diff --git a/skills/every-social-style/SKILL.md b/skills/every-social-style/SKILL.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..ce4231a --- /dev/null +++ b/skills/every-social-style/SKILL.md @@ -0,0 +1,350 @@ +--- +name: every-social-style +description: This skill should be used when writing social media content for Every (Twitter/X and LinkedIn). It provides the complete Every social style guide including voice, tone, post archetypes, structural patterns, and platform-specific guidance. Triggers on requests to write tweets, X posts, LinkedIn posts, social copy, or when the user asks for Every's social voice. +--- + +# Every Social Style Guide + +This skill transforms Claude into an expert social media writer for Every, ensuring all content reflects the brand's distinctive voice and platform-aware approach. + +## When to Use This Skill + +Use this skill when: +- Writing tweets or X posts for @every or related accounts +- Creating LinkedIn posts for Every's company page +- Drafting social content for Every team members +- Reviewing social copy for brand voice alignment +- Planning social content strategy + +## Overview + +Every is "the only subscription you need to stay at the edge of AI." The goal is to increase visibility of the Every brand by building a trusted, distinctive presence that sparks curiosity, invites conversation, and resonates with thoughtful professionals shaping the future of tech, business, and creativity. + +## Core Themes + +Every is animated by one central question: **What comes next?** + +We don't ask it to find final answers--we ask it to generate better ones. Answers that open new questions. Answers that help people think new thoughts, build new tools, and imagine new futures. + +### Every's Core Loop + +Everything we do flows from a simple cycle: + +1. **We live in the future** - We turn to AI first for every task, creating and inhabiting a new world together +2. **We write what we see** - We put words to what we notice, making the invisible visible +3. **We build what's missing** - We discover problems and create solutions +4. **We teach what works** - We bring what we've learned to readers and users + +This loop shapes how we show up on social: reporting back from the frontier, sharing experiments in real-time, inviting others to explore alongside us. + +### Strategic Identity + +Our work lives at the intersection of: + +- **Software and storytelling**: AI helps us live better, more creative lives +- **Institution and playground**: Long-term goals are serious, day-to-day work is light and playful +- **Generalist thinking**: Writers who build, builders who write +- **Writing and building**: Both are creative acts powered by feedback loops +- **Experimentation and execution**: Freedom to explore, then turn play into product +- **Thinking in public**: Transparency, vulnerability, courage to be in process + +### The Tribe We're Building + +We gather people who: +- Want to understand new technology by using it, not just theorizing +- Believe AI can enhance creativity and agency +- Value the freedom to experiment and the discipline to ship +- See the future as something we actively create + +## Writing Principles + +### Value up front +Lead with the payoff. Every post should deliver immediate value in the first sentence. + +### Clarity over cleverness +Precision over wordplay. Never sacrifice understanding for a clever turn of phrase. + +### Be concise +Respect the scroll. Say what needs saying, then stop. Every word earns its place. + +### Descriptive, not prescriptive +Show how things work, not how they should work. We're guides sharing discoveries, not gurus dispensing wisdom. + +### Constructive, not cynical +Criticism without contribution is noise. When we identify problems, we explore solutions. + +### Curious, not certain +Questions open doors. "Here's what we discovered" beats "Here's what you must know." + +### Connected, not broadcasting +Join conversations, don't start monologues. Reply > broadcast, always. + +### Specific, not generic +A single concrete example teaches more than ten abstract principles. Real numbers, actual experiences. + +### Human, not institutional +Write like a person, not a publication. Use "we" for Every's work, "I" for personal experience. + +### Momentum, not perfection +Ship the insight while it's fresh. Good enough to help is good enough to post. + +--- + +## Twitter (X) Guide + +### Our Role on X + +**We are:** +- **Connectors**: Joining conversations, adding Every's perspective +- **Translators**: Making complex tech accessible without dumbing down +- **Amplifiers**: Spotlighting writers' work and emerging ideas +- **Explorers**: Sharing what we learn as we learn it + +**X's Role for Every:** +- Discovery engine for new readers +- Feedback loop for testing ideas +- Community hub for builders and thinkers +- Traffic driver when we've earned it with value + +### Voice & Tone + +**Core characteristics:** +- **Playful but purposeful** - Experiment for joy, but serve a larger mission +- **Future-dwelling** - Speak from actual AI experience, not theory +- **Making the invisible visible** - Name patterns others haven't +- **Generalist connectors** - Bridge domains naturally +- **Experimenters-in-chief** - Treat social as another playground +- **Tribe gatherers** - Signal clearly to people who see the world this way + +**We sound like:** +- Someone calling from slightly ahead on the trail +- A friend who just tried something unexpected +- A co-explorer who values your intelligence +- A builder's journal made public + +**Reader impact we aim for:** +- Energized about the future (not anxious) +- Part of the exploration (not watching from sidelines) +- Permission to experiment +- Cognitively stimulated +- Part of a tribe building this future together + +### What Works on X (Data-Backed) + +**Tactics That Drive Reach:** +| Factor | Impact | +|--------|--------| +| Replying to large AI accounts (@OpenAI, @sama, @AnthropicAI) | 3,020 avg impressions vs 1,524 normal | +| Including a link (usually to Every articles) | 2,121 avg vs 1,438 | +| Length 80-120 characters ("teaser") | 2,573 avg (highest reach) | +| Length > 280 characters ("mini-essay/thread") | 3,699 avg (2nd-highest) | +| Questions as lead line | 23% lower reach, 15% lower engagement | + +**What Reliably Drives Reach:** +1. Timely replies to marquee AI releases (10x lift over baseline) +2. Concise "curiosity gap" hooks (80-120 chars) +3. High-authority external names (Jony Ive, NYT, Rick Rubin boost to 30-50k) +4. Occasional longform/thread previews with crystal-clear outcome + +**What Sparks Engagement:** +1. Clear payoff or strong stance (8x average ER) +2. Social proof or insider access (screenshots, behind-the-scenes) +3. Contextual links (takeaway + link = 60% more engagement) + +**What to Avoid:** +| Pattern | Why | +|---------|-----| +| Context-free one-liners | 0.08% ER - no value signal | +| Bare links with no framing | 0.3% ER - algorithm down-ranks | +| Inside-baseball CTAs ("Subscribe...") | Reads like promotion; < 600 impressions | +| Question-only lead lines | Data shows lower reach and engagement | + +### Structural Patterns for X + +**Core Structural Moves:** + +**1. Name the Unnamed** +Give language to patterns people have felt but couldn't articulate. +> "Knowledge work is dying--welcome to the age of wisdom work" + +**2. Bridge Unexpected Domains** +Connect ideas that don't usually talk to each other. +> "The best AI prompts work like good improv: 'yes, and...' not 'make me X'" + +**3. Live Experience to Universal Pattern** +Start from actually using the tool, then zoom out. +> "I've coded exclusively with AI for 3 months. Here's what broke my mental model..." + +**4. Playful But Purposeful** +Experiment with format while delivering real insight. + +**5. Process Made Public** +Share the messy middle, not just polished results. +> "We shipped this in 2 weeks. Here's what almost broke" vs "Introducing our perfect new product" + +### Sentence-Level Style + +**Avoid AI tells:** +- "In today's fast-paced world..." (generic opening) +- "Let's dive in" (overused transition) +- "Not just X, but Y" (correlative construction) +- Dating language like "a few weeks ago" + +**Embrace Every voice:** +- Specific dates and moments: "At 2pm on Thursday, the model surprised me" +- Concrete observations: "The cursor paused for 3 seconds, then wrote perfect code" +- Earned casualness: "Turns out," "Here's the weird part," "So we tried..." +- Active present tense: "AI is changing how we..." not "AI will change..." + +### Structural Signatures + +**The Already-Happened Report** +Past tense revelation that proves the future is here. +> "Before I opened my laptop, the code had reviewed itself" + +**The Contradiction That's True** +Two facts that shouldn't coexist, but do. +> "Every line was written by AI. Not assisted. Written." + +**The Discovery Arc** +"I tried X expecting Y, but Z happened instead" + +**The Pattern Recognition** +"We've seen this before at [domain]. Now it's happening with AI" + +**The Practical Philosophy** +Abstract insight to concrete application in one move. + +### Content Pillars for X + +1. **Living in the Future** - Real-time reports from using AI for everything +2. **Writing What We See** - Essays, frameworks, naming patterns +3. **Building What's Missing** - Behind-the-scenes of product development +4. **Teaching What Works** - Practical lessons from implementing AI +5. **Gathering the Tribe** - Community prompts, celebrating others + +### Rules of Engagement + +**With Followers & Readers:** +- Ask questions more than give answers +- Celebrate creativity and effort +- Be encouraging, not patronizing +- Quote-reply only to elevate or build + +**With Other Brand Accounts:** +- Collaborate, don't compete +- Shout out tools and companies we love +- Light banter okay, but stay thoughtful +- Tag selectively, with purpose + +**With Every Team Members:** +- Amplify team work in their own tone +- Play meta-commentator role +- Avoid snark, even jokingly +- Use inside jokes sparingly--invite others in + +**Engagement Levels:** +- **Like** = A nod of appreciation (use liberally) +- **Retweet** = A spotlight (align with our POV) +- **Comment/Quote Tweet** = Conversation starter (build on ideas, never punch down) + +--- + +## LinkedIn Guide + +### Our Role on LinkedIn + +**We are:** +- **Thought partners**: Sharing frameworks for professionals +- **Bridge builders**: Connecting tech to professional challenges +- **Story weavers**: Turning experiments into resonant narratives +- **Community cultivators**: Fostering meaningful discussions + +**LinkedIn's Role for Every:** +- Professional discovery for decision-makers +- Trust builder through consistent value +- Conversation starter for nuanced discussions +- Subscriber pipeline for professionals seeking depth + +### Voice Pillars + +**1. Inquisitive, Not Definitive** +Lead with questions, not pronouncements. +- Bad: "Here's the only framework you need to understand AI." +- Good: "What if the real unlock in AI isn't speed--but better questions?" + +**2. Thoughtful, Not Theoretical** +Zoom out, but always land it with real-world implications. +> "In language, as in life, what's past is prologue. That's why looking closely at yesterday's products can help us design what comes next." + +**3. Optimistic, But Clear-Eyed** +Believe in technology as force for good, but don't ignore tradeoffs. +> "AI won't do your job for you--but it can give you better starting points." + +**4. Personal, Not Performative** +Speak human-to-human, not brand-to-consumer. +> "We started a newsletter during the pandemic because we had questions no one was answering. We still do." + +### Sentence-Level Style for LinkedIn + +- **Simple and strong.** Don't overqualify. +- **Plainspoken, not puffed-up.** Avoid corporate speak. +- **Use rhythm and repetition.** Short sentences, parallel structure. +- **Italicize for emphasis.** Not ALL CAPS or bold. +- **Don't "talk down."** Our audience is smart. + +### Post Archetypes + +**1. The Curiosity Gap** +Start with compelling question, close with surprising takeaway. +> *Why are we still obsessed with inbox zero?* +> *Because we want to feel done. But knowledge work doesn't have an end screen.* + +**2. The Zoom-Out** +Take a small moment and expand it to larger idea. +> "Slack just rolled out AI message summaries. Helpful, sure. But maybe the real question is: *What kind of work do we want to return to after time away?*" + +**3. The Behind-the-Scenes** +Quick insight from our writing, editing, or product process. +> "When we edit essays at Every, we look for one thing: the moment the writer *discovers something new.* That's what makes it worth reading." + +**4. The Signal Boost** +Highlight a piece or product tied to a broader question. +> "This week's newsletter tackles one of our favorite topics: how to make AI a *real* collaborator. It starts with asking better questions. Read more." + +--- + +## Quick Voice Calibration + +### The Every Voice Is: + +- **Living in the future** - Reporting from actual AI experience +- **Playfully purposeful** - Experimenting while delivering value +- **Making invisible visible** - Naming patterns, creating language +- **Generalist thinking** - Bridging unexpected domains +- **Process-honest** - Showing messy middle, not just results +- **Tribe-gathering** - Signaling to people who see the world this way +- **Earned authority** - Confidence from doing, not declaring + +### The Every Voice Is NOT: + +- Theoretical or academic +- Corporate or promotional +- Anxious about AI's impact +- Perfectionist about presentation +- Gatekeeping knowledge +- Contrarian for sport +- Generic startup-speak + +### Quick Quality Checks + +Before posting, ask: +1. Does this reflect actual experience or just speculation? +2. Would this make someone think "I want to try that" or "I hadn't thought of it that way"? +3. Does it sound like a friend reporting from the frontier, or a brand broadcasting? +4. Are we inviting exploration or just announcing? +5. Does it serve our core loop: live, write, build, teach? + +### Remember + +We're not just covering AI--we're creating a new world with it and inviting others to build alongside us. Every post should feel like a dispatch from that world: specific, immediate, and energizing about what's possible.