Social Card Generator
Transform one source message into platform-ready social copy for Twitter/X, LinkedIn, and Reddit.
This skill works two ways:
- With Node.js: Use
generate.jsfor deterministic, automated output - Without Node.js: Manual generation path built directly into this skill (no dependencies required)
Mode
Detect from context or ask: *"One platform, all platforms, or all platforms with variants?"*
| Mode | What you get | Best for |
|---|---|---|
quick | 1 platform (user picks), optimized variant | Testing a single channel |
standard | All 3 platforms: Twitter, LinkedIn, Reddit | Standard cross-platform post |
deep | All platforms + 3 variants each + A/B test guidance | Campaign testing, maximizing reach |
Default: standard — use quick if they specify a platform. Use deep if they're running a content campaign and want options.
⚠️ MANDATORY: 4-Question Intake Before Generating
Ask these before writing a single word of copy:
1. Source message: What's the core idea, update, or story? (Paste raw text or describe it.) 2. Tone goal: Informative? Provocative? Humble brag? Conversational? Educational? 3. Audience: Who needs to see this? (Founders, marketers, developers, general public?) 4. CTA: What do you want readers to do? (Visit link, reply, follow, share, start a conversation?)
Without these answers, you'll get generic output that won't land on any platform.
Platform Reasoning Rules (Built In — No External Script Needed)
🐦 Twitter/X
- Character limit: 280 characters (single tweet) or threaded for long-form
- Tone: Punchy, direct, opinionated. Twitter rewards brevity and conviction.
- Hook structure: Lead with the most surprising or specific claim. No warm-up.
- Hashtags: Max 1-2 directly relevant tags. Never stuff.
- CTA style: Short and embedded. "What's your take?" or "Link in reply."
- What kills Twitter posts: Long intros, passive voice, corporate speak, hashtag walls.
- Example hook pattern: "[Counterintuitive claim]. Here's why: [1-2 sentence reason]. [Engaging question]."
- Character limit: 3,000 characters for posts. First 2 lines before "See more" are critical.
- Tone: Professional but personal. Thought leadership with a human angle.
- Hook structure: First line must create curiosity or state a bold truth — not "excited to share."
- Hashtags: 3-5 max, at the end. Never in the body copy.
- CTA style: Invite discussion. "What's your experience with this?" works well.
- Opener rule: NEVER start with self-promotional language. Lead with a lesson, story, or observation.
- What kills LinkedIn posts: Cringe openers ("I'm humbled to announce..."), excessive hashtags, no line breaks.
- Format tip: Short paragraphs (1-2 lines). White space is your friend.
- Character limit: No hard limit, but long posts need clear structure with headers.
- Tone: Authentic, curious, community-first. Reddit readers have a finely tuned BS detector.
- Hook structure: Situational — frame as a question, lesson learned, or genuine experience.
- Hashtags: Never. Not a thing on Reddit.
- CTA style: End with an open question that invites the community to share their take.
- Self-promotion rule: Never lead with your own promotion. Frame everything as a contribution to the community.
- What kills Reddit posts: Obvious marketing, lack of genuine insight, "check out my [thing]" openers.
Manual Generation Path (No Node.js Required)
Follow this process exactly:
Step 1: Distill the Core Message
From the source input, extract:
- The ONE key insight or fact
- The "so what" — why does this matter to the audience?
- The evidence or story behind it
Step 2: Generate 3 Platform Variants
Twitter/X variant:
[Bold claim or surprising fact — max 1 sentence]
[1-2 sentences of supporting context]
[Engaging question or CTA]
[1-2 relevant hashtags max]*Check: Under 280 chars for single tweet? If not, decide: cut or thread.*
LinkedIn variant:
[First line hook — create curiosity, not announcement]
[1-2 line context paragraph]
[Core insight or framework — 2-4 short paragraphs]
[Personal angle or reflection]
[Discussion CTA — question for the audience]
[3-5 hashtags at the end only]*Check: Does the first line work before "See more"? Does it NOT start with "I'm excited to..."?*
Reddit variant:
[Title: specific, searchable, not clickbaity]
[Opening: frame as experience, question, or lesson — community-first]
[Body: genuine story or insight with specifics]
[Closing question to invite community input]*Check: Would this feel at home in the target subreddit? No hashtags?*
With Node.js (Automated Path)
npm install
# text input
node generate.js --text "We reduced onboarding time by 35% with a checklist." --stdout
# file input
node generate.js --file examples/input-example.md --outdir examples
# URL input (when network is available)
node generate.js --url https://example.com/post --platforms twitter,linkedin --stdoutIf generate.js is unavailable, use the Manual Generation Path above — same quality, just manual.
Quality Self-Review Pass (REQUIRED After Generating)
After generating all 3 variants, run this review before delivering:
| Check | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Hook strong? (Would you stop scrolling?) | ✅/❌ | ✅/❌ | ✅/❌ |
| CTA present and clear? | ✅/❌ | ✅/❌ | ✅/❌ |
| Platform fit? (Tone matches platform norms) | ✅/❌ | ✅/❌ | ✅/❌ |
| Guardrails pass? (See below) | ✅/❌ | ✅/❌ | ✅/❌ |
Flag the weakest variant and explain why: "The Reddit variant is the weakest because it still reads like a LinkedIn post — too polished, not community-first."
Guardrails (Never Violate)
❌ No identical copy cross-posted — every platform variant must be meaningfully different in tone and structure ❌ No hashtag spam on LinkedIn — max 5, always at the end, never in the body ❌ No self-promotional openers on Reddit — community value first, always ❌ No vague hooks — "I have some thoughts on X" is not a hook ❌ No copy that assumes platform context — Reddit readers don't know your LinkedIn audience
Iteration Loop
After delivering the 3 variants:
- Ask: "Which variant feels most off? What's not landing?"
- If hook is weak → rewrite the first line using a different angle (counterintuitive, numerical, story-led)
- If CTA is weak → try a question instead of a directive
- If platform fit is off → re-read the platform rules and rewrite from scratch for that platform
Output Format
Deliver:
## Twitter/X
[Final copy — ready to paste]
Character count: [X]/280
## LinkedIn
[Final copy — ready to paste]
## Reddit
Title: [Post title]
[Body — ready to paste]
## Quality Review
- Strongest variant: [Platform] — because [reason]
- Weakest variant: [Platform] — [what to improve if needed]
- All guardrails passed: Yes / No — [note any issues]*Skill by Brian Wagner | AI Marketing Architect | brianrwagner.com*