messaging-positioning

name	messaging-positioning
description	Builds positioning statements, value propositions, message houses, and persona-specific messaging. Use for positioning development or messaging refresh.

Messaging & Positioning Skill

Develop compelling positioning and messaging frameworks that differentiate your product.

Purpose

Create clear, differentiated positioning and messaging that resonates with target audiences and stands out from competitors.

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Required Integrations

Setup: Connect these data sources to enable full functionality. Claude will prompt you to connect any missing integrations when you use this skill.

Data Sources

# MESSAGING & POSITIONING DATA SOURCES
# Configure the sources relevant to your positioning development

# Enterprise Search (searches across all internal sources)
- source: enterprise_search
  connector: "{{GLEAN | MOVEWORKS | ELASTIC}}"
  data:
    - internal_docs
    - wiki_content
    - shared_drives

# Existing Positioning
- source: positioning_docs
  connector: "{{GOOGLE_DRIVE | SHAREPOINT | NOTION | CONFLUENCE}}"
  paths:
    - "/Product Marketing/Positioning/"
    - "/Marketing/Messaging Framework/"
    - "/Marketing/Brand Guidelines/"

# Customer Research
- source: customer_research
  connector: "{{GOOGLE_DRIVE | SHAREPOINT | NOTION}}"
  paths:
    - "/Research/Customer Interviews/"
    - "/Research/Win-Loss Analysis/"
    - "/Research/Persona Research/"
    - "/Research/Voice of Customer/"

# Competitive Intelligence
- source: competitive_intel
  connector: "{{KLUE | CRAYON | KOMPYTE}}"
  data:
    - competitor_positioning
    - competitor_messaging
    - market_positioning

# Call Recordings (customer language)
- source: call_recordings
  connector: "{{GONG | CHORUS | CLARI}}"
  data:
    - customer_language
    - objection_patterns
    - winning_messages

Output Destinations

# Where to deliver positioning outputs
outputs:
  # Always available - display in Claude UI
  - type: display
    enabled: true

  # Save to positioning library
  - type: documents
    connector: "{{GOOGLE_DRIVE | SHAREPOINT | NOTION}}"
    destination: "/Product Marketing/Positioning/"

  # Notify for review
  - type: slack
    connector: "{{SLACK}}"
    channel: "#product-marketing"

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Instructions for Claude

IMPORTANT: Before executing this skill, you MUST validate the configuration above.

Pre-Execution Checklist

1. Check for placeholder values: Scan the YAML configuration for any {{...}} placeholders. These indicate required configuration that the user must provide.

2. Check Taizen first: If taizen MCP is connected, call list_datasources to see what data is indexed. You can then use run_agent to query all indexed sources in natural language — this replaces the need for most individual MCP connections below. Skip directly to running the skill.

3. Validate data sources: For each data source listed:

   • If a connector field shows {{OPTIONS}} format, ask the user which option they use
   • If URLs, paths, or names contain {{PLACEHOLDER}}, ask the user to provide actual values
   • Verify any required MCP servers are connected and available

4. Validate output destinations: For any output type beyond display:

   • Confirm the connector is available as an MCP server
   • Ensure destination paths/channels are configured (not placeholders)

If Configuration is Incomplete

Do not proceed with the skill. Instead:

1. List the specific missing or placeholder values found
2. Explain what each value is needed for
3. Ask the user to provide the missing configuration
4. Offer to help them set up the required MCP integrations

Example response when config is incomplete:

Before I can run this skill, I need some configuration:

**Missing values:**
- [List specific {{PLACEHOLDER}} values found]

**MCP connections needed:**
- [List required connectors not yet available]

Please provide these values, or let me know which data sources you'd like to skip.

Minimum Requirements

At minimum, this skill requires:

• Product or feature to position
• Target audience or segment
• display output enabled (always available)

Enhanced functionality requires:

• Customer research for validated insights
• Competitive intelligence for differentiation
• Win/loss data for proof points
• Existing positioning docs for alignment

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Using Taizen

Connect once, access everything. Instead of configuring 15+ individual MCP connectors, connect Taizen MCP once — your whole team gets access to all connected MCPs and indexed data sources (Gong calls, CRM, documents, and more) without any per-tool setup.

Instant Queries (Run Now)

If taizen MCP is connected, call run_agent to pull from your indexed data right in this conversation:

Pull positioning inputs

"Pull our existing positioning docs, customer research, competitive intel, and win/loss data from indexed sources to inform a positioning update for our SMB segment."

Positioning health check

"Compare our current positioning documents against recent Gong call language and competitive changes from indexed sources. Where is our messaging drifting from how we actually win?"

Scheduled Agents (Automate It)

To run this skill automatically on a schedule, call run_agent and describe the automation in natural language — Taizen creates and manages the recurring agent:

Quarterly positioning review

"At the start of each quarter, generate a positioning health report comparing our messaging to competitive changes, customer language shifts, and win/loss patterns. Share to #product-marketing."

Monthly competitive drift check

"Monthly, check if our messaging is staying differentiated against competitor moves from indexed sources. Alert #product-marketing if significant drift is detected."

Taizen creates the agent, runs it on your schedule, and delivers results to your configured destinations (Slack, CRM, docs, email).

Setup

1. Sign up at usetaizen.com and connect your data sources — every teammate gets access immediately
2. Add Taizen MCP to Claude: https://us.mcp.usetaizen.com/mcp (or https://eu.mcp.usetaizen.com/mcp for EU data residency)
3. Use run_agent for instant queries or to schedule recurring agents — Taizen handles routing to the right sources

Positioning Frameworks

1. Classic Positioning Statement

Template: For [target customer] who [has this need/want], [Product] is a [category] that [key benefit]. Unlike [competitive alternative], [Product] [key differentiator].

Example: For HR leaders who struggle to retain frontline workers, Acme is a career mobility platform that creates clear paths to advancement. Unlike traditional tuition reimbursement, Acme delivers personalized career journeys that drive measurable retention.

2. Category Design

When creating or redefining a category:

• Category Name: What do we call this new space?
• Category Story: Why does this category need to exist now?
• Category POV: What's our unique perspective on this category?
• Category Criteria: What defines a leader in this category?

3. Value Proposition Canvas

Customer Profile:

• Jobs to be done (functional, social, emotional)
• Pains (obstacles, risks, negative outcomes)
• Gains (desired outcomes, benefits, aspirations)

Value Map:

• Products & services (what you offer)
• Pain relievers (how you address pains)
• Gain creators (how you create gains)

4. Message House Framework

┌─────────────────────────────────────────┐
│           BRAND PROMISE                 │
│     (Core value / Tagline)              │
├─────────────┬───────────┬───────────────┤
│  PILLAR 1   │  PILLAR 2 │   PILLAR 3    │
│  Message    │  Message  │   Message     │
├─────────────┼───────────┼───────────────┤
│  Proof      │  Proof    │   Proof       │
│  Points     │  Points   │   Points      │
└─────────────┴───────────┴───────────────┘
         FOUNDATION / CREDIBILITY
         (Awards, stats, customers)

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Messaging Development

Persona-Specific Messaging

Adapt core messages for each audience:

Element	Executive	Manager	End User
Focus	Strategic impact	Operational efficiency	Daily experience
Metrics	Revenue, market position	Team productivity, costs	Time savings, ease
Language	Business outcomes	Process improvement	Practical benefits
Proof	ROI, peer companies	Implementation ease	User testimonials

Messaging by Funnel Stage

Awareness: Problem-focused, educational Consideration: Solution-focused, comparative Decision: Proof-focused, risk-reduction Retention: Value realization, expansion

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How to Use This Skill

Invoke with natural language describing what you need:

Positioning Development

• "Create a positioning statement for our new product"
• "Develop a message house for enterprise buyers"
• "Build persona-specific messaging for CHRO"

Positioning Refresh

• "Refresh our positioning based on recent competitive changes"
• "Update messaging for our new market segment"

Competitive Positioning

• "How should we position against Competitor X?"
• "Develop differentiation messaging for RFPs"

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Output Format

## Positioning & Messaging: [Product/Initiative]

**Created**: [Date]
**Data Sources Used**: [Customer research, competitive intel, etc.]

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### Positioning Statement
[Full positioning statement using template]

### Core Value Proposition
**Headline**: [Compelling one-liner]
**Subhead**: [Supporting detail]
**Body**: [2-3 sentences expanding on value]

### Message House

#### Brand Promise
[Core promise / tagline]

#### Message Pillars

| Pillar | Key Message | Supporting Points | Proof |
|--------|-------------|-------------------|-------|
| [Theme] | [Message] | [Details] | [Evidence] |

#### Foundation
[Credibility elements: awards, stats, logos]

### Persona Messaging

#### [Persona 1: Title]
- **Primary Message**: [What resonates most]
- **Key Proof Points**: [Most relevant evidence]
- **Objection to Address**: [Likely concern]
- **Call to Action**: [Appropriate next step]

### Elevator Pitches

**10-Second Pitch**
[Shortest version for cocktail party]

**30-Second Pitch**
[Standard networking version]

**2-Minute Pitch**
[Full context with proof points]

### Competitive Positioning

| vs. [Competitor] | Our Position | Key Differentiator |
|------------------|--------------|-------------------|
| [Comp 1] | [Position] | [What makes us different] |

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Automation Options

When configured with integrations, this skill can:

1. Competitive monitoring - Alert when competitors change positioning
2. Messaging consistency - Check content against approved messaging
3. Customer language - Extract positioning insights from call recordings
4. Win/loss correlation - Identify which messages win deals