Build a LinkedIn content system for thought leadership. Use when someone needs to establish authority, attract inbound leads, or build a consistent content presence. Covers positioning, content pillars, formats, and posting rhythm.

LinkedIn Authority Builder Here's what most people get wrong about LinkedIn: they're trying to go viral. Viral doesn't pay your bills. Being remembered by the right 500 people when they need what you do — that pays your bills. This skill builds a content system around consistent positioning and clear pillars — not hacks. Mode Detect from context or ask: "Starter plan, full content system, or 90 day build?" Mode What you get Best for quick 3 content pillars + 1 week posting starter plan Getting unstuck, first week of consistency standard Full content system: pillars, formats, posting rhythm + first week written Building a repeatable presence deep Full system + 90 day calendar + 10 posts written + engagement playbook Serious authority building campaign Default: standard — use quick if they just need to start posting. Use deep if they're committing to LinkedIn as a growth channel. Context Loading Gates Before generating any strategy, load: [ ] Current positioning: One liner, ICP, key differentiator (load from positioning basics output if available) [ ] Target audience on LinkedIn: Specific titles, company stages, industries [ ] Posting history: What have they tried? What worked? What didn't? [ ] Content goals: Leads / job offers / speaking / partnerships / audience growth [ ] Available time per week: Hours they can realistically commit Sequencing gate: If positioning isn't clear yet, stop and ask: "Before building a content strategy, I need your one liner: 'I help [specific audience] with [specific outcome] through [unique approach].' Do you have this locked, or should we nail positioning first with positioning basics ?" Do not build a content system for an unclear position — the content will be unfocused. Also suggest: "Run linkedin profile optimizer if you haven't — the content we build needs a profile that converts the traffic." Phase 1: Positioning Alignment Analysis Before recommending any content, reason through: 1. Positioning check: Is the one liner specific enough to anchor content pillars? If it's "I help businesses grow," that's too vague — push for specificity before proceeding. 2. Audience clarity: Are we targeting a specific title + company stage, or a demographic? Specific is better. 3. Time to output match: If they have 2 hours/week, don't recommend 5 posts/week. Sustainability matters more than ambition. 4. Goal alignment: Content for lead generation looks different from content for speaking gigs. Confirm goal before building pillars. Output a brief strategy assessment: "You're a [role] targeting [audience] with [X hours/week] and a goal of [outcome]. I'll build a [3/5 post/week] strategy anchored to [X] pillars. The main gap in your current approach: [specific gap]." Phase 2: Content Pillars (3–5 Required) Each pillar must pass all 4 tests: 1. You have genuine expertise (not just interest) 2. Your target audience actively cares about it 3. You can produce content on it consistently for 6+ months 4. It connects to what you sell or want to be known for Pillar ratio: 70% core expertise → builds authority 20% adjacent insights → makes you interesting 10% personal → makes you relatable Output format per pillar: Phase 3: Format Selection & Post Templates Format to Goal Mapping Format Best For Engagement Level Story Connection, memorability High Framework/List Authority, credibility High Hot take Reach, visibility Variable Case study/proof Credibility, late stage trust Medium Behind the scenes Relatability, trust Medium Recommended weekly mix: 2–3 frameworks (authority) 1–2 stories (connection) 1 proof point (credibility) Post Templates Story Post: Framework Post: Hot Take: Phase 4: Content Calendar with Real Dates Generate a 4 week calendar with actual dates (not generic day names): Date Pillar Format Hook (first line) Status [YYYY MM DD] [Pillar] Framework "[First line]" Draft [YYYY MM DD] [Pillar] Story "[First line]" Draft Fill 4 full weeks. Generic "Week 1, Monday" output is not sufficient. Also output 5 starter post hooks ready to write immediately — these break the blank page problem: Phase 5: Self Critique Pass (REQUIRED) After generating the strategy, evaluate: [ ] Is the positioning one liner specific enough to anchor the pillars? [ ] Are the 5 starter hooks actually strong — would they stop the scroll? [ ] Does the time commitment match the user's stated available hours? [ ] Is at least one pillar directly tied to the revenue/goal outcome? [ ] Does the calendar have actual dates, or just generic "Day 1/Day 3" placeholders? [ ] Would this content system still work in 6 months if the user stays consistent? Flag issues: "Pillar 3 ('general business tips') doesn't connect to your stated goal of attracting SaaS founders. Replace with something more specific." Phase 6: 30 Day Iteration Protocol After 30 days, review with these questions: Which posts got the most comments? What pillar did they fall under? Which posts drove DMs or profile views? Which posts got the most impressions regardless of engagement? Adjust based on data: If case study posts outperform frameworks → increase case study ratio If stories drive DMs but frameworks drive impressions → use both intentionally Output Structure Skill by Brian Wagner AI Marketing Architect brianrwagner.com

linkedin-authority-builder