--- title: Topic Instructions description: What topic instructions are and how to create them. --- [Skip to content](https://info.halda.ai/knowledge/topic-instructions#main-content) [More support](https://info.halda.ai/knowledge/kb-tickets/new?hsLang=en) [![Halda Logo Black Tight-2.svg\]](https://info.halda.ai/hubfs/Halda%20Logo%20Black%20Tight-2.svg)](https://info.halda.io/knowledge?hsLang=en) - [AI Campaign Agent](https://info.halda.ai/knowledge/ai-campaign-agent) Show submenu for AI Campaign Agent - [AI Campaign Email](https://info.halda.ai/knowledge/ai-campaign-agent#ai-email-campaigns) - [Integrations](https://info.halda.ai/knowledge/ai-campaign-agent#integrations) - [AI Website Agent](https://info.halda.ai/knowledge/ai-website-agent#main-content) Show submenu for AI Website Agent - [AI Forms](https://info.halda.ai/knowledge/ai-website-agent#ai-forms) - [AI Hub](https://info.halda.ai/knowledge/ai-website-agent#ai-hub) - [AI Search](https://info.halda.ai/knowledge/ai-website-agent#ai-search) - [Integrations](https://info.halda.ai/knowledge/ai-website-agent#direct-integrations) - [Always On Recruiter Agent](https://info.halda.ai/knowledge/always-on-recruiter-agent#main-content) Show submenu for Always On Recruiter Agent - [AI Comeback Email](https://info.halda.ai/knowledge/always-on-recruiter-agent#ai-email) - [AI SMS and Phone](https://info.halda.ai/knowledge/always-on-recruiter-agent#ai-sms-and-phone) - [Integrations](https://info.halda.ai/knowledge/always-on-recruiter-agent#integrations) - [Analytics](https://info.halda.ai/knowledge/analytics#main-content) - [Settings](https://info.halda.ai/knowledge/settings#main-content) - [Student Records](https://info.halda.ai/knowledge/student-records) - [What's New](https://info.halda.ai/knowledge/whats-new) Open main navigation Close main navigation - [AI Campaign Agent](https://info.halda.ai/knowledge/ai-campaign-agent) Show submenu for AI Campaign Agent - [AI Campaign Email](https://info.halda.ai/knowledge/ai-campaign-agent#ai-email-campaigns) - [Integrations](https://info.halda.ai/knowledge/ai-campaign-agent#integrations) - [AI Website Agent](https://info.halda.ai/knowledge/ai-website-agent#main-content) Show submenu for AI Website Agent - [AI Forms](https://info.halda.ai/knowledge/ai-website-agent#ai-forms) - [AI Hub](https://info.halda.ai/knowledge/ai-website-agent#ai-hub) - [AI Search](https://info.halda.ai/knowledge/ai-website-agent#ai-search) - [Integrations](https://info.halda.ai/knowledge/ai-website-agent#direct-integrations) - [Always On Recruiter Agent](https://info.halda.ai/knowledge/always-on-recruiter-agent#main-content) Show submenu for Always On Recruiter Agent - [AI Comeback Email](https://info.halda.ai/knowledge/always-on-recruiter-agent#ai-email) - [AI SMS and Phone](https://info.halda.ai/knowledge/always-on-recruiter-agent#ai-sms-and-phone) - [Integrations](https://info.halda.ai/knowledge/always-on-recruiter-agent#integrations) - [Analytics](https://info.halda.ai/knowledge/analytics#main-content) - [Settings](https://info.halda.ai/knowledge/settings#main-content) - [Student Records](https://info.halda.ai/knowledge/student-records) - [What's New](https://info.halda.ai/knowledge/whats-new) - [More support](https://info.halda.ai/knowledge/kb-tickets/new) Welcome to the Halda Knowledge Base. - There are no suggestions because the search field is empty. 1. [Halda Knowledge Base](https://info.halda.ai/knowledge?hsLang=en) 2. [Settings](https://info.halda.ai/knowledge/settings?hsLang=en) 3. [AI Knowledge Base](https://info.halda.ai/knowledge/settings?hsLang=en#ai-knowledge-base) May 27, 2026 # Topic Instructions ## What topic instructions are and how to create them. Topic instructions tell AI Search how to handle specific kinds of questions from your visitors — filling in answers your website doesn't cover, pointing the AI at preferred URLs, or polishing the responses it generates. This guide walks you through creating one. --- ### What a topic instruction does Each instruction is built around a **classification description** — a short trigger that the AI matches against incoming questions. When a question matches, the instruction kicks in and shapes the response. There are three types: | Type | When to use it | | --- | --- | | **Content Gap** | The answer isn't on your website and you want the AI to respond with information you provide directly. | | **URL Suggestion** | You want the AI to search one or more specific pages when answering this kind of question. | | **Enhancement** | The AI already finds a decent answer, but you want to layer extra detail on top before it's returned. | --- ### Step 1: Open the Topic Instructions page![Screenshot 2026-05-27 at 1.21.10 PM](https://info.halda.ai/hs-fs/hubfs/Screenshot%202026-05-27%20at%201.21.10%20PM.png?width=233&height=152&name=Screenshot%202026-05-27%20at%201.21.10%20PM.png) 1. In the left navigation, go to **AI Configuration**. 2. Open **Knowledge Base**. 3. Select the **Topic Instructions** tab. You'll see a list of any existing instructions along with usage metrics at the top of the page. Don't see the **Add Instructions** button? You're missing the **Edit Topic Instructions** permission. Ask an account owner to grant it. ### Step 2: Create a new instruction ![Screenshot 2026-05-27 at 1.11.03 PM](https://info.halda.ai/hs-fs/hubfs/Screenshot%202026-05-27%20at%201.11.03%20PM.png?width=670&height=187&name=Screenshot%202026-05-27%20at%201.11.03%20PM.png) Click **Add Instructions** in the top-right of the page. A modal opens asking you to choose the type: - Content Gap - URL Suggestion - Enhancement Select the one that matches your goal (see the table above) and click **Next**. ### Step 3: Fill in Basic Information ![Screenshot 2026-05-27 at 1.16.06 PM](https://info.halda.ai/hs-fs/hubfs/Screenshot%202026-05-27%20at%201.16.06%20PM.png?width=670&height=184&name=Screenshot%202026-05-27%20at%201.16.06%20PM.png) Both fields here are required. - **Name** *(up to 36 characters)* — A short label for your own reference. Example: *"Tuition payment plans"*. - **Classification Description** *(up to 255 characters)* — This is the trigger. Describe the kind of question or visitor this instruction should match. Keep it specific; overly broad descriptions can pull the instruction into unrelated answers. Example: *"Prospective undergraduate students asking how to set up a monthly tuition payment plan."* ### Step 4: Configure the response ![Screenshot 2026-05-27 at 1.16.46 PM](https://info.halda.ai/hs-fs/hubfs/Screenshot%202026-05-27%20at%201.16.46%20PM.png?width=670&height=164&name=Screenshot%202026-05-27%20at%201.16.46%20PM.png) This section changes based on the type you chose in Step 2. #### For Content Gap - **Response** *(required)* — The information you want the AI to use when answering. Write it as the source of truth, not as a prompt. - **Is Verbatim** *(checkbox)* — Leave **off** to let the AI rephrase your text naturally for each question. Turn **on** to make the AI quote your response word-for-word. #### For URL Suggestion - No response text is needed — the AI will read the URLs you provide in Step 5. #### For Enhancement - **Enhancement Instructions** *(required)* — Describe how the AI should modify or augment an answer it has already found. Example: *"Always close with a link to schedule a campus visit."* ### Step 5: Add Source Pages *(Content Gap and URL Suggestion only)* *![Screenshot 2026-05-27 at 1.17.34 PM](https://info.halda.ai/hs-fs/hubfs/Screenshot%202026-05-27%20at%201.17.34%20PM.png?width=670&height=104&name=Screenshot%202026-05-27%20at%201.17.34%20PM.png)* If your instruction type uses source pages, you can attach up to **5 URLs** the AI should reference. 1. Click **+ Add Source Page**. 2. Enter a full URL, e.g. `https://yourwebsite.edu/admissions`. 3. Repeat for additional pages, up to 5. **URL Suggestion only — Is Limited to Given URLs:** Check this box to restrict the AI to *only*  the URLs you listed. Leave it unchecked to let the AI also pull from other pages on your site when relevant. ### Step 6: Set Publishing & Expiration ![Screenshot 2026-05-27 at 1.18.13 PM](https://info.halda.ai/hs-fs/hubfs/Screenshot%202026-05-27%20at%201.18.13%20PM.png?width=670&height=168&name=Screenshot%202026-05-27%20at%201.18.13%20PM.png) - **Publish Date** — Pick one: - **Publish immediately** — Goes live as soon as you click Save and Publish. - **Schedule for later** — Choose a future date (up to one year out). The instruction will publish automatically on that date. - **Expiration Date** *(required)* — Defaults to one year from today. After this date the instruction is automatically archived. Maximum is one year out. ### Step 7: Choose which segments see it ![Screenshot 2026-05-27 at 1.18.51 PM](https://info.halda.ai/hs-fs/hubfs/Screenshot%202026-05-27%20at%201.18.51%20PM.png?width=670&height=233&name=Screenshot%202026-05-27%20at%201.18.51%20PM.png) The **Include for Segments** section lists every customer segment on your account. By default, all are included. - Use the search box to filter segments. - **Uncheck** any segment that should *not* see this instruction. Checked = included. ### Step 8: Save ![Screenshot 2026-05-27 at 1.19.01 PM](https://info.halda.ai/hs-fs/hubfs/Screenshot%202026-05-27%20at%201.19.01%20PM.png?width=373&height=59&name=Screenshot%202026-05-27%20at%201.19.01%20PM.png) You'll see two buttons at the bottom: - **Save as Draft** — Saves the instruction without publishing. It won't affect any AI Search responses until you come back and publish it. - **Save and Publish** *(or **Save and Schedule** if you picked a future date)* — Publishes the instruction so AI Search starts using it. Halda will sync it to the search engine in the background. You'll see a confirmation message when the save succeeds. --- ### Editing later ![Screenshot 2026-05-27 at 1.20.12 PM](https://info.halda.ai/hs-fs/hubfs/Screenshot%202026-05-27%20at%201.20.12%20PM.png?width=334&height=188&name=Screenshot%202026-05-27%20at%201.20.12%20PM.png) Topic instructions are versioned. When you edit a published instruction, your changes are saved as a **new version** — the prior version stays in the history. From the edit modal you'll see **Save as Draft Version** and **Publish New Version** instead of the create buttons. --- ### Tips for good instructions - **Be narrow with classifications.** A description like *"Questions about anything"* will get matched against everything and degrade answer quality. - **Pick the right type.** Use Content Gap when the answer truly isn't on your site; use Enhancement to refine answers the AI already finds. - **Verbatim is for compliance-sensitive copy.** Use it for legal language, policy quotes, or anything that must appear exactly as written. - **Review on expiration.** When an instruction is about to expire, decide whether to extend, edit, or let it archive — outdated guidance can quietly degrade your AI's answers. Need help configuring your topic instructions? 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