ICP
Task-oriented workflow for creating or enriching ICP + buyer personas. The source of truth is always a service file, never a free-floating URL-only ICP.
When to Use
- User says "add ICP", "create ICP", "generate buyer personas", or "who should this service target?"
- Content ideas, drafts, landing pages, or prospecting are blocked by missing ICP
- Existing service has no linked
target_icps
Inputs
Ask only for missing essentials:
- Existing service slug, or service URL, description, or both
- Optional target market constraints from the user
- Desired persona count if not default 1-3
If no service file exists, run marketing-service first. Do not generate ICP
directly from a URL or brief while skipping the service file.
Prerequisites
Brand scope. In a multi-brand workspace (2+ brand homes in workspace/firm/brands/), every path this skill reads or writes is brand-scoped: definitional entities (services, ICP, personas, proof, channels) live in firm/brands/{brand}/…, working pipelines carry a {brand}/ segment under their entity root, and the working brand comes from the user's choice or B2BFORCE_BRAND — never guessed. Rules: Brand Scope Gate in AGENTS.md; paths: docs/WORKSPACE.md.
workspace/firm/profile.mdworkspace/firm/services/{service-slug}.md- Current agent/LLM session
- Optional market research via
tool-exaif the user wants enrichment
Never ask the user to paste API keys in chat. If a tool key is needed, tell the
user to fill .env locally.
Workflow
1. Ensure service context
If the user gave a URL/description instead of a service slug, create or enrich the
service with marketing-service, then continue from the resulting service
file.
2. Gather context
Load:
workspace/firm/profile.mdworkspace/firm/services/{service-slug}.md- existing ICP files in
workspace/marketing/icp/ - existing persona files in
workspace/marketing/icp/personas/
Do not duplicate an existing ICP segment. If a close match exists, ask whether to enrich it or create a distinct segment.
3. Optional market research
Use tool-exa only when configured and useful. Research is optional enrichment,
not a gate.
Suggested research questions:
- Operational pain in the target industry for this service
- Buying committee and decision roles
- Trigger events and market changes
- Common vendor selection criteria
- Objections and current alternatives
Mark research-backed notes separately in the generated files. Do not cite market claims as verified if no research was run.
4. Generate ICP + personas
Use references/system-prompt.md and references/output-schema.md.
Prompt context:
Analyze this firm and service. Generate ONE ICP and 1-3 buyer personas.
=== FIRM PROFILE ===
{workspace/firm/profile.md}
=== SERVICE ===
{workspace/firm/services/{service-slug}.md}
=== EXISTING ICPs / PERSONAS (DO NOT DUPLICATE) ===
{list}
=== USER TARGETING CONSTRAINTS ===
{if any}
=== MARKET RESEARCH ===
{if any}
Return structured output matching references/output-schema.md.
Write reasoning first for internal use, then strip reasoning before saving files.
Language: {content_language from firm profile}
Buying mode:
reactivewhen the buyer has an urgent problem or riskproactivewhen the buyer seeks growth, optimization, or strategic upsidemixedwhen both are credible
5. Write workspace outputs
| Output | Path |
|---|---|
| ICP | workspace/marketing/icp/{slug}.md |
| Personas | workspace/marketing/icp/personas/{slug}.md |
| Service link | Append ICP slug to service frontmatter target_icps |
ICP frontmatter:
---
name:
industry:
company_size:
buying_mode:
service: {service-slug}
---
Persona frontmatter:
---
name:
icp: {icp-slug}
seniority_level:
department:
decision_role:
---
6. Validate
Run:
scripts/validate-content-readiness.sh {service-slug} {icp-slug}
Treat failures as hard stops before content ideas, drafts, landing pages, or prospecting.
Quality Rules
- ICP is a company segment; persona is a role/person inside that segment.
- Pain points must include consequences and current workarounds.
- Trigger events must be observable.
- Personas should cover distinct roles: economic buyer, technical buyer, champion, user, influencer, or gatekeeper.
buying_modemust drive messaging angle, JTBD, objections, and proof needs.- Do not invent market facts, budgets, tech stacks, or proof.
Related Skills
| Skill | When |
|---|---|
marketing-service |
Service file is missing or incomplete |
marketing-content-ideas |
Next step after ICP + personas |
sales-prospecting-sequence |
Outbound after service + ICP + persona exist |