, then a title you confirm.

## Start and follow it

- In the app: in the order, select **Start Article** on the row of the site. The row then shows the article's
  status.
- Start: `article_gen_start`. It holds its estimate first; `usage_estimate` with the feature `article` shows the
  hold before you start.
- Follow: `article_gen_status` reports each run: running, paused, completed or failed, the current step and the
  percent done.
- Read the result: `workflow_read` gives the article link (`googleDocUrl`) and each step's status.

## What it costs

Linkio charges 3c per completed step plus 2c when the article completes. On your own OpenAI key the provider
bills you at cost. On Linkio's key the same fees apply, plus the provider cost plus 20%. Articles are the most
expensive step of a placement.

## Before you send it

Run `workflow_verify_doc` on the Google Doc. It checks that the anchor text is present and linked to the target
URL once, that no placeholder text is left, and more. It is free. Then send the article:
[Send the article and track the placement](/docs/self-serve/send-and-track).

## Link insertions

For a link in an article that is already live, two drafts help:

- `workflow_generate_listicle` drafts a new entry for a "Top N" article.
- `workflow_generate_contextual` drafts the one to three sentences that carry your link.