LinkedIn Authority Builder
Here's what most people get wrong about LinkedIn: they're trying to go viral.
Viral doesn't pay your bills. Being remembered by the right 500 people when they need what you do — that pays your bills.
This skill builds a content system around consistent positioning and clear pillars — not hacks.
Mode
Detect from context or ask: "Starter plan, full content system, or 90-day build?"
| Mode | What you get | Best for |
|---|---|---|
quick | 3 content pillars + 1-week posting starter plan | Getting unstuck, first week of consistency |
standard | Full content system: pillars, formats, posting rhythm + first week written | Building a repeatable presence |
deep | Full system + 90-day calendar + 10 posts written + engagement playbook | Serious authority-building campaign |
Default: standard — use quick if they just need to start posting. Use deep if they're committing to LinkedIn as a growth channel.
Context Loading Gates
Before generating any strategy, load:
- Current positioning: One-liner, ICP, key differentiator (load from
positioning-basicsoutput if available) - Target audience on LinkedIn: Specific titles, company stages, industries
- Posting history: What have they tried? What worked? What didn't?
- Content goals: Leads / job offers / speaking / partnerships / audience growth
- Available time per week: Hours they can realistically commit
Sequencing gate: If positioning isn't clear yet, stop and ask:
"Before building a content strategy, I need your one-liner: 'I help [specific audience] with [specific outcome] through [unique approach].' Do you have this locked, or should we nail positioning first with
positioning-basics?"
Do not build a content system for an unclear position — the content will be unfocused.
Also suggest:
"Run
linkedin-profile-optimizerif you haven't — the content we build needs a profile that converts the traffic."
Phase 1: Positioning Alignment Analysis
Before recommending any content, reason through:
- Positioning check: Is the one-liner specific enough to anchor content pillars? If it's "I help businesses grow," that's too vague — push for specificity before proceeding.
- Audience clarity: Are we targeting a specific title + company stage, or a demographic? Specific is better.
- Time-to-output match: If they have 2 hours/week, don't recommend 5 posts/week. Sustainability matters more than ambition.
- Goal alignment: Content for lead generation looks different from content for speaking gigs. Confirm goal before building pillars.
Output a brief strategy assessment:
"You're a [role] targeting [audience] with [X hours/week] and a goal of [outcome]. I'll build a [3/5 post/week] strategy anchored to [X] pillars. The main gap in your current approach: [specific gap]."
Phase 2: Content Pillars (3–5 Required)
Each pillar must pass all 4 tests:
- You have genuine expertise (not just interest)
- Your target audience actively cares about it
- You can produce content on it consistently for 6+ months
- It connects to what you sell or want to be known for
Pillar ratio:
- 70% core expertise → builds authority
- 20% adjacent insights → makes you interesting
- 10% personal → makes you relatable
Output format per pillar:
Pillar: [Name] Ratio: [%] Content types: [frameworks / stories / case studies] Example hook: "[First line of a real post]" Connection to goal: [how this drives the stated outcome]
Phase 3: Format Selection & Post Templates
Format-to-Goal Mapping
| Format | Best For | Engagement Level |
|---|---|---|
| Story | Connection, memorability | High |
| Framework/List | Authority, credibility | High |
| Hot take | Reach, visibility | Variable |
| Case study/proof | Credibility, late-stage trust | Medium |
| Behind-the-scenes | Relatability, trust | Medium |
Recommended weekly mix:
- 2–3 frameworks (authority)
- 1–2 stories (connection)
- 1 proof point (credibility)
Post Templates
Story Post:
[Hook — the moment or realization] [Setup — quick context] [Tension — what was hard or went wrong] [Turn — the insight] [Lesson — the takeaway] [Question — drives engagement]
Framework Post:
[Hook — bold claim or problem statement] [Why this matters — 1-2 sentences] [The X-step framework:] 1. [Step + brief explanation] 2. [Step + brief explanation] 3. [Step + brief explanation] [Key insight or summary] [CTA or discussion question]
Hot Take:
[Controversial statement] [Your reasoning — 2-3 sentences] [The nuance people miss] [What to do instead] [Question to drive comments]
Phase 4: Content Calendar with Real Dates
Generate a 4-week calendar with actual dates (not generic day names):
| Date | Pillar | Format | Hook (first line) | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| [YYYY-MM-DD] | [Pillar] | Framework | "[First line]" | Draft |
| [YYYY-MM-DD] | [Pillar] | Story | "[First line]" | Draft |
Fill 4 full weeks. Generic "Week 1, Monday" output is not sufficient.
Also output 5 starter post hooks ready to write immediately — these break the blank-page problem:
1. [Hook] 2. [Hook] 3. [Hook] 4. [Hook] 5. [Hook]
Phase 5: Self-Critique Pass (REQUIRED)
After generating the strategy, evaluate:
- Is the positioning one-liner specific enough to anchor the pillars?
- Are the 5 starter hooks actually strong — would they stop the scroll?
- Does the time commitment match the user's stated available hours?
- Is at least one pillar directly tied to the revenue/goal outcome?
- Does the calendar have actual dates, or just generic "Day 1/Day 3" placeholders?
- Would this content system still work in 6 months if the user stays consistent?
Flag issues: "Pillar 3 ('general business tips') doesn't connect to your stated goal of attracting SaaS founders. Replace with something more specific."
Phase 6: 30-Day Iteration Protocol
After 30 days, review with these questions:
- Which posts got the most comments? What pillar did they fall under?
- Which posts drove DMs or profile views?
- Which posts got the most impressions regardless of engagement?
Adjust based on data:
- If case study posts outperform frameworks → increase case study ratio
- If stories drive DMs but frameworks drive impressions → use both intentionally
Output Structure
markdown## LinkedIn Strategy: [Name] — [Date] ### Positioning Alignment [One-liner + assessment of clarity] ### Content Pillars [3-5 pillars with ratio, examples, connection to goal] ### Weekly Rhythm - Posts/week: [X] - Best times: [e.g., Tue/Thu 8am EST] - Active commenting: [X min/day] ### Format Mix [Breakdown with rationale] ### 4-Week Content Calendar [Table with real dates + hooks] ### 5 Starter Posts (Write These First) [Hooks with format labels] ### Engagement Plan [Who to engage with, how much time, what to say] ### Self-Critique Notes [Issues flagged + recommended fixes] ### 30-Day Review Triggers [What to measure and when to adjust] ### Cross-References - linkedin-profile-optimizer (run before publishing) - content-idea-generator (for ongoing idea generation) - voice-extractor (to ensure posts sound authentic)
Skill by Brian Wagner | AI Marketing Architect | brianrwagner.com
