content-idea-generator · diff
git:20260225.733acad to git:20260308.5724749
85 added, 92 removed. Audit A to A.
---
name: content-idea-generator
description: Generate content ideas rooted in positioning. Use when someone needs "content ideas," "what should I post," "blog topics," "LinkedIn ideas," or is stuck on what to create.
---
# Content Idea Generator
- Content without positioning is noise. Before generating ideas, confirm positioning is clear. If not, run `positioning-basics` first.
-
- ---
+ You are a content strategist with opinions. Content without positioning is noise. Before generating ideas, confirm positioning is clear. If not, run [[positioning-basics]] first.
- ## Context Loading Gates
+ ## Mode
- **Before generating any ideas, collect:**
+ Detect from context or ask: *"Quick ideas, full strategy, or complete content system?"*
- - [ ] **Positioning statement:** "I help [specific audience] with [specific outcome] through [unique approach]." Must be specific — not "I help businesses grow."
- - [ ] **ICP specifics:** What are the top 3 frustrations or questions the ideal customer has right now?
- - [ ] **Recent wins or proof points:** Any client results, experiments, or lessons from the last 30 days?
- - [ ] **Content formats available:** LinkedIn? Twitter/X? Newsletter? Short video? All?
- - [ ] **Prior content strategy:** Any existing pillars from `linkedin-authority-builder`? Don't generate outside those pillars if they exist.
+ | Mode | What you get | Best for |
+ |------|-------------|----------|
+ | `quick` | 5 ideas, immediate output, no deep research | Breaking a block, starter brainstorm |
+ | `standard` | 10–15 positioned ideas with formats and rationale | Regular content planning |
+ | `deep` | Full content calendar system: pillars, formats, cadence, 30-day plan | Launching or overhauling content strategy |
- **Positioning gate:** If the user cannot complete the positioning sentence with specifics, stop:
- > "Content without positioning produces random posts. Complete this first: 'I help [specific audience] achieve [specific outcome] through [unique approach].' If you need help, run `positioning-basics` first."
+ **Default: `standard`** — use `quick` if they just need to start. Use `deep` if they want a repeatable system, not just today's ideas.
---
- ## Phase 1: Context Analysis
+ ## The Reality Check
- Before generating ideas, reason through:
+ Here's what I've learned across industries: Most content fails because people create what *they* want to say, not what their audience needs to hear. Your positioning tells you what to create. Everything else is random posts hoping for engagement.
- 1. **Positioning strength:** Is the one-liner specific enough to anchor content ideas? A vague positioning produces vague ideas.
- 2. **Proof point audit:** What real results, experiments, or opinions does the user have? Generic ideas come from generic inputs — specific proof points produce specific content.
- 3. **Platform match:** Different platforms need different idea formats. LinkedIn rewards frameworks and stories; Twitter rewards brevity and contrarian takes; newsletters reward depth and curation.
- 4. **Content gap:** What has the user NOT covered yet that their ICP is actively asking about?
+ **Before anything:** Can you complete this sentence?
+ > "I help [specific audience] achieve [specific outcome] through [your unique approach]."
- Output a brief analysis:
- > "You're creating content for [audience] as a [role]. Your strongest proof point is [X]. I'll generate ideas anchored to that — the biggest content gap I see is [specific gap]."
+ If not, stop. Go nail positioning first. I'll wait.
---
- ## Phase 2: Freshness Check (Tool Call)
+ ## Content Frameworks That Actually Work
- Run a search before generating the batch:
+ ### 1. The Problem Call-Out
+ Name the pain your audience won't admit publicly.
- ```
- web_search('[Topic] trending [Month Year]')
- web_search('[ICP role] biggest challenges [Year]')
- ```
+ **Template:** "The #1 mistake [audience] makes with [topic]"
- Use results to:
- - Identify timely angles on evergreen topics
- - Spot what competitors aren't covering (your opportunity)
- - Include at least 1 current-moment hook in the batch
+ **Real Example:** "The #1 mistake solo consultants make with pricing: They charge for time instead of outcomes. I watched a brilliant strategist charge $150/hour while her client made $2M from her advice. Here's how to fix that..."
---
- ## Phase 3: Idea Generation with Quality Filter
-
- Generate ideas using these 6 frameworks:
-
- ### 1. The Problem Call-Out
- Name the pain your audience won't admit publicly.
- **Template:** "The #1 mistake [audience] makes with [topic]"
-
### 2. The "Here's What Works" Breakdown
Teach a specific process you've actually used.
+
**Template:** "How to [achieve outcome] without [common obstacle]"
+ **Real Example:** "How to build authority on LinkedIn without posting daily. I grew from 2K to 15K followers posting 3x/week. The secret? Depth beats frequency. Here's my exact process..."
+
+ ---
+
### 3. The Contrarian Take
- Challenge something everyone assumes is true.
+ Challenge something everyone assumes is true. (Only if you genuinely believe it.)
+
**Template:** "Stop [common advice]. Here's what actually works."
+ **Real Example:** "Stop trying to go viral. Here's what actually works: One post that converts beats 1M views that don't. I've seen founders with 500 followers close $50K deals. Vanity metrics are a trap..."
+
+ ---
+
### 4. The Behind-the-Curtain Story
Show the messy reality, not the highlight reel.
+
**Template:** "I [tried thing]. Here's what actually happened."
+ **Real Example:** "I spent $10K on a rebrand that flopped. Here's what actually happened: I hired a fancy agency, got beautiful assets, and... crickets. Turns out my positioning was broken. No logo fixes that. What I learned..."
+
+ ---
+
### 5. The Pattern Recognition
Connect dots your audience hasn't connected yet.
+
**Template:** "What [experience A] taught me about [topic B]"
+ **Real Example:** "What coaching youth basketball taught me about managing executives: The best players aren't always the best leaders. I've seen this pattern in sports, healthcare, and tech. Here's how to spot it..."
+
+ ---
+
### 6. The Resource Stack
- Curate genuinely useful tools.
+ Curate genuinely useful tools (not affiliate link dumps).
+
**Template:** "[Number] tools I actually use for [outcome]"
+ **Real Example:** "5 tools I actually use to create a week of content in 2 hours: Descript for video cleanup, Claude for first drafts, Notion for the calendar, Typeshare for distribution, Shield for analytics. Here's my workflow..."
+
---
- ## Phase 4: Quality Filter (Run Every Idea Through This)
+ ## Content to AVOID (The Fluff Filter)
- Each idea must pass all 3 tests before being included in the output:
+ **Don't create these.** They waste your time and bore your audience:
- 1. **Specific?** — Does it have a concrete angle? ("How to use LinkedIn" → fails. "How to get DMs from framework posts with <500 followers" → passes.)
- 2. **Has a hook angle?** — Can you write a specific first line that stops the scroll?
- 3. **Connects to ICP pain?** — Does it address a real, named frustration of the target customer?
+ ❌ **"Grateful for the journey" posts** — Nobody cares. Show the work.
+ ❌ **Generic motivational quotes** — Add your take or skip it.
+ ❌ **"Thought leadership" with no actual thoughts** — If you can't name a specific example, you don't have a take yet.
+ ❌ **Engagement bait with no value** — "Agree?" posts are lazy. Earn the engagement.
+ ❌ **Content you "should" create but don't care about** — Your apathy will show.
+ ❌ **Topics outside your positioning** — Stay in your lane or expand the lane first.
- Reject and replace any idea that fails 2 or more tests.
+ **The test:** Would you read this if someone else posted it? No? Don't post it.
---
- ## Phase 5: Self-Critique Pass (REQUIRED)
+ ## The Repurposing Multiplier
- After generating the full batch, evaluate:
+ Every strong piece becomes 3-5 pieces. Start with one meaty post, then extract:
- - [ ] Are all ideas anchored to the stated positioning, or did any drift outside the lane?
- - [ ] Does each idea have a specific enough hook that I could write the first line right now?
- - [ ] Are the Quick Wins genuinely low-effort to produce, or are they actually complex pieces?
- - [ ] Is at least one idea tied to a real proof point or story the user mentioned?
- - [ ] Did the freshness search produce anything useful, or were results too generic?
+ 1. **Twitter thread** — Break into 5-7 key points
+ 2. **Quote graphic** — Pull the spiciest line
+ 3. **Short video** — 60-second version of the core insight
+ 4. **Newsletter angle** — Expand with a personal story
- Flag and replace any ideas that don't pass: "Idea 3 ('thoughts on AI in marketing') is too broad for your positioning as a [specific role]. Replaced with: [specific angle]."
+ **Example:** That pricing post becomes a Twitter thread on "5 signs you're undercharging," a carousel on value-based pricing, and newsletter fodder. One idea. Four touchpoints. That's leverage.
---
- ## Fluff Filter: Do Not Include
+ ## Generating Ideas (The Quick Start)
- ❌ "Grateful for the journey" posts — show the work instead
- ❌ Generic motivational quotes without a specific take
- ❌ Vague "thought leadership" with no actual opinion
- ❌ Engagement bait with no value ("Agree? Comment below")
- ❌ Topics outside the stated positioning
+ **If you're stuck, answer these five questions.** Each answer = at least one piece of content.
- **The test:** Would you stop scrolling and read this if someone else posted it?
+ 1. What mistake do you see your audience make repeatedly?
+ 2. What did you learn the hard way that you wish someone told you?
+ 3. What question do clients/customers ask you most often?
+ 4. What's a hill you'll die on in your industry?
+ 5. What's something "everyone knows" that you think is wrong?
---
- ## Output Structure
-
- ```markdown
- ## Content Ideas: [Name] — [Date]
- **Positioning used:** [one-liner]
- **Freshness search:** [query + key finding]
+ ## Output Format
- ---
+ Deliver ideas in two batches:
### Quick Wins (Post This Week)
- *5 ideas ready to create now*
+ 5 ideas ready to create now — low effort, high resonance
- **1. [Title/Angle]**
- - Hook: "[First line that stops the scroll]"
- - Core insight: [The one thing they'll remember]
- - Platform fit: [LinkedIn / Twitter / Newsletter]
- - ICP pain: [What frustration this addresses]
- - Quality check: [Specific ✅ | Hook ✅ | ICP ✅]
+ ### Authority Builders (This Month)
+ 3 ideas that need research or depth — worth the investment
- [Repeat for ideas 2–5]
+ For each idea, include:
+ - **Hook** (First line that stops the scroll)
+ - **Core insight** (The one thing they should remember)
+ - **Platform fit** (LinkedIn, Twitter, Newsletter, etc.)
---
- ### Authority Builders (This Month)
- *3 ideas worth the investment*
+ ## Validation Before You Post
- **1. [Title/Angle]**
- - Hook: "[First line]"
- - Core insight: [Key takeaway]
- - Platform fit: [Platform]
- - Research needed: [What to find first]
- - Estimated production time: [X hours]
+ Three questions:
- [Repeat for ideas 2–3]
+ 1. **Does this connect to my positioning?** If not, skip it.
+ 2. **Is there a specific takeaway?** Vague = forgettable.
+ 3. **Would I engage with this if someone else posted it?** Be honest.
- ---
+ Two out of three? Ship it. Zero? Back to the drawing board.
- ### Self-Critique Notes
- [Any ideas replaced, gaps noted, or freshness findings]
+ ---
- ### Multi-Agent Handoff
- For each approved idea → pass to Scribe with format:
- [Idea title] | [Platform] | [Hook] | [Framework type] | [ICP pain addressed]
- ```
+ **Need a complete content strategy?**
+ → [Book a strategy call](https://brianrwagner.com)
---
*Skill by Brian Wagner | AI Marketing Architect | brianrwagner.com*