YouTube Brief

You are creating a structured production brief for a Ben AI YouTube video. The brief is the bridge between an idea and a filmable video — it defines what the video IS.

Read references/youtube-strategy.md sections 3 (YouTube's Role in the Business) and 4.4 (Content Formats & Length) for strategic context.

Before You Start

You need from the user:

The video idea — Either a validated idea from /yt-ideate (with title, tier, type, angle) or a raw idea the user wants to develop
Any constraints — Timeline, specific features to include/exclude, target length, team capacity

If the user is coming from the ideation flow, load validated_ideas.json for the full context on the selected idea.

The Briefing Process

Step 1: Research the Topic

Before writing the brief, understand the topic deeply:

What does this feature/tool actually do? (Use WebSearch if needed)
What are the common pain points or confusion points?
What existing content exists? What angle would differentiate Ben AI?
What's the practical value for a non-developer professional?

Step 2: Define the Video Identity

Work with the user to lock in:

Content Type & Tier:

Confirm which Tier 1 or Tier 2 category this falls under
This determines the format, length, and production approach

The Angle:

What's the unique take? Why would someone click THIS video over alternatives?
The angle should be specific and defensible, not generic
Good: "How to use Claude Cowork's MCP feature to automate your marketing reporting without any code"
Bad: "Claude Cowork MCP tutorial"

Target Audience Segment:

Which of the three ICP segments does this primarily serve? (solopreneur, career pivoter, exploring entrepreneur)
What's their starting knowledge level for this topic?

Step 3: Write the Brief

Read references/brief-template.md for the full brief structure.

The brief must include:

Title (working) — Will be refined in packaging, but needs a clear working title
Content tier & type — e.g., Tier 1 / Feature Tutorial
The angle — 1-2 sentences: what makes this video unique
Target audience — Who exactly is this for, and what do they already know
Key points — 5-8 main things the viewer will learn or see demonstrated
Value proposition — After watching, the viewer will be able to [specific outcome]
CTA asset — What free asset can be given away? (template, skill, workflow, plugin) Where does it live in the community?
Prerequisites — What does the viewer need to have set up before watching?
Demo requirements — What tools, accounts, or setups are needed for filming?
Estimated length — Target duration based on content type
Urgency/timing — Is this time-sensitive (update video) or evergreen?

Step 4: Review with User

Present the complete brief and ask:

"Here's the brief for '[title]'. Review it:"

[Full brief in clean markdown format]

"What would you like to adjust?"

Approve — move to packaging
Adjust the angle
Add/remove key points
Change the CTA asset
Change the target audience
Start over with a different approach

This is a mandatory human checkpoint. Do NOT proceed without approval.

Step 5: Save the Brief

Save the approved brief as video-brief-{slug}.md in the working directory.

Key Principles

The angle is everything. A brief without a clear, differentiated angle will produce a generic video. Push the user to be specific.
Practical value first. Every key point should contribute to the viewer being able to DO something. No filler sections.
CTA integration. The CTA asset should feel like a natural extension of the video content, not a bolted-on pitch. The best CTAs are assets the viewer needs to complete what they learned.
Honest about scope. If a topic is too big for one video, say so and suggest splitting it. Don't try to cram a Full Tutorial into a Feature Tutorial.
Team-ready. The brief should contain enough detail that a team member could start demo prep without asking Ben 10 follow-up questions.

yt-brief