YouTube Strategy

Generate a YouTube channel launch strategy for B2B SaaS operators. Output is a deck-style markdown document with keyword demand research, competitor segmentation, gap analysis, 6 video ideas, case-study / testimonial framework, and a Month-1 plan. Feeds into youtube-scripts for per-video production.

For full process, frameworks, and MCP integration → the premium reference.

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Research Substrate (Exa)

Default: Exa per .claude/rules/exa-protocol.md.

Primary tools: web_search_exa for competitor channel + keyword research.

Tool surface during migration: prefer mcp__plugin_exa_exa__web_search_exa (after claude plugin i exa@claude-plugins-official); legacy mcp__exa__web_search_exa still mounted.

Citation: every claim uses [VERIFIED: exa_search, {url}, accessed {YYYY-MM-DD}] per .claude/rules/ontology.md.

Quality gate: ≥3 sources per major claim, ≥50% [VERIFIED], date filter for any "recent / latest" claim.

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Claude Code Triggers

Invoke when user says:

• "YouTube strategy for [company]"
• "Plan my YouTube channel"
• "What videos should I make on YouTube"
• "YouTube channel strategy / plan / launch plan"
• "Help me start a YouTube channel"
• "What's the opportunity on YouTube"
• "YouTube keyword research + video ideas"

Do NOT invoke when:

• User wants individual YouTube script → use youtube-scripts
• User wants LinkedIn video content → use linkedin-content
• User wants multi-channel content strategy → use content-strategy
• User wants content calendar / execution → use content-operations

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Input Requirements

Client context (auto-loaded)

If working on a client project, client CLAUDE.md is auto-loaded. Pull positioning from knowledge/positioning.md and ICP from knowledge/icp-definition.md.

Required

Input	Description	Source
Positioning statement	1-2 sentence who-you-are + what-you-do	knowledge/positioning.md or user
ICP definition	Who the channel targets	knowledge/icp-definition.md or user

Recommended (improves quality significantly)

Input	How it helps
Social engagement data	LinkedIn post reactions/comments per topic — fuels "proven demand" per idea
Client roster	Case-study candidate shortlist for BOFU videos
Content audit	Lets skill skip topics already covered

Optional

Input	How it helps
Niche hypothesis	Sharpens keyword seeding
Existing YouTube presence	Adjusts scope (launch vs relaunch vs refresh)
Competitor hypotheses	Seed list for channel scan

Validation checklist

Before proceeding:

• Positioning is 1-2 sentences with operator's specific angle (not generic)
• ICP is named (title + company type), not "small businesses" or "B2B"
• If LinkedIn data provided, it has post-level reactions/comments (not just topic themes)

If positioning or ICP is missing, ask before proceeding. Do not hallucinate.

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Anti-Hallucination Guardrails

1. No invented keyword volumes — always pull from Ahrefs MCP. If unavailable, mark [UNAVAILABLE: Ahrefs pull failed].
2. No invented engagement data — "proven demand" per idea must cite real LinkedIn/Twitter/newsletter signal. If none, mark [UNAVAILABLE].
3. No invented case-study metrics — pull from knowledge/positioning.md proof-points or user.
4. No invented rankings — for Phase 3 gap analysis, mark [UNVERIFIED: manual check needed] if YouTube SERP not run.
5. Flag gap claims with source — "nobody covers X" needs [INFERRED: from competitor scan on {date}].
6. Client roster dependency — pull from client's knowledge/profile.md clients list or explicit user input.

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Process, Output, Quality, and Auto-Update

Topic	Reference
5-phase process + frameworks + MCP integration	the premium reference
Output template + render targets + iteration prompts + handoff	the premium reference
Pre-delivery checklist + worked example + anti-examples + quality gate	the premium reference
5-bucket competitor taxonomy with detection rules	the premium reference
6-field video idea template with examples	the premium reference
Month-1 mix rules + funnel outcomes	the premium reference
Ahrefs MCP calls + competition scoring method	the premium reference
Worked example — Matteo's own YouTube strategy	examples/0426-matteo-youtube-strategy.md

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Skill Relationships (per ontology.md)

depends_on:
  - company-context # required — pulls positioning, clients, services
  - icp-profile # required — defines channel audience
  - positioning # recommended — sharpens "your edge" per idea
feeds_into:
  - youtube-scripts # per-video script production
  - content-operations # add Month-1 plan to weekly calendar
  - case-study # BOFU case-study production
enhances:
  - content-strategy # if multi-channel strategy exists, refines YouTube lane

Knowledge type produced: youtube-strategy (Level 1 — Strategy, review gate 2).

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Final ship gate

Run /premortem --output before ship. See /premortem skill for the 5 execution domains (will-it-resonate / will-it-convert / will-it-stay-on-brand / will-stakeholder-push-back / will-it-degrade-over-time) and output template.

Trivial-case escape: ## Premortem\nNo failure modes — trivial change satisfies the contract for genuinely trivial outputs.

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