| name | social-search |
| description | Find trending topics, create editorial-style social media graphics, and post to X/Twitter and Instagram. Includes image generation with photographic backgrounds, dark gradient overlays, and bold typography. No paid social APIs needed. |
Social Search & Content Creator
Find → Create → Post pipeline for X/Twitter and Instagram content.
Prerequisites
- X/Twitter:
bird CLI installed and authenticated via browser cookies
- Instagram Search: Brave Search API key (set
BRAVE_API_KEY or configure in OpenClaw)
- Image Generation: OpenAI API key (set
OPENAI_API_KEY) — uses gpt-image-1
- Instagram Posting:
pip3 install instagrapi pillow + IG_USERNAME/IG_PASSWORD env vars
1. FIND — Research Trending Topics
X/Twitter (bird CLI)
bird search "query" -n 10
bird read <url-or-id>
bird thread <url-or-id>
bird mentions
bird user-tweets <username>
Instagram (Brave-powered scraper)
node {baseDir}/scripts/instagram-search.js "query" [--limit 10] [--type posts|profiles|reels|all]
Types: posts (inurl:/p/), profiles (user pages), reels (inurl:/reel/), all (default)
Viral/Trending Search (recommended starting point)
node {baseDir}/scripts/viral-search.js "query" [options]
Examples:
node {baseDir}/scripts/viral-search.js "AI trading" --min-likes 100 --days 7
node {baseDir}/scripts/viral-search.js --trending
node {baseDir}/scripts/viral-search.js "DeFi" --platform instagram --limit 10
node {baseDir}/scripts/viral-search.js "delta neutral farming" --min-likes 10 --min-retweets 3
How engagement scoring works:
- Score = likes × 1 + retweets × 3 + replies × 2
- Retweets weighted highest (distribution signal)
- Replies weighted over likes (conversation signal)
- Results sorted by score descending
2. CREATE — Generate Editorial Graphics
The System: Photographic Background + Dark Gradient + Bold Typography
This is what makes the images look professional, not just text on a background.
The approach:
- Top 60%: Cinematic photographic scene (real subjects, dramatic lighting)
- Bottom 40%: Heavy dark gradient overlay (95% black → transparent)
- Text: Bold condensed typography (Anton-style) sitting on the gradient
- Result: Looks like Bloomberg/Kalshi editorial cards
Generate Images
OPENAI_API_KEY="your-key" python3 {baseDir}/scripts/gen_image.py "prompt" output.png [1024x1536]
Sizes: 1024x1024 (square), 1024x1536 (portrait/Instagram), 1536x1024 (landscape/Twitter)
⚠️ CRITICAL IMAGE RULES (learned the hard way)
- NEVER just put text on a solid dark background — it looks flat and amateur
- ALWAYS use a photographic/cinematic background — real scenes, real subjects
- ALWAYS use dark gradient overlay on the lower 40% for text readability
- Keep subject visible in the top 60% — face, setting, context
- Text lives in the bottom 40% only — never cover the subject
- Use bold condensed typography (Anton-style) — not regular weight fonts
- Include branded elements — badge, branding URL, slide counter
- Cinematic lighting — moody, dramatic, not flat studio lighting
Master Prompt Template
Copy this template exactly. Only change the parts in [BRACKETS].
Instagram carousel post design. EXACTLY 1080 pixels wide by 1350 pixels tall (4:5 vertical ratio).
Background: [DESCRIBE THE SCENE - who/what is shown, setting, lighting, mood]. Keep subject clearly visible in top 60% of image. Cinematic lighting, dramatic.
Overlay: Heavy dark gradient ONLY on bottom 40% of image - solid black (95% opacity) at very bottom, fading to transparent at 60% height. Top portion stays clear.
Text positioning (bottom area):
- 65% from top: Small rectangular badge with [COLOR] background and [TEXT COLOR] bold text: [BADGE TEXT]
- 70-90% from top: Huge white bold text in Anton font, uppercase, centered:
[MAIN HEADLINE
SPLIT ACROSS
2-3 LINES]
- [Optional: Below headline in smaller white text, any supporting details]
- Bottom right corner (95% from top): [X/Y] in white, small
- Bottom left corner (95% from top): [brand.url] in white, Montserrat Bold, small, lowercase
Font: Anton for headline. Montserrat Bold for branding.
Style: Clean Instagram carousel slide, vertical format, text at bottom like Kalshi/Bloomberg editorial style. Cinematic, high contrast, professional.
Badge Color System
- 🔵 Cyan (#00D4FF): "EXPLAINED", "GUIDE", educational content
- 🟠 Orange (#FF6B00): "HOW IT WORKS", "DEEP DIVE", breakdowns
- 🟢 Green (#22c55e): "THE SHIFT", "SOLUTION", "REAL CASE", positive takes
- 🔴 Red (#e63946): "WARNING", "UNFAIR", "MYTH", negative/urgent
- ⚫ Black (#000000): "TRENDING", "BREAKING", news
Background Scene Ideas by Topic
Crypto/Trading: Trader at multiple monitors, trading floor, candlestick charts on screens
Tech/AI: Neural network visualizations, server rooms, holographic displays
Finance: City skyline at night, office with Bloomberg terminals, stock exchange
Startup: Founder at whiteboard, team in modern office, product on screen
Education: Person studying, lecture hall, books with highlighted text
Carousel Structure (3 slides)
- Slide 1 — The Hook: Sets the scene, asks the question (e.g., "What is X?")
- Slide 2 — The Breakdown: How it works, the layers, the details
- Slide 3 — The Shift: Why it matters, the bigger picture, call to action
Example: Crypto Educational Carousel
Slide 1 prompt background: "A young male trader in a dark room lit by multiple monitors showing crypto charts. Blue and green screen glow on his face. Hoodie, leaning forward, focused."
Slide 2 prompt background: "Close-up of an AI neural network visualization on a large curved monitor in a dark trading room. Neon blue data streams flowing across the screen."
Slide 3 prompt background: "Aerial view of a massive trading floor with hundreds of screens running autonomously, seats empty. No humans present. Dramatic overhead shot, neon blue glow."
3. POST — Publish Content
X/Twitter (bird CLI)
bird tweet "Your tweet text"
bird tweet "Text" --media image.jpg
bird tweet "Text" --media img1.jpg --media img2.jpg
bird reply <tweet-id-or-url> "Reply text"
Instagram (instagrapi)
node {baseDir}/scripts/instagram-post.js --action photo --caption "Caption" image.jpg
node {baseDir}/scripts/instagram-post.js --action reel --caption "Caption" video.mp4
node {baseDir}/scripts/instagram-post.js --action story --caption "Caption" image.jpg
node {baseDir}/scripts/instagram-post.js --action carousel --caption "Caption" img1.jpg img2.jpg img3.jpg
Instagram auth: Set IG_USERNAME and IG_PASSWORD env vars. Google sign-in won't work — need a password set on the account.
Full Workflow Example
bird search "agentic trading crypto" -n 10
node {baseDir}/scripts/instagram-search.js "AI crypto trading" --limit 10
OPENAI_API_KEY="key" python3 {baseDir}/scripts/gen_image.py "slide 1 prompt..." slide1.png 1024x1536
OPENAI_API_KEY="key" python3 {baseDir}/scripts/gen_image.py "slide 2 prompt..." slide2.png 1024x1536
OPENAI_API_KEY="key" python3 {baseDir}/scripts/gen_image.py "slide 3 prompt..." slide3.png 1024x1536
bird tweet "your caption" --media slide1.png --media slide2.png --media slide3.png
node {baseDir}/scripts/instagram-post.js --action carousel --caption "your caption" slide1.png slide2.png slide3.png
