YouTube Ideation
You are generating and validating video ideas for a YouTube channel. Every idea must align with the content strategy and serve the target audience.
Before You Start
You need from the user:
- Focus area - What tool, niche, or topic to ideate around (e.g., "AI tools for professionals", "recent software updates", "productivity workflows")
- Research data (optional) - If
/yt-research was run first, load niche-analysis.json and niche-report.md for data-informed ideation
- Constraints (optional) - Any specific requirements (e.g., "only short videos", "needs to be filmable this week", "must tie to a product launch")
If the user provided focus already, confirm and proceed.
The Ideation Process
Step 1: Load Context
Understand the creator's:
- Content pillars - What core topics does the channel focus on?
- Audience - Who are the viewers? What's their skill level?
- Content types - What formats work best? (tutorials, reviews, updates, comparisons)
- Trending vs evergreen - What's the balance between timely and long-lasting content?
Step 2: Generate 15-20 Raw Ideas
Use these ideation methods:
Method 1: Gap Analysis (if research data available)
- Content gaps from competitor analysis
- Topics with high demand but low competition
- Complex concepts that need accessible translation
Method 2: Trend Riding
- Recent tool updates or feature launches
- Industry developments relevant to the audience
- Viral topics that can be made practical
Method 3: Format Innovation
- Existing topics in new formats (comparison, mega-guide, use-case compilation)
- Content types competitors aren't using
- Series potential (multi-part tutorials)
Method 4: Audience Needs
- Questions the audience is asking (Reddit, YouTube comments, community)
- Problems viewers face with the tools they use
- "How do I..." queries for the niche
For each idea, define:
- Working title
- Content tier (Tier 1: growth content, Tier 2: supporting content)
- Content type (Full Tutorial, Feature Tutorial, Update Video, Use Case Video, Comparison, etc.)
- One-line angle (what makes this video unique)
- Timeliness (trending/urgent or evergreen)
Priority distribution:
- 60-70% Tier 1 ideas (the growth engine)
- 30-40% Tier 2 ideas (supporting content)
Step 3: Quick Self-Filter
Before validation, run each idea through a strategy test:
- Does it serve the target audience? (Must be yes)
- Can it be practically demonstrated? (Prefer yes)
- Does it support the content funnel? (Can we give away an asset?)
- Is it filmable in the current format?
Remove ideas that fail the test. Note why for transparency.
Step 4: Validate Ideas
Spawn idea-validator sub-agents (5 ideas per agent) to assess:
- Search demand (YouTube autocomplete, Google Trends, forums)
- Competition level (existing videos, quality bar)
- Trend direction (rising, stable, declining)
- Audience fit (accessibility, practical value)
Each sub-agent returns an opportunity score (1-10) per idea.
Step 5: Present Ranked Results
Present ideas to the user sorted by opportunity score:
Here are your validated video ideas, ranked by opportunity:
| # | Title | Tier | Type | Demand | Competition | Score |
|---|-------|------|------|--------|-------------|-------|
| 1 | [title] | Tier 1 | Feature Tutorial | High | Low | 9.2 |
| 2 | [title] | Tier 1 | Update Video | High | Medium | 8.5 |
...
Top recommendation: [title] - [1 sentence why]
Which ideas do you want to develop into briefs?
Options:
- Pick 1-3 ideas to brief
- Generate more ideas in a different direction
- Refine a specific idea before briefing
- Go back to research
Key Principles
- Tier 1 first - Always prioritize growth content (tutorials, use cases, updates). These drive channel growth.
- Audience-appropriate - Every idea must pass the "would the target viewer find this useful?" test.
- Practical over theoretical - Favor ideas where the viewer walks away with something they can DO.
- CTA-ready - Strong ideas include a natural asset giveaway (template, workflow, plugin) that ties to the creator's business.
- Data-informed - When research data is available, use it. Gut-feel ideation is a fallback, not the default.
Overview
Generate and validate YouTube video ideas aligned with content pillars, audience strategy, and priority tiers.
Prerequisites
- Access to the ORM environment or API
- Required CLI tools installed and authenticated
- Familiarity with ORM concepts and terminology
Instructions
- Assess the current state of the ORM configuration
- Identify the specific requirements and constraints
- Apply the recommended patterns from this skill
- Validate the changes against expected behavior
- Document the configuration for team reference
Output
- Configuration files or code changes applied to the project
- Validation report confirming correct implementation
- Summary of changes made and their rationale
Error Handling
| Error |
Cause |
Resolution |
| Authentication failure |
Invalid or expired credentials |
Refresh tokens or re-authenticate with ORM |
| Configuration conflict |
Incompatible settings detected |
Review and resolve conflicting parameters |
| Resource not found |
Referenced resource missing |
Verify resource exists and permissions are correct |
Examples
Basic usage: Apply yt ideation to a standard project setup with default configuration options.
Advanced scenario: Customize yt ideation for production environments with multiple constraints and team-specific requirements.
Resources
- Official ORM documentation
- Community best practices and patterns
- Related skills in this plugin pack
1---2name: yt-ideation3description: Generate and validate YouTube video ideas aligned with content pillars, audience strategy, and priority tiers. Use this skill whenever the user says "generate ideas", "brainstorm videos", "what should I make next", "video ideas", "content ideas", "ideation", "what topics should I cover", or wants to come up with new video concepts. Use when working with yt ideation. Trigger with 'yt', 'ideation'.4license: MIT5---6# YouTube Ideation78You are generating and validating video ideas for a YouTube channel. Every idea must align with the content strategy and serve the target audience.910## Before You Start1112You need from the user:13141. **Focus area** - What tool, niche, or topic to ideate around (e.g., "AI tools for professionals", "recent software updates", "productivity workflows")152. **Research data** (optional) - If `/yt-research` was run first, load `niche-analysis.json` and `niche-report.md` for data-informed ideation163. **Constraints** (optional) - Any specific requirements (e.g., "only short videos", "needs to be filmable this week", "must tie to a product launch")1718If the user provided focus already, confirm and proceed.1920## The Ideation Process2122### Step 1: Load Context2324Understand the creator's:25- **Content pillars** - What core topics does the channel focus on?26- **Audience** - Who are the viewers? What's their skill level?27- **Content types** - What formats work best? (tutorials, reviews, updates, comparisons)28- **Trending vs evergreen** - What's the balance between timely and long-lasting content?2930### Step 2: Generate 15-20 Raw Ideas3132Use these ideation methods:3334**Method 1: Gap Analysis** (if research data available)35- Content gaps from competitor analysis36- Topics with high demand but low competition37- Complex concepts that need accessible translation3839**Method 2: Trend Riding**40- Recent tool updates or feature launches41- Industry developments relevant to the audience42- Viral topics that can be made practical4344**Method 3: Format Innovation**45- Existing topics in new formats (comparison, mega-guide, use-case compilation)46- Content types competitors aren't using47- Series potential (multi-part tutorials)4849**Method 4: Audience Needs**50- Questions the audience is asking (Reddit, YouTube comments, community)51- Problems viewers face with the tools they use52- "How do I..." queries for the niche5354For each idea, define:55- **Working title**56- **Content tier** (Tier 1: growth content, Tier 2: supporting content)57- **Content type** (Full Tutorial, Feature Tutorial, Update Video, Use Case Video, Comparison, etc.)58- **One-line angle** (what makes this video unique)59- **Timeliness** (trending/urgent or evergreen)6061**Priority distribution:**62- 60-70% Tier 1 ideas (the growth engine)63- 30-40% Tier 2 ideas (supporting content)6465### Step 3: Quick Self-Filter6667Before validation, run each idea through a strategy test:68- Does it serve the target audience? (Must be yes)69- Can it be practically demonstrated? (Prefer yes)70- Does it support the content funnel? (Can we give away an asset?)71- Is it filmable in the current format?7273Remove ideas that fail the test. Note why for transparency.7475### Step 4: Validate Ideas7677Spawn `idea-validator` sub-agents (5 ideas per agent) to assess:78- Search demand (YouTube autocomplete, Google Trends, forums)79- Competition level (existing videos, quality bar)80- Trend direction (rising, stable, declining)81- Audience fit (accessibility, practical value)8283Each sub-agent returns an opportunity score (1-10) per idea.8485### Step 5: Present Ranked Results8687Present ideas to the user sorted by opportunity score:8889```markdown90Here are your validated video ideas, ranked by opportunity:9192| # | Title | Tier | Type | Demand | Competition | Score |93|---|-------|------|------|--------|-------------|-------|94| 1 | [title] | Tier 1 | Feature Tutorial | High | Low | 9.2 |95| 2 | [title] | Tier 1 | Update Video | High | Medium | 8.5 |96...9798Top recommendation: [title] - [1 sentence why]99100Which ideas do you want to develop into briefs?101```102103Options:104- Pick 1-3 ideas to brief105- Generate more ideas in a different direction106- Refine a specific idea before briefing107- Go back to research108109## Key Principles110111- **Tier 1 first** - Always prioritize growth content (tutorials, use cases, updates). These drive channel growth.112- **Audience-appropriate** - Every idea must pass the "would the target viewer find this useful?" test.113- **Practical over theoretical** - Favor ideas where the viewer walks away with something they can DO.114- **CTA-ready** - Strong ideas include a natural asset giveaway (template, workflow, plugin) that ties to the creator's business.115- **Data-informed** - When research data is available, use it. Gut-feel ideation is a fallback, not the default.116117## Overview118119Generate and validate YouTube video ideas aligned with content pillars, audience strategy, and priority tiers.120121## Prerequisites122123- Access to the ORM environment or API124- Required CLI tools installed and authenticated125- Familiarity with ORM concepts and terminology126127## Instructions1281291. Assess the current state of the ORM configuration1302. Identify the specific requirements and constraints1313. Apply the recommended patterns from this skill1324. Validate the changes against expected behavior1335. Document the configuration for team reference134135## Output136137- Configuration files or code changes applied to the project138- Validation report confirming correct implementation139- Summary of changes made and their rationale140141## Error Handling142143| Error | Cause | Resolution |144|-------|-------|------------|145| Authentication failure | Invalid or expired credentials | Refresh tokens or re-authenticate with ORM |146| Configuration conflict | Incompatible settings detected | Review and resolve conflicting parameters |147| Resource not found | Referenced resource missing | Verify resource exists and permissions are correct |148149## Examples150151**Basic usage**: Apply yt ideation to a standard project setup with default configuration options.152153**Advanced scenario**: Customize yt ideation for production environments with multiple constraints and team-specific requirements.154155## Resources156157- Official ORM documentation158- Community best practices and patterns159- Related skills in this plugin pack