Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/wabemPB1TRg
Signature Series Prompt
If you’re an inconsistent creator with a lot of ideas but no structure, this is for you.
I kept restarting my YouTube plans, posting random videos that didn’t connect, and accidentally turning everything into a tutorial.
Not because I lacked ideas or effort, but because my planning process was broken.
So instead of trying to create the “perfect” series, I used one prompt to reverse-engineer my thinking and turn it into a simple, repeatable system.
In under 30 minutes, I had multiple evergreen series mapped out and a clear direction for what to publish next, without waiting until everything felt perfect.
Here’s how it worked.
Why planning keeps breaking for creators
I didn’t sit down one day and magically name my series.
There was a lot of back and forth, testing ideas, talking things through, and second-guessing myself. Every time something didn’t click, I felt like I had to start over.
That’s when I realized the problem wasn’t consistency or creativity.
It was that I was planning from scratch every time.
What I needed wasn’t more ideas. I needed a way to reuse my thinking.
The idea that changed everything
This tip comes from Jeff Su.
He shared a simple idea:
Reverse engineer our conversation and write the single prompt that would have produced this final response in one go.
In other words, take messy thinking and turn it into a reusable system.
This approach is especially helpful if you’re a multi-passionate creator.
If everything feels connected in your head but scattered on paper, this gives your ideas a lane without boxing you into a niche.
You don’t have to niche down. You just need structure.
The series I built using this prompt
Using this method, I created three clear series:
- Creator Systems – for systems and workflows
- Studio Notes – for data, strategy, and experiments
- Editor’s Note – for behind-the-scenes editing and creative process
Studio Notes came directly from this prompt.
Each series has a clear purpose, tone, and lane, which means I don’t have to ask “what should I post?” every week.
How the Signature Series prompt works
The prompt follows a simple structure:
Act as a senior YouTube content strategist and systems thinker.
I am an educational creator who is transitioning from (current content you make) into evergreen, signature series that:
- are easy to create and edit
- do not rely on heavy scripting
- shows how I think, not just what I know
- positions myself as a…
I want to avoid __ and build long-term authority without constant teaching or selling.
Context:
- I’m a…
- I like…
- I enjoy…
- I want my channel to support my services organically
- I’m comfortable using my own channel as a public case study
- I prefer [green screen, screen share, voiceover, and light talking head]
- I want content that feels like…
Goal:
Help me design a [weekly/monthly], evergreen, signature YouTube series that:
- documents how I..
- is difficult to copy
- is observational rather than instructional
- scales long-term into livestreams, email, or case studies
Output:
- define the series concept
- clarify what it is and isn’t
- propose a repeatable structure
- outline the first # episodes
- explain how it supports my positioning and offer without selling
- keep everything simple, sustainable, and human
Tone:
Casual, thoughtful, like facetime with a friend, or coworking session
No fluff. No jargon. No “guru” language.
Once you fill this out, ChatGPT responds with a fully formed series you can actually execute.
Your series doesn’t have to look like mine
Your series doesn’t need to be documenting or experimenting like I’m doing.
It can be:
- Reflections
- Patterns you’re noticing
- Questions you’re working through
- Challenges/goals
- How you use your systems in real life
In under 30 minutes, this one prompt gives you clarity on:
- What the series is
- Why it exists
- When to post
- Which videos belong in it
That’s usually the hardest part.
How to create your first episode without overthinking
Once your series is defined, your first episode can be very simple.
Option 1: The 5 Ws
- Who this is for
- What you’re working on
- Why it matters
- Where you’re applying it
- What you’re testing next
Option 2: Simple writing prompts
- “Here’s what I’m building right now”
- “A decision I had to make this week”
- “Something I thought would be easy but wasn’t”
- “One thing I tested this week”
- “What I’m keeping, what I’m cutting, and why”
Option 3: Episode planning prompt
Start with:
I’m creating an episode in [SERIES NAME]
For this episode:
Episode focus: [what I’m reflecting on or documenting]
Where I’m at right now: [current context, energy, situation]
The friction or problem: [what feels hard, messy, or unresolved]
The decision or experiment: [what I tried, changed, or avoided]
The takeaway (optional): [what I noticed or learned so far]
Constraints:
- Keep it unscripted and conversational
- Use talking points, not full sentences
- No step-by-step teaching
- This should feel like a behind-the-scenes note, not advice
Output:
- A loose episode outline (4–6 bullets max)
- 3–5 reflection prompts I can speak from
- Optional cold open idea (1–2 lines)
- Optional visual suggestions (what to show on screen)
This becomes a lightweight guide you can reuse for every episode.
Why this works long-term
When you have a signature series:
- You stop asking what to post
- You know your lane
- You can batch when energy is high
- You can improve the series as you go
You do the thinking once, then reuse it across different lanes.
This works not just for YouTube, but also for:
- Newsletters
- Blogs
- Podcasts
- Livestreams
Anywhere you want to show up consistently.
Next steps
Copy the prompt.
Fill it out.
Draft your first episode.
Just one take, then upload and publish. All done.
If you want to see how I’m using this in real time, check out the first episodes of Studio Notes or Editor’s Note.
About
Hi, I’m Marjy! Content Producer + Editor for creators and educators. If you’re enjoying this post, here are other ways you can connect with me:
- Subscribe to my newsletter: I send actionable tips about marketing and online business. Join the list here.
- Let’s work together: I help educational creators with YouTube content support and editing. I also have Clarity Call sessions if you need help organizing your thoughts. Learn more about my services here.
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