YouTube Video Brief

Read these when specified in each step.

Step 0: Idea Intake

Start by asking: "What's the video idea?"

Accept whatever format is given — a sentence, a paragraph, bullets, a rough angle. The goal is just to get the raw idea on the table.

After receiving the idea:

• Identify which content pillar it belongs to (AI Workflows / LinkedIn Social Selling / Solopreneur Journey)
• Summarize the idea back in 1-2 sentences to confirm understanding
• Note the pillar and any immediate observations about fit
• Don't analyze deeply yet. Just confirm.
• Wait for confirmation before moving on.

Step 1: Read the Knowledge Sources

Read these now:

1. context/icp.md
2. context/content-pillars.md

Before doing anything else, understand who the audience is and what the YouTube strategy looks like. Read both carefully. This context is needed to make good suggestions in every step that follows.

After reading, share what was taken away — not a summary of the docs, but how the video idea connects to what was just read. Something like:

"I've gone through the ICP and content strategy. Here's what I'm seeing: this idea fits [Pillar X] because [reason]. The audience segment it serves most directly is [segment] because [reason]. [Any observation about fit or gaps with the strategy]."

Keep it to 3-5 sentences. Show strategic thinking, not going through the motions.

Then say: "Let's define the main outcome for this video." and move to Step 2.

Step 2: Define Main Outcome + Secondary Outcomes

Read these now:

1. context/offers.md
2. context/my-voice-dna.md
3. .claude/skills/acquisition-content-newsletter-repurpose/references/my-story-doc.md (skim — especially if this is a Pillar 3 video)

The main outcome answers: "After watching this video, the viewer will be able to / will understand / will feel..."

This is the most important decision in the brief. A clearly defined outcome determines everything — what to cover, what proof to show, what to cut. A vague outcome leads to a vague video.

Present 5 suggestions. Each one should have:

• Main outcome (1 sentence): What the viewer walks away with
• Secondary outcomes (1-2 bullets): Things the viewer gets that naturally weave in
• Scope note (1 sentence): What's IN this video vs. what's OUT

Make these 5 genuinely different. Pull from:

• Different ICP segments (consultant vs. SMB owner vs. solopreneur)
• Different depths (overview vs. deep-dive)
• Different emotional angles (practical execution vs. mindset shift vs. contrarian challenge)

Pillar-specific rules:

• Pillar 1 (AI Workflows): The outcome must be actionable — "screenshot and implement today." Good: "Viewer will be able to set up their first automated outreach campaign." Bad: "Viewer will understand AI tools."
• Pillar 3 (Solopreneur Journey): Check the story doc for a story bridge. Suggest one story that could open or anchor this video.

Wait for choice. Can pick one, combine elements, or suggest own. Once confirmed — lock it.

Step 3: Define Why This Matters

Re-read these now:

1. context/content-pillars.md (refresh on what the channel needs right now)
2. context/icp.md (refresh on audience needs)

This step is a filter. Not every idea should become a video. Videos take time to plan, film, and edit. This step forces the question: "Is this video worth making?"

Present 3-5 reasons this video matters from three angles:

For the viewer:

• Why does the audience need this right now?
• What problem does it solve? What opportunity does it open?

For the channel:

• How does this serve the YouTube strategy?
• Does it fill a content gap? Complement existing videos?
• Does it maintain the 40/35/25 pillar balance?

For the business:

• Does it connect to the offers?
• Does it attract the right people into the funnel?
• Does it position as the authority on this topic?

Be honest, not a yes-machine:

• If the reasons are strong: "This aligns well because..."
• If the angle feels weak: "This could be stronger if we adjusted to... because the current framing doesn't clearly serve the ICP's main pain points."
• If the idea doesn't fit the strategy: say so directly, and suggest what would make it stronger.

Wait for confirmation. Lock it.

Step 4: Define Rough Points / Ideas to Cover

Before suggesting anything, do research:

1. Use WebSearch to look for: recent discussions on this topic, what other creators have covered (to find unique angles or gaps), questions people are asking on Reddit/LinkedIn/YouTube comments
2. Re-read: context/my-voice-dna.md (to align points with content philosophy)

Now that the idea, outcome, and why it matters are known — what does this video actually cover?

This is NOT about structuring the video yet. No ordering. No sections. Just the raw talking points, ideas, and concepts that need to be in this video. Think of it as a brainstorm dump.

Present 5-8 bullet points (3-10 max). Each bullet should have:

• The point (1 sentence): The rough idea or talking point
• Why it supports the outcome (1 sentence): How this point serves the locked outcome

Rules:

• 3-10 points maximum. More than 10 = video scope is too broad — suggest narrowing
• Not structured, not ordered (that's the outline step later)
• Include insights from research — interesting angles, counterpoints, gaps in existing content
• Every point must clearly serve the main outcome. If it doesn't, it shouldn't be in this video

Video type determines what "points" look like:

• Tutorial video → the steps to walk through
• Workflow breakdown → the components of the system
• Contrarian take → the arguments to make
• Story-led video → the beats of the story (Pillar 3)

Wait to confirm, add, remove, or adjust. Iterate until happy. Then lock it.

Step 5: Define Proof / Demos / Use Cases

Before suggesting anything, do research:

1. Use WebSearch for: relevant statistics, real-world examples, tools worth demonstrating
2. Re-read: context/offers.md and .claude/skills/acquisition-content-newsletter-repurpose/references/my-story-doc.md (what can be demonstrated from own work)

This step makes the video concrete and credible. Ideas are cheap — proof is what separates a good video from a great one. If a claim is made, there must be proof to back it up.

For tutorial videos (Pillar 1):

• What specific demos will be shown on screen?
• What will be built, clicked through, or demonstrated live?
• What's the before/after the viewer will see?

For social selling videos (Pillar 2):

• What real numbers or results can be referenced?
• What specific workflow or campaign can be walked through?
• What client results (anonymized) can be pointed to?

For story/journey videos (Pillar 3):

• Which personal story from the story doc anchors this video?
• What analogy or visual example makes the lesson tangible?
• What would be said to a past self at this exact moment?

Present 3-5 suggestions. Each should have:

• What to show or reference (1 sentence): The specific demo, stat, example, or story
• How it supports the outcome (1 sentence): Why this proof matters for the video's main point
• Type: Demo | Statistic | Case study | Personal story | Visual example | Tool walkthrough
• Source: Own work | Research finding | From references | To be created

Wait for confirmation. Lock the final list.

Step 6: Output the Brief

After all steps are locked, compile the complete brief into a structured markdown document and save it to inbox/outputs/md/YYYY-MM-DD-acquisition-content-youtube-brief.md.

# Video Brief: [Topic/Title from the idea]

**Pillar:** [AI Workflows / LinkedIn Social Selling / Solopreneur Journey]
**Date created:** [date]

## Main Outcome
[Locked from Step 2]

## Secondary Outcomes
[Locked from Step 2]

## Scope
[What's in / what's out — locked from Step 2]

## Why This Matters
[Locked from Step 3 — viewer, channel, and business reasons]

## Points to Cover
[Locked from Step 4 — bullet points]

## Proof / Demos / Use Cases
[Locked from Step 5 — with type and source for each]

---

*Next steps: `acquisition-content-youtube-packaging` for titles and thumbnails → `acquisition-content-youtube-outline` to structure the video → `acquisition-content-youtube-scripting` to write the script*

Present the brief and ask:

• "This brief is ready. Want to adjust anything before we lock it?"
• "Ready to move to the next phase?"

Quick Reference

Golden rule: Never skip a step. Never combine steps. Never output a finished brief before Step 6.