Content Brief Generator
A comprehensive skill for creating detailed content briefs that guide writers, ensure consistency, and align content with business goals.
What This Skill Does
Helps you create professional content briefs for:
Blog posts and articles - Thought leadership, tutorials, how-tos Technical documentation - API docs, guides, README files Marketing copy - Landing pages, email campaigns, ads Social media content - Posts, campaigns, threads Case studies - Customer success stories Whitepapers and reports - In-depth research content Product descriptions - E-commerce and product pages Video scripts - YouTube, explainer videos, demos Why Content Briefs Matter
Without a brief:
Unclear expectations and scope Multiple rounds of revisions Inconsistent tone and messaging Missing SEO opportunities Wasted time and resources
With a brief:
Clear direction and goals Fewer revisions needed Consistent quality SEO-optimized content Efficient workflow Core Components of a Content Brief 1. Content Overview Title/working title Content type (blog, doc, landing page, etc.) Target audience Primary goal (educate, convert, entertain, etc.) Key message or takeaway 2. Audience & Context Target persona Reader's knowledge level Pain points and needs Where they are in the funnel How they'll discover content 3. Strategic Elements Business objectives SEO keywords and intent Competitive landscape Success metrics CTAs and conversion goals 4. Content Requirements Tone and voice Length/word count Structure and sections Research requirements Visual/media needs 5. SEO & Distribution Primary and secondary keywords Search intent Meta description Internal/external links Distribution channels Content Types & Templates Blog Post Brief
Use for: Thought leadership, tutorials, listicles, how-tos
Key elements:
Hook and introduction angle Main points (typically 3-7) Examples and data to include Call-to-action Internal linking strategy Technical Documentation Brief
Use for: API docs, guides, developer documentation
Key elements:
Technical accuracy requirements Code examples needed Audience technical level Prerequisites Related documentation Landing Page Brief
Use for: Product pages, signup pages, campaign pages
Key elements:
Value proposition Benefits vs. features Social proof requirements Conversion goal A/B testing plan Case Study Brief
Use for: Customer success stories, testimonials
Key elements:
Customer background Problem/solution/results framework Metrics and outcomes Quotes needed Industry context Content Structure Frameworks AIDA (Attention, Interest, Desire, Action)
Best for: Marketing copy, sales pages
Attention: Grab with headline Interest: Build with benefits Desire: Create want with proof Action: Drive with clear CTA PAS (Problem, Agitate, Solve)
Best for: Blog posts, email campaigns
Problem: Identify pain point Agitate: Emphasize urgency Solve: Present solution Inverted Pyramid
Best for: News, technical docs
Most important info first Supporting details Background context Storytelling Arc
Best for: Case studies, narratives
Setup (character/situation) Conflict (challenge) Resolution (solution) Takeaway (lesson) SEO Integration Keyword Strategy Primary keyword (1) Secondary keywords (2-3) Long-tail variations (3-5) LSI keywords (related terms) Search Intent Informational: Learn about something Navigational: Find specific page Commercial: Compare options Transactional: Ready to buy On-Page SEO Title tag (include primary keyword) Meta description (compelling + keyword) Headers (H1, H2, H3 with keywords) Image alt text Internal linking Tone & Voice Guidelines Tone Spectrum Formal ↔ Casual Serious ↔ Playful Respectful ↔ Irreverent Enthusiastic ↔ Matter-of-fact Voice Attributes
Define your brand voice:
Professional but approachable (like Stripe) Technical but friendly (like Twilio) Playful and bold (like Mailchimp) Authoritative and trustworthy (like HubSpot) Writing Style Active vs. passive voice Person (1st, 2nd, 3rd) Sentence length Paragraph structure Use of jargon Research & Sourcing Research Requirements Primary research: Interviews, surveys, original data Secondary research: Industry reports, competitor analysis Expert quotes: SME interviews, third-party experts Data and statistics: Credible sources, recent data Examples: Real-world cases, screenshots Citation Standards Link to original sources Attribute quotes Recent data (within 1-2 years) Authoritative sources Fact-checking requirements Visual & Media Requirements Images Hero image specifications In-content images (how many, what type) Screenshots or diagrams Charts or infographics Alt text requirements Video/Audio Video length and format Screen recordings needed B-roll requirements Audio quality standards Other Media Code snippets Downloadable resources Interactive elements Embedded content Workflow & Process 1. Brief Creation (This Skill)
Use generate_brief.sh to create comprehensive brief
- Research & Outline
Writer researches and creates outline
- First Draft
Writer creates content following brief
- Review & Edit
Editor reviews against brief requirements
- SEO Optimization
SEO review and optimization
- Final Approval
Stakeholder sign-off
- Publication
Publish and distribute
- Performance Tracking
Monitor metrics defined in brief
Success Metrics by Content Type Blog Post Organic traffic Time on page (3+ minutes) Scroll depth Social shares Backlinks Lead generation Technical Documentation Page views Time on page Search rankings Feedback ratings Support ticket reduction Landing Page Conversion rate Bounce rate Time on page Click-through rate Form submissions Case Study Downloads Leads generated Sales pipeline influence Share rate Common Content Brief Mistakes ❌ Avoid These
Too Vague: "Write about our product" → No clear audience, goal, or angle
No Research: Missing competitor analysis and keyword research → Content won't rank or differentiate
Unclear Voice: "Make it engaging" → Not specific enough for consistency
Missing CTAs: No clear next step for readers → Missed conversion opportunities
Ignoring SEO: No keyword strategy → Content won't be discovered
✅ Do This Instead
Specific: "Write 1500-word tutorial for junior developers on JWT authentication, including code examples in Node.js"
Research-Backed: "Target keyword 'JWT authentication tutorial' (2.4K monthly searches), compete with existing articles from Auth0 and FreeCodeCamp"
Clear Voice: "Technical but approachable - explain like a senior dev mentoring a junior, use examples, avoid jargon"
Action-Oriented: "CTA: Sign up for free API key, secondary: Join Discord community"
SEO-Optimized: "Primary: 'JWT authentication', Secondary: 'JSON web token Node.js', 'secure API authentication'"
Using This Skill Generate a Content Brief ./scripts/generate_brief.sh
Interactive workflow will guide you through:
Content type and audience Goals and objectives SEO requirements Structure and requirements Success metrics Validate a Brief ./scripts/validate_brief.sh path/to/brief.md
Checks for:
Required sections present Keyword strategy defined Target audience specified Success metrics included Completeness score Access Templates references/content_brief_template.md - Complete template references/seo_guidelines.md - SEO best practices references/content_frameworks.md - Structure frameworks references/tone_voice_guide.md - Voice guidelines
Content Brief Checklist Clear title and content type Target audience defined with persona details Primary goal and business objective Keyword research completed Search intent identified Tone and voice specified Word count target Structure and key sections outlined Research sources identified Examples and data requirements Visual needs specified CTAs defined Success metrics established Competitor content analyzed Distribution plan outlined Quick Start Examples "Create a blog post brief"
System generates comprehensive brief with:
SEO keyword strategy Audience targeting Structure recommendations Success metrics "Write technical documentation brief for API"
System creates technical brief with:
Technical requirements Code example specifications Audience skill level Documentation standards "Generate landing page brief"
System builds conversion-focused brief with:
Value proposition guidance CTA strategy A/B testing recommendations Conversion metrics Best Practices 1. Start With Research Analyze top-ranking content Understand search intent Identify content gaps Review competitor approach 2. Be Specific Exact word count Specific examples needed Clear tone guidelines Defined success metrics 3. Align With Strategy Connect to business goals Fit content calendar Support funnel stage Match brand voice 4. Make It Actionable Clear deliverables Specific requirements Concrete examples Measurable outcomes 5. Iterate and Improve Track performance Update based on results Refine over time Learn from top performers Integration With Other Workflows Content Calendar
Brief creation triggers calendar entry
SEO Tools
Keywords from SEMrush, Ahrefs, etc.
Project Management
Brief becomes Jira/Asana task
CMS
Brief exported to content management system
Analytics
Success metrics tracked in dashboards
Tips for Different Writer Types Content Writers Focus on audience and storytelling Emphasize research requirements Clear brand voice guidelines Technical Writers Specify technical accuracy needs Define audience knowledge level Include code example requirements Copywriters Highlight conversion goals Specify A/B testing needs Clear CTA strategy Content Marketers Connect to funnel stage Define distribution strategy Specify lead generation goals Resources
All reference materials included:
Complete content brief template SEO optimization guidelines Content structure frameworks Tone and voice development guide Copywriting formulas and examples Summary
Content briefs ensure:
Clarity - Everyone knows expectations Efficiency - Fewer revisions needed Quality - Consistent, strategic content Results - Content that achieves goals
Use this skill to create comprehensive briefs that guide writers to success.
Remember: Time spent on a good brief saves 10x time in revisions. Get it right before writing begins.