product-marketing-context

Step 1: Check for Existing Context

First, check if .claude/product-marketing-context.md already exists.

If it exists:

• Read it and summarize what's captured
• Ask which sections they want to update
• Only gather info for those sections

If it doesn't exist, offer two options:

1. Auto-draft from codebase (recommended): You'll study the repo—README, landing pages, marketing copy, package.json, etc.—and draft a V1 of the context document. The user then reviews, corrects, and fills gaps. This is faster than starting from scratch.

1. Start from scratch: Walk through each section conversationally, gathering info one section at a time.

Most users prefer option 1. After presenting the draft, ask: "What needs correcting? What's missing?"

Step 2: Gather Information

If auto-drafting:

1. Read the codebase: README, landing pages, marketing copy, about pages, meta descriptions, package.json, any existing docs
2. Draft all sections based on what you find
3. Present the draft and ask what needs correcting or is missing
4. Iterate until the user is satisfied

If starting from scratch:

Walk through each section below conversationally, one at a time. Don't dump all questions at once.

For each section:

1. Briefly explain what you're capturing
2. Ask relevant questions
3. Confirm accuracy
4. Move to the next

Important: Push for verbatim customer language. Exact phrases are more valuable than polished descriptions.

---

1. Product Overview

• One-line description
• What it does (2-3 sentences)
• Product category (what "shelf" you sit on—how customers search for you)
• Product type (SaaS, marketplace, e-commerce, service, etc.)
• Business model and pricing

2. Target Audience

• Target company type (industry, size, stage)
• Target decision-makers (roles, departments)
• Primary use case (the main problem you solve)
• Jobs to be done (2-3 things customers "hire" you for)
• Specific use cases or scenarios

3. Personas (B2B only)

If multiple stakeholders are involved in buying, capture for each:

• User, Champion, Decision Maker, Financial Buyer, Technical Influencer
• What each cares about, their challenge, and the value you promise them

4. Problems & Pain Points

• Core challenge customers face before finding you
• Why current solutions fall short
• What it costs them (time, money, opportunities)
• Emotional tension (stress, fear, doubt)

5. Competitive Landscape

• Direct competitors: Same solution, same problem (e.g., Calendly vs SavvyCal)
• Secondary competitors: Different solution, same problem (e.g., Calendly vs Superhuman scheduling)
• Indirect competitors: Conflicting approach (e.g., Calendly vs personal assistant)
• How each falls short for customers

6. Differentiation

• Key differentiators (capabilities alternatives lack)
• How you solve it differently
• Why that's better (benefits)
• Why customers choose you over alternatives

7. Objections & Anti-Personas

• Top 3 objections heard in sales and how to address them
• Who is NOT a good fit (anti-persona)

8. Switching Dynamics

The JTBD Four Forces:

• Push: What frustrations drive them away from current solution
• Pull: What attracts them to you
• Habit: What keeps them stuck with current approach
• Anxiety: What worries them about switching

9. Customer Language

• How customers describe the problem (verbatim)
• How they describe your solution (verbatim)
• Words/phrases to use
• Words/phrases to avoid
• Glossary of product-specific terms

10. Brand Voice

• Tone (professional, casual, playful, etc.)
• Communication style (direct, conversational, technical)
• Brand personality (3-5 adjectives)

11. Proof Points

• Key metrics or results to cite
• Notable customers/logos
• Testimonial snippets
• Main value themes and supporting evidence

12. Goals

• Primary business goal
• Key conversion action (what you want people to do)
• Current metrics (if known)

---

After gathering information, create .claude/product-marketing-context.md with this structure:

```markdown

# Product Marketing Context

Last updated: [date]

One-liner:

What it does:

Product category:

Product type:

Business model:

Target companies:

Decision-makers:

Primary use case:

Jobs to be done:

-

Use cases:

-

| Persona | Cares about | Challenge | Value we promise |

|---------|-------------|-----------|------------------|

| | | | |

Core problem:

Why alternatives fall short:

-

What it costs them:

Emotional tension:

Direct: [Competitor] — falls short because...

Secondary: [Approach] — falls short because...

Indirect: [Alternative] — falls short because...

Key differentiators:

-

How we do it differently:

Why that's better:

Why customers choose us:

| Objection | Response |

|-----------|----------|

| | |

Anti-persona:

Push:

Pull:

Habit:

Anxiety:

How they describe the problem:

• "[verbatim]"

How they describe us:

• "[verbatim]"

Words to use:

Words to avoid:

Glossary:

| Term | Meaning |

|------|---------|

| | |

Tone:

Style:

Personality:

Metrics:

Customers:

Testimonials:

> "[quote]" — [who]

Value themes:

| Theme | Proof |

|-------|-------|

| | |

Business goal:

Conversion action:

Current metrics:

```

---

• Show the completed document
• Ask if anything needs adjustment
• Save to .claude/product-marketing-context.md
• Tell them: "Other marketing skills will now use this context automatically. Run /product-marketing-context anytime to update it."

---

• Be specific: Ask "What's the #1 frustration that brings them to you?" not "What problem do they solve?"
• Capture exact words: Customer language beats polished descriptions
• Ask for examples: "Can you give me an example?" unlocks better answers
• Validate as you go: Summarize each section and confirm before moving on
• Skip what doesn't apply: Not every product needs all sections (e.g., Personas for B2C)