| name | snowball-content |
| description | Use when turning a single topic into a full content plan with multiple angles, formats, and a publishing calendar. Triggers on "content plan", "content calendar", "snowball method", "turn one topic into many posts", "content multiplication", "30 days of content", "content from one idea". |
The Snowball Method
Turn 1 topic into 40+ content pieces across platforms using a 4-prompt sequential pipeline.
The Pipeline
This is a sequential 4-prompt process. Each prompt builds on the previous output. Do NOT skip steps or combine them.
digraph snowball {
rankdir=TB;
core [label="Prompt 1: THE CORE\nAsk clarifying questions FIRST\nthen define the core problem"];
angles [label="Prompt 2: ANGLES & HEADLINES\n7 unexpected angles from core\neach with hooks, facts, controversy"];
branches [label="Prompt 3: BRANCHES\n3 subtopics per angle\n3 formats per subtopic"];
calendar [label="Prompt 4: 30-DAY CALENDAR\nPlatform-adapted posts\nwith metrics and distribution"];
core -> angles;
angles -> branches;
branches -> calendar;
}
Prompt 1: THE CORE
You MUST ask clarifying questions before producing output. Do not skip this.
Ask about:
- Goal (what outcome does this content serve?)
- Target audience (who specifically?)
- Pain points (what keeps them up at night?)
- Constraints (budget, team size, tools available?)
- Tone (professional, casual, provocative, educational?)
- Platforms (Threads, Reels, TikTok, LinkedIn, email, YouTube?)
After receiving answers, deliver:
| Deliverable | Spec |
|---|
| Core problem | One specific problem people discuss and share |
| Why it matters | 2-3 sharp sentences |
| 30-day content goals | Measurable outcomes (saves, leads, shares — not vanity metrics) |
| ICP table | See format below |
ICP Table Format:
| Who | What they want | What blocks them | Their language | Triggers | Taboos |
|---|
Be specific. Generic personas ("busy professionals") fail. Use language the audience actually uses.
Prompt 2: ANGLES & HEADLINES
Generate 7 unexpected angles from the core problem. Each angle must be:
- Counterintuitive, OR
- "You're doing it wrong", OR
- Myth vs reality, OR
- Hidden cost of the usual solution
For each angle, provide ALL of these:
| Element | Constraint |
|---|
| 2 hooks | Each ≤12 words, platform-ready (Threads/Reels) |
| 1 core insight | ≤80 words |
| 1 number/fact | With source citation — see Credibility Gate below |
| 1 controversial statement | Designed to spark comments |
Credibility Gate (mandatory for every angle's number/fact):
Write exactly one line in this form:
Source: [publication/study/author, year] — [one-sentence fact]
Fail condition: If no verifiable source exists for the claimed fact, the angle is blocked. Do not proceed with that angle until a real source is supplied. Generate a replacement angle if needed.
The 7 angles must not overlap. If two angles feel similar, cut one and find something sharper.
Prompt 3: BRANCHES
For each of the 7 angles, create 3 subtopics. Each subtopic must pass the Cliche Inversion Gate before proceeding:
Cliche Inversion Gate (mandatory for every subtopic):
- Write a one-sentence "Obvious Version" — the cliche take a mediocre writer would produce on this subtopic.
- Write a one-sentence "Inversion Statement" in this exact form: "Unlike [obvious version], this subtopic argues/shows [specific contradiction]."
- If the Inversion Statement cannot be completed with a concrete contradiction (a negation like "not X" does not count — it must assert something specific and different), the subtopic is rejected. Generate a replacement and repeat.
Show both sentences inline before presenting each subtopic's formats. A reviewer must be able to verify the gate passed without knowing the method.
For each subtopic that passes the gate, create 3 formats:
Format 1: Educational
- Hook (≤2 lines)
- Insight (≤80 words)
- 3 concrete "do this today" steps
Format 2: Provocative
- Debatable hook
- 3 supporting proofs
- Question at the end (drives comments)
Format 3: Case Study
- Context (situation before)
- Action (what changed)
- Numbers (measurable result)
- Takeaway (one sentence)
If data is missing for case studies, ask the user — do not fabricate numbers.
Prompt 4: 30-DAY CALENDAR
For each piece of content from Prompt 3, adapt for the user's specified platforms:
- Adjust length per platform norms
- Specify visual format (carousel, reel, text post, thread, etc.)
- Include a CTA appropriate to the platform
- Define a success metric for each post
Build the calendar as a table:
| Date | Platform | Topic | Angle | Format | Goal/Metric | Distribution Notes |
|---|
Calendar rules:
- Remove repetition — no two posts should feel like the same take
- Alternate topics to avoid audience fatigue
- Note repurposing opportunities (clips, carousels from long-form, etc.)
- Front-load problem-awareness content, back-load solution content
Common Mistakes
| Mistake | Fix |
|---|
| Generic angles | "5 tips for X" is not an angle. Push for counterintuitive, myth-busting, or hidden-cost framing. |
| Inversion Statement that merely negates | "Unlike X, this shows not-X" fails the gate. The contradiction must assert something specific. |
