/reddit-launch-video

name: reddit-launch-video
description: Produce a Reddit-native 1:1 or 4:5 launch video using HyperFrames. Idiomatic Reddit feel — text-first, low-polish, sound-off, subreddit-aware. Optionally hand off to Reddit Ads to launch as a promoted post targeted to specific subreddits.
version: "1.0.0"
author: Cogny AI
platforms: [reddit-ads, hyperframes]
user-invocable: true
argument-hint: "<product URL or short brief>"
allowed-tools:
  - WebFetch
  - WebSearch
  - Bash
  - Read
  - Write
  - Edit
  # Cogny MCP context tree — richer product context than public scraping
  - mcp__cogny__get_context_tree_overview
  - mcp__cogny__browse_context_tree
  - mcp__cogny__read_context_node
  - mcp__cogny__search_context
  # Optional handoff to Reddit Ads when the user wants to publish as a promoted post
  - mcp__cogny__reddit_ads__*

Reddit Launch Video

Produce a Reddit-native launch video using [HyperFrames](https://hyperframes.heygen.com).

Reddit is the platform where polish *hurts* you. Ads that look like ads get downvoted, hidden, or drowned in sarcastic comments. This skill is built for the opposite — text-first, screenshot-heavy, sound-off, conversational. The closer the video looks to a normal Reddit post, the better it performs.

Usage

`/reddit-launch-video https://example.com/launch` — pulls context from a launch page `/reddit-launch-video "we built an open-source alternative to X"` — short brief `/reddit-launch-video` — interview the user

Prerequisites

node --version            # ≥ 22
ffmpeg -version | head -1 # ≥ 6

Steps

1. Gather product context AND subreddit context

Reddit only works if you know *which subreddit* the video is meant for. The same product needs different angles for r/SaaS, r/marketing, r/programming, and r/Entrepreneur.

Try sources in order:

**1a. Local file** — `.agents/product-marketing-context.md` or `.claude/product-marketing-context.md`.

**1b. Cogny MCP context tree** — if the `cogny` MCP server is connected:

mcp__cogny__get_context_tree_overview
mcp__cogny__search_context query="<product>"
mcp__cogny__read_context_node node_id="…"

The tree often contains the customer / community language and proof points that determine which subreddits will tolerate the post. Check it before falling back to web scraping.

**1c. Public web** — `WebFetch` the URL only if 1a/1b are empty or thin.

Then ask (don't skip — these can't be derived from any of 1a–1c):

1. Which **2–3 subreddits** is this targeting? (be specific — `r/marketing`, not "marketers") 2. What's the *honest* one-liner that subreddit would actually upvote? 3. Are you paying to promote this, or trying to seed it organically? (Determines tone — paid can be slightly more polished, organic must be near-zero polish.) 4. What's a real, concrete, non-marketing detail you can lead with? (a number, a screenshot of the actual product, a problem you hit, an open-source repo) 5. Is there a counterpoint / honest tradeoff you can name? (Reddit rewards self-awareness; "here's what it doesn't do" outperforms "here's why we're great")

If the user can't answer #4, do not proceed — the video has no Reddit-shaped truth in it.

1.5 Capture brand identity (lightly)

Reddit's tolerance for branding is *low* — heavy brand styling reads as "ad". Still, you want one or two cues so the video doesn't look generic.

Capture the same kit as the other channel skills (see [`references/brand-identity.md`](references/brand-identity.md)) but **dial it down** for Reddit:

• Use the brand's accent color **only** (e.g. one underline, one callout border).
• Default background stays light (`#f7f7f5`-ish) regardless of brand background — Reddit users browse in light mode, dark cards read as ad.
• Default font stays system / IBM Plex / Inter regardless of the brand's display font — display fonts read as marketing.

If the user pushes back ("but our brand uses serif headlines"), explain the tradeoff and let them decide. The composition template exposes `--accent` as a CSS variable; the rest is locked to a Reddit-native palette by design.

2. Pick the format

Reddit-idiomatic video formats:

| Format | When to use | Structure | |--------|-------------|-----------| | **Show HN-style** | Technical / dev audiences | "Built X. Stack is Y. Here's the demo. Repo / link below." | | **Self-aware launch** | Most B2B/SaaS subs | "We built X. Here's what it does. Here's what it doesn't do (yet)." | | **Comparison teardown** | Niche tools | "I tested [your tool] vs [3 competitors]. Here's what I found." | | **Problem-first** | Marketing / business subs | "I had this exact problem. Here's how I solved it. (Yes, I built the tool.)" | | **Public benchmark** | Data / dev / ML subs | "Here are the actual numbers. Methodology: X. Code: Y." |

Pick **one**. Confirm with the user.

3. Write the script (Reddit grammar)

• **Total length**: 20–45 seconds. Reddit tolerates longer than TikTok; don't pad to fill it.
• **Opening (0–2s)**: a flat, declarative sentence. No "what if I told you", no "POV". Reddit's tolerance for theatrics is zero.
• **Middle**: text-on-frame describing what's actually happening, paired with a screenshot or short screen-capture clip. Show the product, don't talk about it.
• **Honest beat**: at least one card that names a tradeoff, limitation, or "here's what's still rough". This card is what makes the video feel native.
• **Close**: link, repo, or "comments below". Not "tap to learn more".
• **No music** unless it's diegetic. No voiceover unless the user records one. Captions are the soundtrack.

Hand the beat sheet back to the user. **Wait for confirmation.**

4. Scaffold the HyperFrames project

npx -y hyperframes@latest init <product-slug>-reddit --yes
cd <product-slug>-reddit

Read the generated `CLAUDE.md` once for the framework rules.

5. Compose the video (1:1 default, 4:5 alternative)

Reddit's feed is dominated by **square (1:1) and 4:5 portrait**. 16:9 plays but feel