positioning-basics
by BrianRWagnerpositioning-basics helps founders and Product Marketing teams turn a vague product story into clear positioning, ICP, messaging hierarchy, and differentiation. Use it when you need a practical first pass on what the product is, who it is for, what it replaces, and why it matters.
This skill scores 80/100, which means it is a solid directory listing candidate with useful install value for founders/marketers who need positioning help. Directory users should expect a real, actionable workflow with some missing supporting assets, but enough clarity to decide it is worth installing.
- Strong triggerability: the description explicitly covers common intent phrases like "positioning," "value proposition," "ICP," and "messaging," making it easy for an agent to invoke correctly.
- Operationally clear workflow: it offers three named modes (`quick`, `standard`, `deep`) with stated outputs and defaults, reducing guesswork for both agents and users.
- Substantive content: the SKILL.md is large, has multiple headings and code fences, and includes context-loading gates before generation, which suggests a real guided process rather than a placeholder.
- No supporting files or references are included, so trust and reusability depend almost entirely on the SKILL.md content.
- The excerpt shows the document is truncated in the provided evidence, so users should verify the full skill covers the promised deep/standard outputs before relying on it for important GTM work.
Overview of positioning-basics skill
What positioning-basics does
The positioning-basics skill helps founders and Product Marketing teams turn a vague product story into a usable positioning foundation: who it is for, what it replaces, why it matters, and how to say it clearly. It is built for the moment when “we need positioning” is still too fuzzy to write homepage copy, sales messaging, or a pitch.
Who should use it
Use the positioning-basics skill if you need a practical first pass on a value proposition, ICP, messaging hierarchy, or category angle. It is a good fit for startup teams, PMMs, and operators who have enough product context to answer a few core questions but not enough clarity to write everything from scratch.
Why this skill is different
The main value is structure. Instead of asking an AI to “improve messaging,” positioning-basics forces the inputs that usually cause weak output: current customers, alternatives, competitors, and the specific mode of output you want. That makes it more useful than a generic prompt for positioning-basics for Product Marketing because it turns incomplete context into a decision-ready draft.
How to Use positioning-basics skill
Install and open the right file
For a positioning-basics install, add the skill from BrianRWagner/ai-marketing-skills and start with SKILL.md. Since this repo is lightweight and has no supporting folders, the skill file is the primary source of truth. Read the frontmatter description first, then scan the mode table and context-loading checklist before prompting.
Pick the right mode before you ask
The positioning-basics usage pattern depends on the output depth you need:
quickfor a single positioning statementstandardfor a usable positioning foundationdeepfor competitive differentiation and a messaging matrix
If you do not specify a mode, standard is the default. That is usually the safest choice when you want something you can refine into website, sales, or launch copy.
Give the skill decision-grade inputs
The skill works best when you supply the five context gates in plain language:
- product or service name plus a 1-2 sentence description
- current customers or buyer examples
- alternatives they used before you
- prior positioning attempts to react to
- top competitors or comparison set
A weak prompt says, “Help me with positioning.” A stronger one says, “We sell billing automation for B2B SaaS teams, our current buyers are finance leads at 20-200 employee companies, they used spreadsheets and Stripe exports before, and we think our main advantage is faster close times.” That difference materially improves the output.
Recommended workflow for first pass
Use this sequence for the best positioning-basics guide outcome:
- Gather the facts you already know, even if they are incomplete.
- Choose
quick,standard, ordeepbased on the decision you need to make. - Ask for a draft that names assumptions clearly.
- Review for customer fit, competitor contrast, and specificity.
- Iterate on the weakest link first: audience, problem, or differentiation.
positioning-basics skill FAQ
Is positioning-basics only for Product Marketing?
No. It is especially useful for positioning-basics for Product Marketing, but founders, marketers, and sales leaders can all use it when they need a clear product story. The main requirement is enough context to answer the core questions honestly.
Can I use this instead of a custom prompt?
Yes, if you want a repeatable structure and fewer missed inputs. A custom prompt can work for a one-off task, but the positioning-basics skill is better when you want a consistent workflow for multiple products, teams, or drafts.
What if I do not know my competitors well?
You can still use it, but the result will be weaker until you add a real comparison set. If you do not know direct competitors, provide the current alternative: spreadsheets, manual work, agencies, internal tools, or doing nothing. That still gives the skill something concrete to position against.
Is it beginner-friendly?
Yes, as long as you can describe the product in simple terms. It is not a strategy worksheet replacement; it is a guided drafting skill. Beginners usually get the best result by starting with quick or standard and being explicit about what they do not know yet.
How to Improve positioning-basics skill
Improve the inputs, not just the wording
The biggest quality gains come from sharper facts, not prettier prompts. In particular, the skill gets better when you add real customer names or segments, the exact before-state they had, and one believable reason they chose you. That is what makes positioning-basics useful instead of generic.
Watch for the common failure modes
The most common mistakes are vague audiences, feature-first descriptions, and competitor lists that are too broad. If your input says “SMBs” and “better UX,” expect bland output. If you say “Shopify merchants with high refund rates who currently reconcile in spreadsheets,” the draft becomes much more actionable.
Iterate by testing one claim at a time
After the first output, do not ask for “make it better” without direction. Ask the skill to tighten the ICP, sharpen the differentiation, or rewrite the positioning against one competitor. For positioning-basics, the fastest improvement usually comes from challenging the claim that feels least defensible.
Use the first draft as a decision tool
Treat the output as a working hypothesis, not final brand language. If the draft feels off, identify whether the problem is audience fit, proof, or category framing, then feed that back into the next pass. That makes the positioning-basics skill more reliable for a launch, homepage rewrite, or messaging system build.