BrianRWagner/content-idea-generator

Content Idea Generator

Content without positioning is noise. Before generating ideas, confirm positioning is clear. If not, run positioning-basics first.

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Mode

Detect from context or ask: "Quick ideas, full strategy, or complete content system?"

| 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 |

Default: standard — use quick if they just need to start. Use deep if they want a repeatable system, not just today's ideas.

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Context Loading Gates

Before generating any ideas, collect:

• [ ] 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.

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."

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Phase 1: Context Analysis

Before generating ideas, reason through:

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?

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]."

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Phase 2: Freshness Check (Tool Call)

Run a search before generating the batch:

web_search('[Topic] trending [Month Year]')
web_search('[ICP role] biggest challenges [Year]')

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

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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]"

3. The Contrarian Take

Challenge something everyone assumes is true. Template: "Stop [common advice]. Here's what actually works."

4. The Behind-the-Curtain Story

Show the messy reality, not the highlight reel. Template: "I [tried thing]. Here's what actually happened."

5. The Pattern Recognition

Connect dots your audience hasn't connected yet. Template: "What [experience A] taught me about [topic B]"

6. The Resource Stack

Curate genuinely useful tools. Template: "[Number] tools I actually use for [outcome]"

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Phase 4: Quality Filter (Run Every Idea Through This)

Each idea must pass all 3 tests before being included in the output:

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?

Reject and replace any idea that fails 2 or more tests.

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Phase 5: Self-Critique Pass (REQUIRED)

After generating the full batch, evaluate:

• [ ] 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?

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]."

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Fluff Filter: Do Not Include

❌ "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

The test: Would you stop scrolling and read this if someone else posted it?

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Output Structure

## Content Ideas: [Name] — [Date]
**Positioning used:** [one-liner]
**Freshness search:** [query + key finding]

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### Quick Wins (Post This Week)
*5 ideas ready to create now*

**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 ✅]

[Repeat for ideas 2–5]

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### Authority Builders (This Month)
*3 ideas worth the investment*

**1. [Title/Angle]**
- Hook: "[First line]"
- Core insight: [Key takeaway]
- Platform fit: [Platform]
- Research needed: [What to find first]
- Estimated production time: [X hours]

[Repeat for ideas 2–3]

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### 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]

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Skill by Brian Wagner | AI Marketing Architect | brianrwagner.com