HQ A FIELD MANUAL FOR REAL BUILDERS
VOLUME III · The Lab · Methods
Plate 000
Fig. M.00 · The Lab · 27 specimens

Methods

Copy-paste AI prompts, automations, and workflows — open the plate, take what works. No theory.

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  • Prompt 6 methods
  • No. 001

    Blog Post From Idea to Draft

    A prompt that takes a half-baked blog idea and turns it into a structured, voice-matched draft you can actually publish.

    • Turns a rough idea into a full blog draft — hook, H2 sections, conclusion, CTA.
    • Voice example is the star input — 2-3 sentences that sound like you at your best.
    • No "In today's world" openers, no definitions, no padding. Cuts what doesn't earn its place.
    Difficulty
    Beginner
    Time
    5 min
    Tool
    Claude
    Open this method
  • No. 002

    Client Proposal Generator

    A prompt that turns your discovery call notes into a professional proposal with scope, timeline, pricing, and terms.

    • Discovery call notes in, one-page proposal out — problem, scope, timeline, pricing, terms.
    • Mirrors the client's exact language back at them so they feel heard.
    • Includes a "what's not included" section to block scope creep before it starts.
    Difficulty
    Beginner
    Time
    5 min
    Tool
    Claude
    Open this method
  • No. 003

    Content Hooks Matchmaker

    Find the right opening hook for your topic, then get it written. Matches your topic to 40+ proven hook patterns.

    • Library of 40+ hook patterns across 8 categories — contrarian, story, permission, stat, authority, more.
    • Describe your topic and audience; Claude picks the top 3 patterns that fit and writes one.
    • Solves the blank-page problem when you know what to say but can't find the opener.
    Difficulty
    Beginner
    Time
    5 min
    Tool
    Claude
    Open this method
  • No. 004

    Full Email Funnel Architect

    Map your entire email funnel from lead magnet to post-purchase with sequences, timing, and segmentation rules.

    • Complete funnel — lead magnet concept plus 5 sequences (welcome, nurture, sales, post-purchase, optional re-engagement).
    • Specifies segmentation rules and triggers (opens 3+? clicks? doesn't buy after 5 days?).
    • Welcome builds belief first, pitches in email 5 — so people don't unsubscribe from the start.
    Difficulty
    Beginner
    Time
    5 min
    Tool
    Claude
    Open this method
  • No. 005

    One-to-Ten Content Repurposer

    A prompt that takes one piece of content and turns it into 10 platform-ready pieces — social posts, email snippets, threads, and more.

    • One source piece (blog, podcast, newsletter, video) becomes 10 platform-specific posts.
    • Threads, LinkedIn, Instagram caption, email subject + body, carousel outline, quote graphic, newsletter teaser — each rehooked for its platform.
    • Each piece stands alone — different angle, different energy, no copy-paste.
    Difficulty
    Beginner
    Time
    5 min
    Tool
    Claude
    Open this method
  • No. 006

    Quick 5-Person Advisory Board

    A prompt that assembles a virtual advisory board of 5 experts to debate your business question and give you real, actionable advice.

    • 5 experts (Strategist · Finance · Ops · Marketing · Wild Card) debate one business question.
    • Each one gives a recommendation, names a risk no one's talking about, and pushes back on the others.
    • Ends with a board consensus — what most agreed on, and the one thing they didn't.
    Difficulty
    Beginner
    Time
    5 min
    Tool
    Claude
    Open this method
  • Marketing 7 methods
  • No. 007

    5-Email Welcome Sequence Builder

    A prompt that turns your offer and audience into a complete 5-email welcome sequence — subject lines, body copy, CTAs — ready to load into your email platform.

    • 5 emails over 10 days — welcome, origin story, quick win, social proof, soft pitch.
    • Each email includes subject line, alt subject, preview text, body copy, and button CTA.
    • Built around your specific offer, audience, voice, and platform — not a fill-in template.
    Difficulty
    Beginner
    Time
    15 min
    Tool
    Claude
    Open this method
  • No. 008

    90-Day Marketing Roadmap Generator

    A prompt that takes your business goals and builds a focused 90-day marketing plan — priorities, channels, content themes, and weekly actions.

    • 90-day plan with 3 monthly themes (Foundation, Build, Optimize) and weekly action checklists.
    • Starts with the marketing engine check — website, email capture, email sends — before anything else.
    • Each month gets 2-3 EOS-style Rocks, a focus channel list, and a "don't do this" list.
    Difficulty
    Beginner
    Time
    10 min
    Tool
    Claude
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  • No. 009

    CRO Sprint Checklist

    A prompt that audits your conversion funnel — from landing to purchase — and builds a prioritized sprint plan to fix what's leaking.

    • Scores 5 conversion zones from 1-5 — landing page, trust, friction, email capture, CTA clarity.
    • Builds a 2-week sprint plan — Week 1 is copy and UX tweaks, Week 2 is structural fixes.
    • Specific fixes only — "change headline from X to Y in 32px dark blue," not "improve messaging."
    Difficulty
    Beginner
    Time
    10 min
    Tool
    Claude
    Open this method
  • No. 010

    Deep Competitor Analysis

    A prompt that reverse-engineers your competitors' marketing — content, SEO, social, email, positioning — so you can find gaps they're missing.

    • Takes 3-5 competitor URLs and reverse-engineers their positioning, content, SEO, social, email, and pricing.
    • Outputs a side-by-side matrix plus a "Your Opportunity" section with 3-5 specific moves to make.
    • Looks at what they're NOT doing — the audience they're ignoring, the format they're avoiding.
    Difficulty
    Beginner
    Time
    10 min
    Tool
    Claude
    Open this method
  • No. 011

    SEO Keyword Cluster Generator

    A prompt that takes your business topic and generates organized keyword clusters — with search intent, difficulty estimates, and a content plan to match.

    • 5-7 keyword clusters with pillar keyword, 5-8 supporters, search intent, and difficulty per cluster.
    • 90-day content calendar that prioritizes low-difficulty wins before competitive terms.
    • Built around topical authority — clusters that reinforce each other, not random keyword lists.
    Difficulty
    Beginner
    Time
    10 min
    Tool
    Claude
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  • No. 012

    Website Audit Checklist

    A prompt that audits your website across 7 categories — messaging, UX, SEO, speed, mobile, conversion, and trust — and tells you exactly what to fix first.

    • Audits 7 zones — messaging, UX, SEO, speed, mobile, conversion, trust — with a 1-10 score each.
    • Specific fixes, not generic advice — "change headline X to Y" not "improve your messaging."
    • Ends with a "Fix This First" top-5 list ordered by impact on leads and sales.
    Difficulty
    Beginner
    Time
    10 min
    Tool
    Claude
    Open this method
  • No. 013

    Weekly Content Calendar Generator

    A prompt that builds your weekly content calendar — topics, platforms, formats, and hooks — based on your goals, audience, and how much time you actually have.

    • Monday-Sunday content calendar — platform, format, topic, hook, direction, CTA per day.
    • Sized to your actual capacity — 4 great posts beats 7 mediocre ones.
    • Includes a batch creation plan so you knock out the week in one sitting, not one post at a time.
    Difficulty
    Beginner
    Time
    10 min
    Tool
    Claude
    Open this method
  • AI 4 methods
  • No. 014

    AI Workflow Automation Planner

    A prompt that maps your repetitive tasks and builds a plan to automate them with AI — what to automate, what tools to use, and how to set it up.

    • Sorts your repetitive tasks into "automate now," "automate soon," and "keep manual."
    • For each one, names the tool (Claude, Zapier, native automation) and what the human still owns.
    • 30-day plan with 4 weekly phases — foundations, first automation live, second, optimize.
    Difficulty
    Beginner
    Time
    15 min
    Tool
    Claude
    Open this method
  • No. 015

    Brainstorming Partner Claude Setup

    Create a permanent Claude Projects custom instructions file for a brainstorming partner tuned to your thinking style and goals.

    • A fill-in template for Claude Projects custom instructions — values, response rules, tone, avoid list.
    • Turns default Claude into a thinking partner who knows your style across every session.
    • Paste once, save to a Project, and every chat in that Project starts pre-tuned.
    Difficulty
    Intermediate
    Time
    20 min
    Tool
    Claude
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  • No. 016

    Train Claude on Your Brand

    Create a brain file that teaches Claude to sound like you, not a generic AI.

    • Brain file Claude reads as Project Instructions — voice, products, audience, system rules.
    • Built from your real writing samples so Claude learns the pattern, not the abstraction.
    • Specifies words to use, words to avoid, tone by context (social vs. email vs. long-form).
    Difficulty
    Beginner
    Time
    15 min
    Tool
    Claude
    Open this method
  • No. 017

    Zapier + AI Automation Builder

    Use Claude to architect a specific Zapier workflow that automates a real business task—trigger, AI step, output, done.

    • Full Zap architecture — trigger, filter, Claude AI step, output action — for one real task.
    • Gives you the exact Claude prompt to paste inside the Zapier AI step, with {{variable}} hooks.
    • Includes error handling for missing fields, and a 3-5 step test checklist before going live.
    Difficulty
    Beginner
    Time
    15 min
    Tool
    Claude
    Open this method
  • Canvas 4 methods
  • No. 018

    Brand Foundation Dossier Builder

    Paste your website copy and get a behavioral analysis of your brand—what you actually stand for, beneath the surface.

    • Paste your website copy, get a 10-section brand foundation dossier read out of the lines.
    • Covers founder story, what you actually sell, the real problem, audience behavior, values, differentiators, emotional hooks.
    • Behavioral psychology lens — what your site is really saying, not what you think it's saying.
    Difficulty
    Beginner
    Time
    30 min
    Tool
    Claude
    Open this method
  • No. 019

    Content Marketing Strategy Canvas

    Map your entire content operation on one page—audience, batching, channels, and the routines that actually stick.

    • One-page strategic blueprint covering audience, pillars, batching, channels, voice, and routines.
    • Centers on "Making the Donuts" — 8 repeatable weekly routines that actually move the needle.
    • Assigns owner, frequency, and channel for every recurring task so nothing falls through.
    Difficulty
    Intermediate
    Time
    30 min
    Tool
    Claude
    Open this method
  • No. 020

    Customer Persona Canvas

    Build behavior-based customer personas instead of demographics. Focus on what they DO, not who they are.

    • 2-3 behavior-based personas — no demographics, just what they do, want, fear, and consume.
    • Each one gets a name, headline, average day, how-they-found-you narrative, objections, and success metric.
    • Built from real customer language and behavior, not "Female, 28, from Portland."
    Difficulty
    Beginner
    Time
    30 min
    Tool
    Claude
    Open this method
  • No. 021

    Entrepreneur Vision & Strategy Canvas

    Map your 1, 3, and 10-year vision with revenue targets, core values, and annual rocks. One-page strategic alignment.

    • Two-prompt sequence — strategic canvas first, then a prioritized marketing checklist.
    • Canvas covers core values, mission, 1/3/10-year vision with revenue targets, 4 KPIs, 6 annual Rocks.
    • EOS framework adapted for solopreneurs — Rocks are major outcomes with finish lines, not tasks.
    Difficulty
    Intermediate
    Time
    30 min
    Tool
    Claude
    Open this method
  • Productivity 3 methods
  • No. 022

    AI-Powered Family Meeting Agenda

    A prompt that turns your family's chaos into a structured weekly meeting agenda everyone can actually follow.

    • Custom weekly agenda — icebreaker, last week's check-in, schedule, discussion topics, decisions, fun close.
    • Built around your family's ages, this week's chaos, and the recurring topics you actually argue about.
    • Real-people-not-a-boardroom tone. Kids can run it. Under 30 minutes or you've lost them.
    Difficulty
    Beginner
    Time
    5 min
    Tool
    Claude
    Open this method
  • No. 023

    Daily Standup for Solopreneurs

    A prompt that runs your own daily standup — priorities, blockers, and what actually matters today — in under 2 minutes.

    • Five inputs (projects, deadlines, energy, blockers, one thing) become three priorities with time estimates.
    • Adjusts for energy level — a 3/10 day and a 9/10 day get different plans.
    • Also gives you one thing to let go of, plus a 2-sentence standup note for your journal.
    Difficulty
    Beginner
    Time
    5 min
    Tool
    Claude
    Open this method
  • No. 024

    Meeting Notes to Action Items

    A prompt that turns messy meeting transcripts into structured notes with clear action items, owners, and deadlines.

    • Raw transcript in (Otter, Fathom, Fireflies, your own notes), structured summary out.
    • Outputs decisions, action items table (task · owner · deadline · priority), follow-up topics, parking lot.
    • Adapts to meeting type — client call flags scope creep, team sync surfaces blockers, 1:1 splits growth from project.
    Difficulty
    Beginner
    Time
    5 min
    Tool
    Claude
    Open this method
  • Framework 2 methods
  • No. 025

    Layered Prompting Framework

    Break complex AI tasks into stages instead of asking for everything at once. Treat Claude like you'd manage a team.

    • Five layers — clarify, strategize, execute in phases, expand with detail, refine.
    • Claude asks clarifying questions first, then proposes the build order, then waits for your go.
    • You stay in the driver's seat at every phase — feedback loops instead of one giant output.
    Difficulty
    Beginner
    Time
    15 min
    Tool
    Claude
    Open this method
  • No. 026

    Template Deconstruction Framework

    Take any template and turn it into something AI can fill accurately. 4 steps: map, design, automate, verify.

    • 4 steps — inventory every blank, map the data behind it, write a targeted prompt per section, verify the output.
    • Categorizes blanks as static, conditional, data-driven, research-required, or open-ended so you know what's automatable.
    • Each section gets its own prompt — "write the executive summary" not "fill the template."
    Difficulty
    Intermediate
    Time
    15 min
    Tool
    Claude
    Open this method
  • Guide 1 method
  • No. 027

    Vibe Coding for Non-Developers

    Build real apps with AI without producing spaghetti. You're the architect. AI is the builder.

    • You're the architect, AI is the builder — rules that keep AI from making spaghetti.
    • Starts with a claude.md brain file the AI reads before every build (file structure, stack, naming rules).
    • 7 rules — one file one job, comment the why not the what, no magic strings, keep components small, test as you go.
    Difficulty
    Intermediate
    Time
    30 min
    Tool
    Claude
    Open this method

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