Content Creator Launchpad

SkillMedia

Use when someone wants to launch a content brand from scratch on any platform. Triggers on "launch a channel", "start a YouTube channel", "build a podcast", "start a newsletter", "content brand", "creator launchpad", "build my audience", "start creating content", "grow on TikTok", "start a blog".

Available today. Use it from your connected AI after setup.

Connect ahel once, and every AI you use reads what you have installed.

Then ask your AI: use the Content Creator Launchpad skill

What this skill tells your AI

The instructions your AI receives, as published by harperreed/dotfiles in .claude/skills-archive/content-creator-launchpad/SKILL.md and read by ahel’s review.

Build a content brand from zero across any platform through a guided 7-phase pipeline. Each phase produces a concrete artifact that feeds the next.

Supported Platforms

PlatformKey Adaptations
YouTubeThumbnails, watch time optimization, end screens, Shorts strategy
PodcastEpisode structure, show notes, guest strategy, RSS/distribution
NewsletterSubject lines, open rates, lead magnets, landing pages
TikTok/ShortsHook-first scripting, trends, sounds, posting cadence
BlogSEO-first titles, internal linking, pillar/cluster strategy

Entry

Ask 3 questions before starting:

  1. Platform(s): Which platform(s) are you building on? (YouTube, Podcast, Newsletter, TikTok/Shorts, Blog — pick 1-3)
  2. Niche interest: What's your niche or area of interest? (vague is fine — "I'm into fitness" works)
  3. Context: What's your situation? (brand new / have some content / established but pivoting)

Then proceed to Phase 1.

Skip Protocol

User can say "skip to phase N" at any time. When they do:

  • Identify what context is missing from skipped phases
  • Ask only the essential questions to fill the gap (niche? brand name? voice?)
  • Resume at the requested phase

The 7 Phases

digraph launchpad {
  rankdir=TB;
  p1 [label="Phase 1: Niche Discovery"];
  p2 [label="Phase 2: Brand Identity"];
  p3 [label="Phase 3: Content Roadmap"];
  p4 [label="Phase 4: Content Production"];
  p5 [label="Phase 5: Discovery & Packaging"];
  p6 [label="Phase 6: Monetization Stack"];
  p7 [label="Phase 7: Repurposing Engine"];
  handoff [label="Handoff: snowball-content" shape=doublecircle];

  p1 -> p2 -> p3 -> p4 -> p5 -> p6 -> p7 -> handoff;
}

Each phase: explain what we're doing and why, generate the artifact, get user approval or tweaks, then advance.

Save all outputs to content-launchpad/ directory as numbered markdown files.

Phase 1: Niche Discovery

Prompt framework: Analyze the top 10 niches within the user's interest area for their chosen platform(s). For each niche, provide:

FactorDetail
Revenue potentialCPM/sponsorship rates (YouTube), ad rates (podcast), conversion rates (newsletter), brand deal ranges (TikTok), affiliate potential (blog)
Competition levelLow / Medium / High with reasoning
Evergreen demandTrend data, seasonality
Monetization pathsBeyond primary platform revenue — at least 3 per niche
3-word conceptChannel/show/publication concept in 3 words

Output: content-launchpad/01-niche-analysis.md

End with a recommendation. Ask the user to pick or refine before proceeding.

Phase 2: Brand Identity

Using the chosen niche, generate:

  • Name: 5 options (check availability note: suggest user verify handles/domains)
  • Tagline: One line that communicates the value proposition
  • Audience persona: Specific person, not a demographic. Name them. What do they google at 2am?
  • Content pillars: 4 recurring themes that define the brand's territory
  • Differentiator: The "unique mechanism" — what makes this creator's take different from everyone else in this niche

Adapt for platform:

  • YouTube/Podcast: channel name + show format (solo, interview, documentary, etc.)
  • Newsletter: publication name + send frequency + preview of voice
  • TikTok: handle + content format (POV, tutorial, react, stitch, etc.)
  • Blog: site name + content structure (pillar pages, series, etc.)

Output: content-launchpad/02-brand-identity.md

Phase 3: Content Roadmap

Build a 90-day content calendar:

  • 12+ content titles optimized for the platform's discovery mechanism (SEO for YouTube/Blog, algorithm for TikTok, subject lines for Newsletter)
  • Upload/publish schedule appropriate to platform norms and realistic for a new creator
  • Discovery vs. virality balance: Mark each piece as "search/SEO play" or "share/viral play"
  • Authority progression: Content builds expertise perception over time — early pieces establish credibility, later pieces assume audience trust

Platform-specific calendar format:

  • YouTube: video titles, estimated length, thumbnail concept notes
  • Podcast: episode titles, format (solo/interview/panel), guest suggestions
  • Newsletter: subject lines, content type (essay/curated/interview), send day
  • TikTok: hook text, format, trending audio suggestions, posting time
  • Blog: titles, target keywords, word count range, internal link targets

Output: content-launchpad/03-content-roadmap.md

Phase 4: Content Production

Create a reusable production system for the user's platform:

YouTube script structure:

  • Hook (first 30 seconds — stop the scroll)
  • Problem agitation
  • Solution walkthrough
  • 3 key insights
  • CTA
  • End screen tease for next video

Podcast episode structure:

  • Cold open / teaser clip
  • Intro + episode framing
  • Segment 1-3 with transitions
  • Listener CTA
  • Outro with next episode preview

Newsletter structure:

  • Subject line + preview text
  • Opening hook (1-2 sentences)
  • Main content section
  • One clear CTA
  • PS line (highest-read section after subject line)

TikTok/Shorts structure:

  • Hook (first 1-3 seconds)
  • Setup (the problem/question)
  • Payoff (the answer/reveal)
  • CTA or loop trigger

Blog structure:

  • H1 + meta description
  • Hook paragraph
  • Table of contents
  • Sections with H2/H3 hierarchy
  • Key takeaways box
  • CTA

Generate one complete example using a title from the Phase 3 roadmap. Set the tone based on Phase 2 brand identity.

Output: content-launchpad/04-production-system.md

Phase 5: Discovery & Packaging

For the first 3 pieces from the roadmap, generate:

All platforms:

  • 3 title/headline variations for A/B testing
  • Platform-optimized description/show notes/meta description with keywords

Platform-specific:

  • YouTube: 3 thumbnail concepts with text overlay copy, 10 tags, timestamps template
  • Podcast: Cover art direction, episode description template, show notes with chapters
  • Newsletter: Subject line A/B variants, preview text, send time recommendation
  • TikTok: Caption with hashtags, cover frame text, sound suggestions
  • Blog: Meta title/description, OG image concept, internal/external link targets, schema markup suggestions

Output: content-launchpad/05-discovery-packaging.md

Phase 6: Monetization Stack

Build a monetization roadmap based on the brand identity and platform(s):

StreamWhen to StartWhat to BuildExpected Revenue Range
Primary platform revenueDay 1 setupAdSense/Spotify/paid newsletter/display adsPlatform-specific estimates
AffiliateMonth 1Relevant product recommendations with disclosurePer-niche estimates
Digital productMonth 2-3Course, template, guide, toolkit — based on content pillarsPrice range suggestion
SponsorshipMonth 3+Pitch template + rate card based on niche CPMsPer-1000 rates
Email listDay 1Lead magnet idea tied to content pillarsList building targets
Community/membershipMonth 6+Platform recommendation (Discord, Patreon, Substack, etc.)Tier structure

Include a sponsorship pitch template and a lead magnet concept tied to the brand.

Output: content-launchpad/06-monetization-stack.md

Phase 7: Repurposing Engine

Take one piece of content from the roadmap and demonstrate how to repurpose it into 7+ pieces across platforms:

Source FormatRepurposed IntoPlatformAdaptation Notes
Long-form video3 short clipsTikTok/Shorts/ReelsHook-first edits
Long-form videoThreadX/TwitterKey insights as numbered list
Long-form videoPostLinkedInProfessional angle, personal story
Long-form videoNewsletterEmailSummary + exclusive insight
Long-form videoBlog postWebsiteSEO-optimized transcript expansion
Long-form videoCarouselInstagramVisual key takeaways
Long-form videoPinPinterestInfographic or quote card

Adapt the source format column to whatever the user's primary platform is.

After completing Phase 7: Suggest invoking snowball-content to build the ongoing content multiplication flywheel. The launchpad builds the brand; snowball keeps it fed.

Output: content-launchpad/07-repurposing-engine.md

Common Mistakes

MistakeFix
Generic niche ("fitness")Push deeper: "mobility for desk workers over 35"
Brand identity that sounds like everyone elseThe differentiator must be specific and defensible
Unrealistic posting scheduleMatch to platform norms AND creator capacity
Monetization too earlyBuild audience trust first — the roadmap has timing for a reason
Repurposing = copy-pasteEach platform needs native adaptation, not just re-posting
Skipping discovery/packagingThe best content fails without discoverability

Signals

GitHub stars
332
Forks
47
Last commit
Sep 2026
Advanced
Catalog kind
skill
Gateway key
content-creator-launchpad
Source
github.com/harperreed/dotfiles