teachskillofskills-ai Custom Content Template Manager
Create and manage custom content type templates beyond the 8 built-in types (article, blog, whitepaper, faq, research-paper, video-script, case-study, newsletter). Define section structure, word count ranges, readability targets, citation requirements, and quality standards — then use the template with /contentforge:create-content for consistent, repeatable content production.
Where templates live
- Built-in templates (read-only):
templates/content-types/inside the installed plugin — article, blog, whitepaper, faq, research-paper, video-script, case-study, newsletter. - Custom templates (user-created):
~/.claude-marketing/_templates/— never write into the installed plugin directory. Plugin updates and reinstalls wipe the plugin folder; anything saved there is lost.~/.claude-marketing/_templates/survives updates.
When to Use
Use /contentforge:cf-template when:
- You need a content type not covered by the 8 built-in templates (product comparison, landing page copy, press release, webinar outline, etc.)
- You want to standardize a content format your team produces regularly
- You need to modify an existing template (e.g., add a section to the article template)
- You're onboarding a client who has specific content format requirements
- You want to import a content structure from an example file
For producing content using a template, use /contentforge:create-content --type=custom:template-name.
For the 8 built-in templates, see templates/content-types/ (these ship with the plugin and cannot be deleted).
What This Command Does
- Define Template — Specify content type name, base type (or custom), word count range, readability target, and citation requirements
- Create Section Structure — Define sections with names, descriptions, word count allocations, and ordering
- Set Quality Standards — Readability target (grade level), citation density, keyword placement rules, and custom quality criteria
- Generate Template File — Create the template .md file in
~/.claude-marketing/_templates/ - Validate Pipeline Compatibility — Test that the template works with all ContentForge pipeline phases
Required Inputs
Minimum Required:
- Template Name — Name for the custom template (e.g., "case-study", "product-comparison", "email-newsletter")
Optional:
- Base Type — Start from an existing template and modify: article, blog, whitepaper, faq, research-paper, video-script, case-study, newsletter, or
custom(blank slate) - Word Count Range — Minimum and maximum word count (e.g., 1500-2500)
- Readability Target — Flesch-Kincaid grade level target (e.g., 8-10 for general, 12-14 for professional)
- Citation Minimum — Minimum number of citations required (e.g., 5)
- Section Structure — Array of section names with descriptions and word count allocations
How to Use
Interactive Mode (Recommended)
/contentforge:cf-template
Prompts you for:
- Template name
- Base type (or custom)
- Word count range
- Readability target
- Citation minimum
- Sections (add one at a time, or import from example)
Quick Mode
/contentforge:cf-template case-study --base=article --words=1500-2500 --readability=10-12 --citations=8
Import from Example File
/contentforge:cf-template product-comparison --from-example=./example-product-comparison.docx
Analyzes the example file's structure (headings, sections, word count) and creates a template matching that format.
Modify Existing Template
/contentforge:cf-template article --modify --add-section="Expert Quotes:Include 3-5 expert quotes with attribution:200-300"
List All Templates
/contentforge:cf-template --list
Shows built-in and custom templates with key specifications.
What Happens
Step 1: Template Definition (1-2 minutes)
Define the template's core specifications.
From Base Type:
- Load the base template's structure and specifications
- Allow modifications (add/remove/reorder sections, change word counts, adjust quality standards)
From Example File:
- Parse the example document's heading structure (H1/H2/H3)
- Measure word counts per section
- Identify citation patterns
- Generate a template matching the observed structure
From Custom (Blank Slate):
- Start with no predefined structure
- User defines every section from scratch
Example:
Template Definition
================================================================
Name: case-study
Base: article (modified)
Word Count Range: 1,500 - 2,500 words
Readability Target: Grade 10-12 (professional audience)
Citation Minimum: 8 sources
Keyword Strategy: 1 primary + 2 secondary keywords
Production Time Estimate: 25-35 minutes
Modifications from Base (article):
+ Added "Client Challenge" section
+ Added "Solution Implementation" section
+ Added "Results & Metrics" section
+ Added "Client Quote" section
- Removed generic "Background" section
* Changed conclusion to "Key Takeaways + CTA"
================================================================
Step 2: Section Structure Definition (2-3 minutes)
Define each section with name, description, word count allocation, and requirements.
Section Definition Format:
Section Name: [Name]
Description: [What this section should contain]
Word Count: [min-max] words
Required: [yes/no]
Citation Target: [number of citations expected]
Keyword Placement: [yes/no — should primary keyword appear here?]
Notes: [Additional guidance for the drafter]
Example Section Structure (Case Study):
Section Structure: case-study
================================================================
1. Title & Meta
Description: SEO-optimized title with client name (if permitted)
and key result
Word Count: N/A (title + meta description only)
Required: Yes
Keyword Placement: Yes (primary keyword in title)
2. Executive Summary (150-200 words)
Description: 2-3 paragraph overview of the client, challenge,
solution, and headline result. Should stand alone
as a compelling summary.
Required: Yes
Citation Target: 1 (for the headline metric)
Keyword Placement: Yes (within first 100 words)
3. Client Profile (100-150 words)
Description: Brief overview of the client organization — industry,
size, market position. Establish context without
revealing confidential details unless authorized.
Required: Yes
Citation Target: 0
Keyword Placement: No
4. The Challenge (200-300 words)
Description: Describe the specific problem or pain point the
client faced. Include business impact metrics
(cost, time, risk) where available. Make the
reader identify with the challenge.
Required: Yes
Citation Target: 1-2 (industry context for the challenge)
Keyword Placement: Yes (secondary keyword)
5. Solution Implementation (300-400 words)
Description: How the solution was implemented — phases, timeline,
key decisions, technical approach. Be specific enough
to be credible without revealing proprietary methods.
Required: Yes
Citation Target: 1-2 (technology references, methodology citations)
Keyword Placement: Yes (primary keyword)
6. Results & Metrics (250-350 words)
Description: Quantified outcomes with before/after comparisons.
Include at least 3 metrics (e.g., cost reduction %,
time savings, accuracy improvement, ROI). Use data
visualizations descriptions (tables, charts).
Required: Yes
Citation Target: 2-3 (verified metrics, industry benchmarks)
Keyword Placement: No
7. Client Testimonial (100-150 words)
Description: Direct quote from a client stakeholder about the
experience and results. Include name, title, and
organization (with permission).
Required: Yes (can use anonymized if needed)
Citation Target: 1 (the testimonial itself)
Keyword Placement: No
8. Key Takeaways (150-200 words)
Description: 3-5 bullet points summarizing lessons learned
and transferable insights for the reader.
Required: Yes
Citation Target: 0
Keyword Placement: Yes (primary keyword in closing)
9. Call to Action (50-100 words)
Description: Clear next step for the reader — contact form,
demo request, related case study, whitepaper download.
Required: Yes
Citation Target: 0
Keyword Placement: No
Total Sections: 9
Total Word Count: 1,300 - 1,850 (core) + title/meta
Within Range: Yes (1,500 - 2,500 with CTA and formatting)
================================================================
Step 3: Quality Standards Definition (1 minute)
Set the quality criteria specific to this template.
Quality Standards:
Quality Standards: case-study
================================================================
Readability:
Target Grade Level: 10-12 (Flesch-Kincaid)
Target Reading Ease: 45-55 (Flesch)
Audience: Business professionals, decision-makers
Citations:
Minimum Total: 8 sources
Minimum Density: 1 citation per 300 words
Required Types: At least 1 client-provided metric,
at least 2 industry benchmarks
Recency: 80% of sources within 24 months
SEO:
Primary Keyword Density: 1.5-2.0%
Primary Keyword Placements: Title, Executive Summary,
Challenge, Solution, Takeaways
Secondary Keywords: 2 keywords at 0.5-0.8% density
Meta Title: Under 60 characters
Meta Description: Under 155 characters
Content Quality:
Metrics Required: Minimum 3 quantified results
Testimonial: Required (anonymized acceptable)
Implementation Detail: Specific enough for credibility
Before/After: At least 1 before/after comparison
Brand Compliance:
Follows brand profile voice and terminology
Required disclaimers included (if applicable)
No prohibited claims
Humanization:
Burstiness: advisory, content-derived variation (no fixed target)
AI Pattern Check: Standard (43-pattern catalog)
================================================================
Step 4: Generate Template File (1 minute)
Create the template .md file in ~/.claude-marketing/_templates/ (create the directory if it doesn't exist).
Generated File: ~/.claude-marketing/_templates/case-study-structure.md
# Case Study Content Template
**Template Name:** case-study
**Template Revision:** 1.0.0
**Created:** 2026-02-25
**Base Type:** article (modified)
## Specifications
| Specification | Value |
|--------------|-------|
| Word Count | 1,500 - 2,500 |
| Readability | Grade 10-12 |
| Citations | 8+ sources |
| Primary Keywords | 1 |
| Secondary Keywords | 2 |
| Production Time | 25-35 min |
| Sections | 9 |
## Section Structure
[Full section definitions as defined in Step 2]
## Quality Standards
[Full quality standards as defined in Step 3]
## Usage
Use with ContentForge:
/contentforge:create-content "Title" --type=custom:case-study --brand=BrandName
## Examples
See the built-in structures in templates/content-types/ for format reference
Step 5: Pipeline Compatibility Validation (1 minute)
Test the template against all ContentForge pipeline phases.
Validation Checks:
- Phase 1 (Research): Can generate outline matching section structure
- Phase 3 (Drafting): Section word counts sum to within template range
- Phase 5 (Structurer): Heading hierarchy is valid (H1 > H2 > H3)
- Phase 6 (SEO): Keyword placement rules are compatible with section structure
- Phase 6.5 (Humanizer): Burstiness target is achievable for this word count
- Phase 7 (Reviewer): Quality standards are scoreable by the 5-dimension system
Example Validation:
Pipeline Compatibility: case-study
================================================================
Phase 1 (Research): PASS — Outline can target 9 sections
Phase 2 (Fact Check): PASS — Citation targets defined per section
Phase 3 (Drafting): PASS — Word counts sum to 1,300-1,850 (within range)
Phase 4 (Validation): PASS — Citation density achievable
Phase 5 (Structurer): PASS — H1 > H2 hierarchy valid
Phase 6 (SEO): PASS — Keyword placements in 5 sections
Phase 6.5 (Humanizer): PASS — Burstiness achievable at 1,500+ words
Phase 7 (Reviewer): PASS — All 5 quality dimensions scoreable
Phase 8 (Output): PASS — .docx generation compatible
Overall: PASS — Template is pipeline-compatible
================================================================
Built-In Template Examples
For reference, here are templates others commonly create:
Case Study
/contentforge:cf-template case-study --base=article --words=1500-2500 --readability=10-12 --citations=8
Sections: Executive Summary, Client Profile, Challenge, Solution, Results, Testimonial, Takeaways, CTA
Product Comparison
/contentforge:cf-template product-comparison --base=article --words=2000-3500 --readability=9-11 --citations=12
Sections: Overview, Comparison Criteria, Product-by-Product Analysis (3-5 products), Feature Matrix, Pricing Comparison, Use Case Recommendations, Verdict, CTA
Landing Page Copy
/contentforge:cf-template landing-page --base=custom --words=500-1000 --readability=7-9 --citations=3
Sections: Hero Headline + Subhead, Problem Statement, Solution Overview, Key Benefits (3-5), Social Proof, Feature Highlights, FAQ (3-5 questions), CTA
Email Newsletter
/contentforge:cf-template email-newsletter --base=blog --words=400-800 --readability=7-9 --citations=2
Sections: Subject Line (A/B options), Preview Text, Opening Hook, Main Content (1-2 topics), Key Takeaway, CTA, PS Line
Output
The template creation produces:
| Output | Description |
|---|---|
| Template File | .md file at ~/.claude-marketing/_templates/[name]-structure.md |
| Usage Instructions | Command to use the template with /contentforge:create-content |
| Pipeline Validation | Compatibility test results for all 10 phases |
| Specifications Summary | Word count, readability, citations, sections count |
Output Example
Template Created: case-study
================================================================
File: ~/.claude-marketing/_templates/case-study-structure.md
Specifications:
Word Count: 1,500 - 2,500
Readability: Grade 10-12
Citations: 8+ sources
Sections: 9
Production Time: 25-35 min
Pipeline Validation: PASS (all 10 phases compatible)
Usage:
/contentforge:create-content "Client X: How AI Reduced Diagnostic Time by 40%"
--type=custom:case-study --brand=AcmeMed
Templates Available (Built-In + Custom):
Built-in: article, blog, whitepaper, faq, research-paper, video-script, case-study, newsletter
Custom: case-study (new)
================================================================
Managing Templates
List All Templates
/contentforge:cf-template --list
Available Content Templates
================================================================
BUILT-IN (5):
article | 1,500-2,000 words | Grade 10-12 | 8-12 citations
blog | 800-1,500 words | Grade 8-10 | 5-8 citations
whitepaper | 2,500-5,000 words | Grade 12-14 | 15-25 citations
faq | 600-1,200 words | Grade 8-10 | 3-5 citations
research-paper | 4,000-8,000 words | Grade 14-16 | 25-50 citations
video-script | duration-driven | Grade 6-9 | 2-5 citations
case-study | 1,200-2,000 words | Grade 9-11 | 5-10 external citations
newsletter | 500-1,200 words | Grade 7-9 | 2-5 inline links
CUSTOM (1):
case-study | 1,500-2,500 words | Grade 10-12 | 8+ citations
================================================================
View Template Details
/contentforge:cf-template case-study --view
Displays the full template specification with all sections and quality standards.
Delete Custom Template
/contentforge:cf-template case-study --delete
Removes the custom template file. Built-in templates cannot be deleted.
Export Template
/contentforge:cf-template case-study --export=./case-study-template.json
Exports the template as JSON for sharing with other ContentForge installations.
Troubleshooting
"Word counts don't sum to range"
Cause: Section word count allocations don't add up to the template's total word count range. Solution: Adjust individual section word counts or the template's total range. The template creator will warn you during definition if allocations are mismatched.
"Pipeline validation failed at Phase 7"
Cause: Quality standards are too strict or conflicting (e.g., Grade 7 readability with 25 citations — low readability + high citation density is hard to achieve). Solution: Relax either the readability target or the citation minimum. The validation will suggest which constraint to adjust.
"Template not found when using --type=custom:name"
Cause: Template file doesn't exist in ~/.claude-marketing/_templates/ (custom) or templates/content-types/ (built-in), or the name doesn't match.
Solution: Run /contentforge:cf-template --list to see available templates. Names are kebab-case (e.g., case-study, not Case Study). Custom templates created before mid-2026 may still sit inside the old plugin-directory location — if so, move them to ~/.claude-marketing/_templates/ so plugin updates don't delete them.
"Can't modify built-in template"
Cause: Built-in templates (article, blog, whitepaper, faq, research-paper, video-script, case-study, newsletter) are read-only.
Solution: Create a custom template based on the built-in one: /contentforge:cf-template my-article --base=article. This creates a copy you can modify freely.
Limitations
- Custom templates live at
~/.claude-marketing/_templates/on this machine (not synced to cloud unless exported) - Base type modification copies the base — changes to the base later won't propagate to the custom template
- Maximum sections: 15 per template (more than 15 makes the pipeline unwieldy)
- Minimum word count: 300 words (below this, the quality scoring system is unreliable)
- Import from example works best with well-structured .docx files (clear heading hierarchy)
Agent Used
None. This skill uses deterministic template creation (section definition, word count calculation, validation rules) without agent-based reasoning.
Related Skills
- /contentforge:create-content — Use templates with
--type=custom:template-name - /contentforge:batch-process — Batch can reference custom templates
- /contentforge:cf-brief — Briefs can target custom template section structures
Agent: None (deterministic template creation)
Output: Template .md file at ~/.claude-marketing/_templates/, pipeline validation, usage instructions