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:

Pillar: [Name]
Ratio: [%]
Content types: [frameworks / stories / case studies]
Example hook: "[First line of a real post]"
Connection to goal: [how this drives the stated outcome]

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:

[Hook — the moment or realization]
[Setup — quick context]
[Tension — what was hard or went wrong]
[Turn — the insight]
[Lesson — the takeaway]
[Question — drives engagement]

Framework Post:

[Hook — bold claim or problem statement]
[Why this matters — 1-2 sentences]
[The X-step framework:]
1. [Step + brief explanation]
2. [Step + brief explanation]
3. [Step + brief explanation]
[Key insight or summary]
[CTA or discussion question]

Hot Take:

[Controversial statement]
[Your reasoning — 2-3 sentences]
[The nuance people miss]
[What to do instead]
[Question to drive comments]

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:

1. [Hook]
2. [Hook]
3. [Hook]
4. [Hook]
5. [Hook]

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

markdown
## LinkedIn Strategy: [Name] — [Date]

### Positioning Alignment
[One-liner + assessment of clarity]

### Content Pillars
[3-5 pillars with ratio, examples, connection to goal]

### Weekly Rhythm
- Posts/week: [X]
- Best times: [e.g., Tue/Thu 8am EST]
- Active commenting: [X min/day]

### Format Mix
[Breakdown with rationale]

### 4-Week Content Calendar
[Table with real dates + hooks]

### 5 Starter Posts (Write These First)
[Hooks with format labels]

### Engagement Plan
[Who to engage with, how much time, what to say]

### Self-Critique Notes
[Issues flagged + recommended fixes]

### 30-Day Review Triggers
[What to measure and when to adjust]

### Cross-References
- linkedin-profile-optimizer (run before publishing)
- content-idea-generator (for ongoing idea generation)
- voice-extractor (to ensure posts sound authentic)

Skill by Brian Wagner | AI Marketing Architect | brianrwagner.com