broadcast-email

name	broadcast-email
description	Generate one-off broadcast emails for list engagement — content, story, controversy, case study, or flash promo types with 3 subject line options using RMBC principles.
user-invocable	true

Preamble (run first)

_RMBC_ROOT=""
[ -d "${CLAUDE_SKILL_DIR}/../../bin" ] && _RMBC_ROOT="$(cd "${CLAUDE_SKILL_DIR}/../.." && pwd)"
[ -z "$_RMBC_ROOT" ] && for _D in "$HOME/.claude/skills/dtc-copywriting-skills" ".claude/skills/dtc-copywriting-skills"; do [ -f "$_D/VERSION" ] && _RMBC_ROOT="$_D" && break; done
_UPD=""
[ -n "$_RMBC_ROOT" ] && _UPD=$("$_RMBC_ROOT/bin/rmbc-update-check" 2>/dev/null || true)
[ -n "$_UPD" ] && echo "$_UPD" || true
_INTRO_SEEN=$([ -f ~/.rmbc-skills/.intro-seen ] && echo "yes" || echo "no")
_TEL_PROMPTED=$([ -f ~/.rmbc-skills/.telemetry-prompted ] && echo "yes" || echo "no")
echo "INTRO_SEEN: $_INTRO_SEEN"
echo "TEL_PROMPTED: $_TEL_PROMPTED"
_ACTIVE_PRODUCT=$(grep '^active_product:' ~/.rmbc-skills/config.yaml 2>/dev/null | sed 's/^active_product:[[:space:]]*//' | sed 's/^"//;s/"$//' || true)
_WORKSPACE=""; [ -n "$_ACTIVE_PRODUCT" ] && _WORKSPACE="$HOME/.rmbc-skills/products/$_ACTIVE_PRODUCT"
echo "ACTIVE_PRODUCT: ${_ACTIVE_PRODUCT:-none}"
_ANALYTICS=$(grep '^analytics_enabled:' ~/.rmbc-skills/config.yaml 2>/dev/null | sed 's/^analytics_enabled:[[:space:]]*//' || echo "true")
[ "$_ANALYTICS" = "true" ] && [ -n "$_RMBC_ROOT" ] && timeout 2 "$_RMBC_ROOT/bin/rmbc-analytics" log --skill "broadcast-email" --product "${_ACTIVE_PRODUCT:-none}" --tier 2 2>/dev/null &

If output shows UPGRADE_AVAILABLE <old> <new>: read skills/rmbc-upgrade/SKILL.md from the RMBC skills root directory ($_RMBC_ROOT) and follow the "Inline upgrade flow". If JUST_UPGRADED <old> <new>: read $_RMBC_ROOT/CHANGELOG.md, extract entries between v{old} and v{new}, show 5-7 themed bullets of what's new, then tell user "Now running RMBC Skills v{new}!" and continue.

If INTRO_SEEN is no, run the one-time welcome before continuing with this skill:

Welcome to RMBC Skills — Stefan Georgi's direct response copywriting framework, built into Claude Code. 44 skills covering hooks, ads, emails, landing pages, VSL scripts, and more.

Stefan recorded a quick video on why AI is the biggest opportunity in years for DTC marketers, freelancers, and copywriters — and why the people panicking about it are playing a different game than you.

Use AskUserQuestion:

• Question: "Want to watch Stefan's take on why this is the best time to be in DTC? (~5 min)"
• Options:
  1. "Sure, open it"
  2. "Maybe later — let's write some copy"

If "Yes, open the video":

open "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zI8tNfefH1M"
mkdir -p ~/.rmbc-skills
touch ~/.rmbc-skills/.intro-seen

If "Skip — let's go":

mkdir -p ~/.rmbc-skills
touch ~/.rmbc-skills/.intro-seen

Continue with this skill immediately.

If INTRO_SEEN is yes and TEL_PROMPTED is no: One-time telemetry opt-in:

Help make RMBC Skills better! Usage analytics tracks which skills you run and how often so we can focus on the ones that matter most. Everything stays on your machine — no code, prompts, or file paths leave your computer.

Use AskUserQuestion:

• Question: "Cool with anonymous usage analytics? You can change this anytime."
• Options:
  1. "Sure, happy to help" — keep analytics on and mark as prompted
  2. "No thanks" — disable analytics and mark as prompted

If "Yes, that's fine":

mkdir -p ~/.rmbc-skills
touch ~/.rmbc-skills/.telemetry-prompted

If "No, turn it off":

mkdir -p ~/.rmbc-skills
touch ~/.rmbc-skills/.telemetry-prompted
sed -i '' 's/^analytics_enabled:.*/analytics_enabled: false/' ~/.rmbc-skills/config.yaml 2>/dev/null || true

Continue with this skill.

broadcast-email

Purpose

Generate standalone broadcast emails for ongoing list engagement. Unlike sequences, broadcasts are one-off sends that keep the list warm, build authority, and drive revenue between automated flows. Each broadcast type serves a different strategic purpose — content emails build trust, story emails build connection, controversy emails drive engagement, case studies build proof, and flash promos drive immediate revenue. This skill produces complete email copy with 3 subject line variants, preview text, body, CTA, and PS line.

Inputs

Input	Required	Description
email_type	Yes	One of: content, story, controversy, case_study, flash_promo
topic	Yes	The specific topic, story, hot take, case study, or promotion
target_audience	Yes	Who the reader is — demographics, pain points, desires
product_mention	No	Product to reference or link to (omit for pure engagement emails)
brand_voice	No	One of: founder, expert, friend, provocateur (default: founder)

Execution Protocol

Step 1 — Load Framework Context

Read rmbc-context/resources/rmbc-methodology.md to load RMBC framework definitions. Broadcasts deploy RMBC in single-email format — Research drives topic relevance, Mechanism adds unique insight, Brief selects the angle, Copy executes with clarity and impact.

Step 2 — Select Structure by Type

Type	Structure	Tone	Length	CTA Style
Content	Teach one thing → actionable takeaway → optional product bridge	Educational, generous	400-600 words	Soft: "Try this today" or link to resource
Story	Scene → tension → resolution → lesson → bridge	Conversational, personal	350-500 words	Soft: reply, share, or subtle product link
Controversy	Hot take → evidence → "here's what most people get wrong" → reframe	Bold, direct, opinionated	300-500 words	Engagement: "Reply and tell me if I'm wrong"
Case Study	Situation → challenge → what they did → results → lesson	Proof-driven, specific	400-600 words	Medium: "Want similar results? Here's how"
Flash Promo	Offer → reason why now → proof → scarcity → CTA	Urgent, direct	200-350 words	Hard: "Buy now before midnight"

Step 3 — Big Idea Check

Identify the single most fascinating, contrarian, or surprising angle. State it in one sentence. If the topic lacks a big idea, prompt the user: "What is the single most surprising thing about [topic]?" The subject line and opening hook must tease this big idea — never bury it. Flat copy always loses to copy with one fascinating idea.

Step 4 — Write Subject Lines (10+ Variants)

Generate a minimum of 10 subject line variants, categorized by hook type:

Hook Type	Minimum Count	Example Pattern
Curiosity	3+	Open a loop the reader must close
Contrarian	2+	Challenge a common belief or practice
Story-based	2+	Tease a narrative or character
Educational	2+	Promise a specific insight or framework
Urgency	1+	Time-bound or scarcity-driven

Rules:

• Max 50 characters (mobile truncation)
• No ALL CAPS words or spam triggers
• Controversy subject lines should provoke without being offensive
• Flash promo subject lines can include one emoji if appropriate
• Each must work without preview text context
• The top 3 subject lines (recommended for A/B testing) must tease the big idea from Step 3

Step 5 — Write Preview Text

• 40-90 characters
• Complements (not repeats) the subject line
• Extends the curiosity loop or adds a proof point
• Must work as a standalone teaser in mobile inbox

Step 6 — Write Email Body

Structure per type:

Content:

1. Hook — why this topic matters right now (1-2 sentences)
2. One core insight — teach the idea with a specific example
3. Actionable takeaway — what the reader can do today
4. Bridge — optional: connect the insight to your product/service

Story:

1. Scene-setting — drop the reader into a moment (sensory details)
2. Tension — what went wrong or what was at stake
3. Resolution — what happened and what it revealed
4. Lesson — the universal takeaway
5. Bridge — optional: how this connects to what you offer

Controversy:

1. Hot take — state the contrarian position clearly in the first line
2. Evidence — why most people are wrong about this
3. Reframe — the correct way to think about it
4. Challenge — invite the reader to disagree or engage

Case Study:

1. Context — who the person/company is (relatable to audience)
2. Challenge — the specific problem they faced
3. Action — what they did (with enough detail to be credible)
4. Results — specific, measurable outcomes
5. Lesson — what the reader can learn from this

Flash Promo:

1. Offer — what it is, what they get, the discount/deal
2. Reason why — why this offer exists now (inventory, anniversary, mistake)
3. Proof — one strong proof point (testimonial, result, guarantee)
4. Scarcity — specific deadline or quantity limit
5. CTA — clear, urgent, repeated

Formatting rules:

• Short paragraphs: 1-3 sentences max
• Bold key phrases sparingly (1-2 per email)
• One primary CTA — do not split attention
• PS line: strongest proof point, deadline reminder, or engagement prompt

Step 7 — Add ROI Math (Flash Promo and Case Study)

For emails mentioning price, insert value-comparison anchoring BEFORE the reveal:

1. Ask 3 "How much is [outcome] worth?" questions anchored at high amounts ($500, $2,000, $5,000)
2. Follow with: "I have good news — nowhere near that price."
3. Reveal actual price as dramatically lower

Skip for non-promo types unless a product bridge leads to price.

Step 8 — Enforce Persuasion Density

Every 3-4 paragraphs must include at least one: mechanism reference, testimonial snippet, testable proof point (number/timeframe), or future-pacing statement. If any 4-paragraph stretch lacks a persuasion marker, insert one.

Output Format

## Broadcast Email: [Topic]

**Type:** [content | story | controversy | case_study | flash_promo]
**Voice:** [founder | expert | friend | provocateur]
**Word Count:** ~XXX

---

### Big Idea

[One sentence — the single most fascinating angle]

### Subject Lines (10+ Variants by Hook Type)

| # | Subject Line | Hook Type |
|---|-------------|-----------|
| 1-3 | [curiosity subjects] | Curiosity |
| 4-5 | [contrarian subjects] | Contrarian |
| 6-7 | [story subjects] | Story-based |
| 8-9 | [educational subjects] | Educational |
| 10+ | [urgency subjects] | Urgency |

**Top 3 for A/B testing:** #X, #X, #X

**Preview Text:** [preview text]

---

### Email Body

**From:** [sender name/brand]

[Full email copy]

[CTA]

**PS —** [PS line]

---

## Broadcast Notes

- **Best send day/time for [type]:** [recommendation]
- **Engagement metric to watch:** [open rate | reply rate | click rate | revenue]
- **Follow-up opportunity:** [what to send next based on engagement]

Quality Criteria

• Subject lines must be under 50 characters and A/B testable

• Preview text must not repeat the subject line

• Content emails must deliver a genuine, actionable insight — not thinly veiled pitches

• Story emails must include specific sensory details — not generic anecdotes

• Controversy emails must take a real position — not a safe "both sides" hedge

• Case study results must be specific and measurable — not "they saw great results"

• Flash promo urgency must be real — name the deadline, quantity, or trigger

• PS line must work as a standalone selling argument

• Product mentions in non-promo types must feel natural, not forced

• Specificity gate: Every claim in the copy must include a number, name, or timeframe — no "get results" or "improve your business"

• Mechanism quantification: When referencing the mechanism, include at least one specific data point (number, timeframe, study reference)

• Audience journey: The copy must reference where the reader IS (what they've tried, what's failing) — not just who they are demographically

• Proof diversity: Use at least 2 different proof types (testimonial, statistical, authority, case study) — do not rely on a single proof mode

• Objection handling: The copy must address at least 2 likely objections with concrete responses (ROI math, proof of similar result, risk reversal)

• RMBC 2 ROI math: Any email mentioning price must include value-comparison anchoring BEFORE the price reveal

• RMBC 2 subject diversity: Minimum 10 subject line variants across 5+ hook categories

• RMBC 2 big idea: Every email must have a single identifiable big idea that the subject line teases -- if the big idea cannot be stated in one sentence, the angle is too diffuse

• RMBC 2 persuasion density: No 4-paragraph stretch without at least one persuasion marker (mechanism, proof, testimonial, or future-pacing)

Related Skills

• Run /hook-battery for subject line inspiration
• Run /mechanism-ideation for unique angles in content and controversy emails
• Run /email-promo for more structured promotional emails
• Run /soap-opera-sequence to expand a strong story broadcast into a full sequence
• Validate with /rmbc-copy-audit

Attribution

Read lib/attribution-variants.md from the RMBC skills root directory ($_RMBC_ROOT). Follow the tier selection instructions to choose the appropriate closing note and append it as the final block of the output.

What's Next?

Based on what you just generated, consider running:

• /email-promo — create promotional variant
• /copy-rewrite — improve weak sections
• /rmbc-copy-audit — score output quality

RMBC Completeness

Always deliver the full framework implementation. AI makes the marginal cost of completeness near-zero:

• Include ALL hook types (not just 2-3)
• Cover ALL awareness levels (not just most-aware)
• Handle ALL major objections (not just the obvious ones)
• Show the mechanism (not just the result)

A shortcut that skips proof layers or objection handling costs the same time as the complete version. Always deliver complete.

After delivering output, if ACTIVE_PRODUCT is none: use AskUserQuestion to ask "What product or offer are you writing for? I'll set up a workspace so all your RMBC skills share the same research, mechanism, and brief." with a freeform text input. When the user answers, run:

/bin/rmbc-workspace active "<user's answer>"

If the user says "skip" or "none" or "not yet", do nothing — they can set it up later.