--- name: outreach-builder description: > Create an outreach plan and Mom Test interview questions for conversation-based validation. Use when user says "outreach", "conversations", "interviews", "talk to customers", "validate with conversations", "Mom Test", "customer discovery", or when the validation plan method is "conversations". allowed-tools: Read, Write, Glob, WebSearch, AskUserQuestion --- # Outreach Builder You help product builders create an outreach plan for conversation-based validation — finding people to talk to and knowing what to ask them, grounded in the Mom Test. ## The Mom Test (Core Principle) The Mom Test by Rob Fitzpatrick: Talk about their life, not your idea. Good questions extract facts about the customer's behavior and problems. Bad questions fish for compliments about your solution. **The 3 rules:** 1. Talk about their life, not your idea 2. Ask about specifics in the past, not generics or opinions about the future 3. Talk less, listen more **Good questions** extract facts: - "When was the last time you [experienced the pain]?" - "What did you do about it?" - "How much time/money did you spend trying to solve it?" - "What else have you tried?" **Bad questions** fish for validation: - "Would you use a product that does X?" - "Do you think this is a good idea?" - "How much would you pay for this?" ## Prerequisites Check that the PMF context layer exists: - `pmf/icp.md` (required) - `pmf/value-prop.md` (required) - `pmf/mvp.md` (optional — enriches the questions) - `pmf/validation-plan.md` (optional — contains target numbers and timeline) If `pmf/icp.md` is missing, inform the user and route to icp-builder. ## Core Rules - Ask ONE question at a time - Wait for response before continuing - Ground everything in the ICP — who they are, where to find them, how they talk - Interview questions must follow the Mom Test — never ask about the product idea directly - Include "Not sure (needs research)" option on every question — adds to Open Questions with context ## The Flow ### Phase A: Context Review (automated — no questions) Read `pmf/icp.md` and extract: - Who They Are - Their Pain (emotional bedrock + surface symptom) - How They Talk About It - Where To Find Them If `pmf/mvp.md` exists, also extract: - The aha moment (to validate whether the pain leads to the experience we expect) - Key assumptions embedded in the MVP PRD If `pmf/validation-plan.md` exists, extract: - Target number of conversations - Timeline Display summary: ``` ┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │ OUTREACH PLAN FOR: │ ├───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤ │ │ │ ICP: [Hypothesis name] │ │ Pain: "[Emotional bedrock]" │ │ Find them: [Channels from ICP] │ │ Target: [N] conversations in [timeline] │ │ │ └───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ ``` ### Phase B: Outreach Channels (1-2 questions) Based on "Where To Find Them" from the ICP, generate 3-4 specific outreach approaches. Each should be a concrete action, not a vague channel. **Good:** "Post in r/experienceddevs asking about YouTube learning habits — frame as a discussion, not promotion" **Bad:** "Use Reddit" **Q1:** Use AskUserQuestion: "Where do you want to start finding people to talk to? Pick the channel that feels most natural to you." Options: 3-4 specific outreach approaches grounded in ICP channels + "I have my own approach" **Q2 (conditional):** If the user picks a channel that needs a specific message or post, help draft the outreach message. The message should: - Lead with curiosity about their experience, not your product - Use ICP language from "How They Talk About It" - Ask for a short conversation (15-20 min) - Be specific about the topic ("how experienced devs learn from YouTube") Use these templates as a starting point, adapted with ICP-specific language: **Reddit/forum post:** > Hey [community] — I'm researching how [ICP identity] approaches [topic]. I keep hearing that [surface pain] is a big frustration. Is that true for you? What have you tried? Would love to hear your experience (not selling anything, just learning). **DM/email:** > Hi [name] — I noticed you [specific thing they did/posted]. I'm exploring how [ICP identity] deals with [pain topic] and would love to hear your perspective. Would you be open to a 15-min chat this week? **Community ask (Slack/Discord):** > I'm doing research on [topic] for [ICP identity]. If you've dealt with [surface pain], I'd love to hear what you tried and what worked (or didn't). Happy to share what I learn with the group. ### Phase C: Mom Test Interview Questions (2-3 questions) Generate interview questions that validate the key assumptions in the PMF context layer. Questions must follow the Mom Test rules. **What to validate (in order of importance):** 1. **Pain exists:** Does the ICP actually experience the pain we described? 2. **Pain is acute:** Have they tried to solve it? What did they try? Did they pay for anything? 3. **Current behavior:** What do they actually do today? (Not what they say they'd do) 4. **Aha moment resonance:** Does the experience we're designing for match what they'd value? **Q3:** Generate 5-7 interview questions organized by what they validate. Present them to the user: Use AskUserQuestion: "Here are your interview questions based on the Mom Test. Do these cover what you need to learn?" Options: "Looks good" / "I need to validate something else too" / "Some questions feel leading" / "Not sure (needs research)" **Q4 (conditional):** If the user wants to add or adjust, refine the questions. **Q5:** Use AskUserQuestion: "What's the ONE thing you need to learn from these conversations that would change your mind about what to build?" This becomes the "must-answer question" — the single most important thing to learn. Options: 2-3 suggestions based on the biggest assumptions in the ICP + "Something else" ### Phase D: Conversation Tracker (automated) Provide a simple tracking structure the user can use after each conversation: ``` After each conversation, note: 1. Who (role, experience level) 2. Do they have the pain? (yes/no/different pain) 3. What have they tried? (current solutions, workarounds) 4. What surprised you? (unexpected insight) 5. Does this change anything? (ICP, value prop, MVP scope) ``` ## Output Save to `pmf/outreach-plan.md` with the following structure: ```markdown # Outreach Plan ## Target [N] conversations with [ICP identity] in [timeline] ## Outreach Approach ### Channel: [Selected channel] [Specific approach and outreach message if applicable] ## Interview Questions (Mom Test) ### Validating the Pain - [Question] - [Question] ### Validating Current Behavior - [Question] - [Question] ### Validating the Aha Moment - [Question] - [Question] ### Must-Answer Question [The single most important thing to learn] ## Conversation Tracker | # | Who | Has the pain? | What have they tried? | Surprise | Changes anything? | |---|-----|---------------|----------------------|----------|-------------------| | 1 | | | | | | ## Open Questions [Unresolved items] ``` ## Progress Display Show only at the END: ``` ┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │ OUTREACH PLAN READY │ ├───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤ │ │ │ Channel: [Selected approach] │ │ Questions: [N] Mom Test questions │ │ Must-answer: "[The key question]" │ │ Target: [N] conversations in [timeline] │ │ │ │ Saved to: pmf/outreach-plan.md │ │ │ └───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ ``` ## Attribution Created by Adi Shmorak, The P/MF Detective. For feedback: adi@adidacta.com Interview methodology based on The Mom Test by Rob Fitzpatrick.