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
Source: jeremylongshore/claude-code-plugins-plus-skills → skills/.curated/yt-ideation/SKILL.md
Also appears in: jeremylongshore/claude-code-plugins-plus-skills/plugins/productivity/youtube-strategy/skills/yt-ideation/SKILL.md
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''. '4---5
6# YouTube Ideation
7
8You are generating and validating video ideas for a YouTube channel. Every idea must align with the content strategy and serve the target audience.
9
10## Before You Start
11
12You need from the user:
13
141. **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 ideation
163. **Constraints** (optional) - Any specific requirements (e.g., "only short videos", "needs to be filmable this week", "must tie to a product launch")
17
18If the user provided focus already, confirm and proceed.
19
20## The Ideation Process
21
22### Step 1: Load Context
23
24Understand the creator's:
25
26- **Content pillars** - What core topics does the channel focus on?
27- **Audience** - Who are the viewers? What's their skill level?
28- **Content types** - What formats work best? (tutorials, reviews, updates, comparisons)
29- **Trending vs evergreen** - What's the balance between timely and long-lasting content?
30
31### Step 2: Generate 15-20 Raw Ideas
32
33Use these ideation methods:
34
35**Method 1: Gap Analysis** (if research data available)
36
37- Content gaps from competitor analysis
38- Topics with high demand but low competition
39- Complex concepts that need accessible translation
40
41**Method 2: Trend Riding**
42
43- Recent tool updates or feature launches
44- Industry developments relevant to the audience
45- Viral topics that can be made practical
46
47**Method 3: Format Innovation**
48
49- Existing topics in new formats (comparison, mega-guide, use-case compilation)
50- Content types competitors aren't using
51- Series potential (multi-part tutorials)
52
53**Method 4: Audience Needs**
54
55- Questions the audience is asking (Reddit, YouTube comments, community)
56- Problems viewers face with the tools they use
57- "How do I..." queries for the niche
58
59For each idea, define:
60
61- **Working title**
62- **Content tier** (Tier 1: growth content, Tier 2: supporting content)
63- **Content type** (Full Tutorial, Feature Tutorial, Update Video, Use Case Video, Comparison, etc.)
64- **One-line angle** (what makes this video unique)
65- **Timeliness** (trending/urgent or evergreen)
66
67**Priority distribution:**
68
69- 60-70% Tier 1 ideas (the growth engine)
70- 30-40% Tier 2 ideas (supporting content)
71
72### Step 3: Quick Self-Filter
73
74Before validation, run each idea through a strategy test:
75
76- Does it serve the target audience? (Must be yes)
77- Can it be practically demonstrated? (Prefer yes)
78- Does it support the content funnel? (Can we give away an asset?)
79- Is it filmable in the current format?
80
81Remove ideas that fail the test. Note why for transparency.
82
83### Step 4: Validate Ideas
84
85Spawn `idea-validator` sub-agents (5 ideas per agent) to assess:
86
87- Search demand (YouTube autocomplete, Google Trends, forums)
88- Competition level (existing videos, quality bar)
89- Trend direction (rising, stable, declining)
90- Audience fit (accessibility, practical value)
91
92Each sub-agent returns an opportunity score (1-10) per idea.
93
94### Step 5: Present Ranked Results
95
96Present ideas to the user sorted by opportunity score:
97
98```markdown
99Here are your validated video ideas, ranked by opportunity:
100
101| # | Title | Tier | Type | Demand | Competition | Score |
102|---|-------|------|------|--------|-------------|-------|
103| 1 | [title] | Tier 1 | Feature Tutorial | High | Low | 9.2 |
104| 2 | [title] | Tier 1 | Update Video | High | Medium | 8.5 |
105...
106
107Top recommendation: [title] - [1 sentence why]
108
109Which ideas do you want to develop into briefs?
110```
111
112Options:
113
114- Pick 1-3 ideas to brief
115- Generate more ideas in a different direction
116- Refine a specific idea before briefing
117- Go back to research
118
119## Key Principles
120
121- **Tier 1 first** - Always prioritize growth content (tutorials, use cases, updates). These drive channel growth.
122- **Audience-appropriate** - Every idea must pass the "would the target viewer find this useful?" test.
123- **Practical over theoretical** - Favor ideas where the viewer walks away with something they can DO.
124- **CTA-ready** - Strong ideas include a natural asset giveaway (template, workflow, plugin) that ties to the creator's business.
125- **Data-informed** - When research data is available, use it. Gut-feel ideation is a fallback, not the default.
126
127## Overview
128
129Generate and validate YouTube video ideas aligned with content pillars, audience strategy, and priority tiers.
130
131## Prerequisites
132
133- Access to the ORM environment or API
134- Required CLI tools installed and authenticated
135- Familiarity with ORM concepts and terminology
136
137## Instructions
138
1391. Assess the current state of the ORM configuration
1402. Identify the specific requirements and constraints
1413. Apply the recommended patterns from this skill
1424. Validate the changes against expected behavior
1435. Document the configuration for team reference
144
145## Output
146
147- Configuration files or code changes applied to the project
148- Validation report confirming correct implementation
149- Summary of changes made and their rationale
150
151## Error Handling
152
153| Error | Cause | Resolution |
154|-------|-------|------------|
155| Authentication failure | Invalid or expired credentials | Refresh tokens or re-authenticate with ORM |
156| Configuration conflict | Incompatible settings detected | Review and resolve conflicting parameters |
157| Resource not found | Referenced resource missing | Verify resource exists and permissions are correct |
158
159## Examples
160
161**Basic usage**: Apply yt ideation to a standard project setup with default configuration options.
162
163**Advanced scenario**: Customize yt ideation for production environments with multiple constraints and team-specific requirements.
164
165## Resources
166
167- Official ORM documentation
168- Community best practices and patterns
169- Related skills in this plugin pack
170
171---
172
173**Source:** [`jeremylongshore/claude-code-plugins-plus-skills`](https://github.com/jeremylongshore/claude-code-plugins-plus-skills) → `skills/.curated/yt-ideation/SKILL.md`
174
175**Also appears in:** `jeremylongshore/claude-code-plugins-plus-skills/plugins/productivity/youtube-strategy/skills/yt-ideation/SKILL.md`