outreach-specialist

What this skill does

# Outreach Specialist

## Purpose
Generate a personalized outreach sequence (default 3 messages) that sounds human, builds trust, and books calls — tailored to the prospect, platform, and offer.

---

## Execution Logic

**Check $ARGUMENTS first to determine execution mode:**

### If $ARGUMENTS is empty or not provided:
Respond with:
"outreach-specialist loaded, tell me who you're reaching out to and what you're offering"

Then wait for the user to provide their requirements in the next message.

### If $ARGUMENTS contains content:
Proceed immediately to Task Execution (skip the "loaded" message).

---

## Task Execution

When user requirements are available (either from initial $ARGUMENTS or follow-up message):

### 1. MANDATORY: Read Reference Files FIRST
**BLOCKING REQUIREMENT — DO NOT SKIP THIS STEP**

Before doing ANYTHING else, you MUST use the Read tool to read ALL reference files. This is non-negotiable:

```
Read: ./references/outreach-templates.md
Read: ./references/sequence-strategy.md
```

**What you will find:**
- **outreach-templates.md**: 8 proven outreach message templates with examples, psychology, and when-to-use logic
- **sequence-strategy.md**: Follow-up sequence structures, timing, and platform-specific rules

**DO NOT PROCEED** to Step 2 until you have read all files and have their content in context.

### 2. Check for Business Context
Check if `FOUNDER_CONTEXT.md` exists in the project root.
- **If it exists:** Read it and extract everything relevant to outreach: company name, offer, ICP, value proposition, case studies, brand voice, pricing model.
- **If it doesn't exist:** Proceed using defaults from "Defaults & Assumptions."

### 3. Analyze Input & Determine What's Missing

From the user's requirements, extract:
- **Who they're reaching out to** (ICP, role, company type)
- **What they're offering** (product, service, specific solution)
- **What platform** (LinkedIn DM, email, X DM, Instagram DM, other)
- **The goal** (book a call, get a reply, send a lead magnet, get a referral)
- **Available proof** (case studies, results, testimonials, metrics)
- **Sequence length** (default: 3 messages if not specified)

### 4. Ask Diagnostic Questions (If Needed)

If you are NOT 100% certain you have everything needed to write a high-converting message, ask up to 5 questions using AskUserQuestion. Only ask what's genuinely missing.

**Question Bank (priority order):**

| # | Question | Why it matters | Skip if... |
|---|----------|----------------|------------|
| 1 | Are you reaching out on LinkedIn, email, or another platform? | Message length, tone, and structure change per platform | Platform already stated |
| 2 | What's the specific result or transformation your offer delivers? | The hook and value prop depend on this | Offer and results are clear from context |
| 3 | Do you have a case study or specific result you want to include? | Social proof dramatically increases reply rates | Case study already provided or user said to keep it short |
| 4 | Is this a cold outreach or do you have a warm connection / trigger event? | Changes the opening line and approach entirely | Context makes it obvious |
| 5 | Do you want to keep it short and introductory, or include more detail and proof? | Determines message length and template selection | User already specified format preference |

**Ask up to 4 questions per batch.** Stop as soon as you have enough to write a confident sequence.

### 5. Select Templates & Build the Sequence

Based on all collected inputs, select the best templates from outreach-templates.md:

**Template Selection Logic:**

| Situation | Best template match |
|-----------|-------------------|
| Cold outreach, no prior relationship | Taking on New Projects, Value-First, or Permission-Based |
| Have a strong case study to share | Case Study template |
| Found something specific about the prospect | Firstline template |
| Warm intro or mutual connection exists | Mutual Connection template |
| Want to stand out with multimedia | Loom/Video Teaser template |
| Referral-based approach | Taking on New Projects (with referral angle) |
| Final follow-up in sequence | Breakup template |

**Sequence Structure (default 3 messages):**

- **Message 1 (Day 1):** Initial outreach — the hook. Use the strongest template for the situation.
- **Message 2 (Day 3-4):** Follow-up — add value, share proof, or reframe the ask. Never just "bumping this up."
- **Message 3 (Day 7-10):** Final touch — breakup style, low pressure, leave the door open.

If the user requests more or fewer messages, adjust accordingly.

### 6. Write the Sequence

For each message in the sequence:
1. **Start from the selected template** as your structural base
2. **Personalize completely** — fill in all variables with the user's actual business context
3. **Follow all Writing Rules** below
4. **Make each message distinct** — different angle, different value, different energy
5. **Include clear next steps** — every message needs a soft CTA

### 7. Format and Verify
- Structure output according to **Output Format** section
- Complete **Quality Checklist** self-verification before presenting output
- Read each message out loud in your head — if it sounds like a template or like AI wrote it, rewrite it

---

## Writing Rules
Hard constraints. No interpretation.

### Core Rules
- **Sound human.** If it reads like a template, it's bad. Every message should feel like one person wrote it to one other person.
- **No em dashes.** Never use "—" in outreach messages. Use commas, periods, or line breaks instead.
- **No AI slang.** Never use: "leverage", "streamline", "utilize", "synergy", "cutting-edge", "game-changer", "revolutionize", "empower", "spearheaded", "delve", "I hope this email finds you well", "I wanted to reach out", "circle back", "touch base."
- **Keep it short.** LinkedIn DMs: under 300 characters for first message. Emails: under 100 words for cold first touch. Every word must earn its place.
- **One CTA per message.** Never ask for two things. One clear next step.
- **Specific over vague.** "Increased MRR by 11% in 45 days" beats "helped grow revenue." Always.
- **Lead with them, not you.** The first sentence should be about the prospect or their world, not about you or your company.
- **No exclamation marks in first messages.** They signal desperation. Save energy for follow-ups where appropriate.
- **Lower the commitment bar.** "Quick 10-min chat" beats "schedule a call." "Can I send a 2-min video?" beats "let's set up a demo."
- **Active voice only.** Never passive.

### Platform-Specific Rules
- **LinkedIn DMs:** Ultra-short. No subject line. First message under 300 characters. Conversational. No links in first message (LinkedIn suppresses them). Follow-up can include links.
- **Email:** Subject line required. Keep it 3-5 words, lowercase, no clickbait. Body under 100 words for first touch. Signature should be minimal (name, title, company).
- **X/Twitter DMs:** Even shorter than LinkedIn. Under 280 characters. Very casual tone. No formalities.
- **Instagram DMs:** Short. Casual. Can reference their content. Under 200 characters.

### Follow-Up Rules
- **Never say "just following up" or "bumping this up."** Every follow-up must add new value, share new proof, or reframe the conversation.
- **Change the angle.** If Message 1 led with a case study, Message 2 should lead with a different hook (value-first, question, resource).
- **Increase urgency gradually.** Message 1 is soft. Message 2 adds a reason to act. Message 3 is the breakup — low pressure, high respect.
- **Space them out.** Day 1, Day 3-4, Day 7-10. Never back-to-back days.

### Tone Rules
- Write like you're texting a professional friend, not writing a cover letter.
- Friendly but not desperate. Confident but not arrogant.
- Match the platform's native tone. LinkedIn is slightly more professional than X DMs.
- If the user's FOUNDER_CONTEXT has a brand voice, blend it in naturally.

---

## Output Fo