# OutlineAI — soft-launch outreach kit

This directory holds the cold-email templates, KOL target list, follow-up
scripts, and tracked short links for the first 4 weeks of soft launch.
All links in the emails and posts use the `/r/{slug}` short-link format
(`/r/sleep`, `/r/standing-desks`, etc.) so `GET /api/stats` shows exactly
which KOL or community post drove each click.

## What's here

- `kol-list.md` — 14 KOL targets with site, recent post, contact email,
  and a tracked short link per KOL.
- `email-review.md` — cold email template for SEO/review editors.
- `email-tutorial.md` — cold email template for content-marketing bloggers.
- `email-affiliate.md` — cold email template for affiliate/commission sites.
- `followup.md` — single follow-up email + reply handlers for the 3
  most likely responses.
- `publish-checklist.md` — community-post publishing plan with timing
  and subreddit-specific rules.
- `posts/indiehackers-build-log.md` — IndieHackers "My build log" post draft.
- `posts/reddit-saas.md` — r/SaaS post draft.
- `posts/reddit-seo.md` — r/SEO post draft.
- `posts/reddit-blogging.md` — r/Blogging post draft.

## Tracked short links

| slug              | target                                                          | use case                      |
|-------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------|
| `/r/build-log`    | `/blog/we-generated-5-outlines-with-our-own-ai`                 | IndieHackers, general press   |
| `/r/anatomy`      | `/blog/anatomy-of-perfect-seo-blog-outline`                     | SEO education outreach        |
| `/r/ymyl`         | `/blog/ymyl-fact-check-why-we-force-warnings`                   | YMYL/trust building           |
| `/r/samples`      | `/samples`                                                      | general samples               |
| `/r/standing-desks` | `/samples/best-standing-desks-remote-work-2026`               | standing-desks KOL            |
| `/r/sleep`        | `/samples/sustainable-sleep-schedule`                           | sleep/health KOL              |
| `/r/home-buyer`   | `/samples/first-time-home-buyer-checklist-2026`                 | finance KOL                   |
| `/r/home-office`  | `/samples/indoor-herb-gardening-beginners`                      | home/lifestyle KOL            |
| `/r/pm-tools`     | `/samples/best-project-management-software-small-teams`         | B2B SaaS KOL                  |
| `/r/pricing`      | `/pricing`                                                      | direct pricing CTA            |
| `/r/home`         | `/`                                                             | main landing page             |

## How to read `/api/stats`

```bash
curl https://outlineai.dev/api/stats
```

Returns `referrals_24h` — a per-slug click count for the last 24h, e.g.:

```json
"referrals_24h": {
  "sleep": 12,
  "build-log": 4,
  "standing-desks": 2
}
```

The 24h window resets every 24h. For longer windows, scrape the `events`
SQLite table directly. Top-of-list referrals = top-performing KOL.

## How to use the kit

1. Read `kol-list.md` end-to-end. Pick 6-10 of the 14 to email first,
   based on which sites you actually read and trust.
2. For each pick, find one specific article from the last 6 months that
   relates to AI writing, SEO content, or content workflow. Reference
   it by name in the email — that's the difference between a template
   that lands and a template that goes to spam.
3. Use the appropriate template (`email-review.md`, `email-tutorial.md`,
   or `email-affiliate.md`) and replace the `[bracketed]` fields.
4. Use the per-KOL tracked short link from `kol-list.md`. That single
   link tells you later which KOL drove the click.
5. If no reply after 5 business days, send the follow-up in
   `followup.md` once. Then stop.
6. If the KOL says yes, give them a 6-month Pro code (we add
   `discount: 100%` to a fresh key on request) and the relevant `/r/`
   link. Do not promise payment unless we decide to.

## Why this is structured this way

Most cold-email kits fail for one of three reasons:
- They are too long.
- They are not personalized.
- The sender doesn't track who clicked what.

This kit fixes all three: every email is under 200 words, every email
requires a [bracketed] personalization field that forces a real read of
the KOL's work, and every link is a `/r/{slug}` so attribution is
automatic.