--- title: "Candidate Assessment Guide" description: "How to evaluate ebook candidates during discovery. Use this reference when assessing viability and making triage decisions." type: skill canonical_url: https://claudary.paisolsolutions.com/skills/candidate-assessment source: "Claudary" difficulty: intermediate author: "Claude Code Knowledge Pack" date: 2026-07-10T11:08:42.461Z license: CC-BY-4.0 attribution: "Candidate Assessment Guide — Claudary (https://claudary.paisolsolutions.com/skills/candidate-assessment)" --- # Candidate Assessment Guide How to evaluate ebook candidates during discovery. Use this reference when assessing viability and making triage decisions. ## Overview # Candidate Assessment Guide How to evaluate ebook candidates during discovery. Use this reference when assessing viability and making triage decisions. ## Table of Contents 1. [Viability Criteria](#viability-criteria) 2. [The Ebook-Shaped Test](#the-ebook-shaped-test) 3. [Example Candidates](#example-candidates) 4. [Validation Signals](#validation-signals) 5. [Validation Experiments](#validation-experiments) 6. [Matching Candidates to Intent](#matching-candidates-to-intent) --- ## Viability Criteria A viable ebook candidate should pass these checks: ### Core Viability | Criterion | Question | Green Flag | Red Flag | | ------------------ | --------------------------------------- | -------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------ | | **Clear idea** | Can you state it in 1-2 sentences? | Crisp, specific statement | Rambling, vague, or requires paragraphs | | **Reader exists** | Who specifically wants this? | Can describe a real person | "Everyone" or too abstract | | **Transformation** | What changes for the reader? | Concrete before/after | Vague improvement or just "more knowledge" | | **Author fit** | Why is this person the one to write it? | Unique experience or perspective | Anyone could write it | | **Ebook fit** | Is this genuinely ebook-sized? | Natural scope of 10-25K words | Too thin or too thick | ### Secondary Viability | Criterion | Question | Consideration | | --------------- | -------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------- | | **Effort** | How much work to create this? | Factor in existing content vs. creation from scratch | | **Timeliness** | Is there a moment for this? | Timely topics move faster but may have shorter shelf life | | **Competition** | What else exists? | Crowded spaces need clear differentiation | | **Energy** | Does the author actually want to write this? | Low energy = low completion probability | --- ## The Ebook-Shaped Test ### Too Thin (Blog Post Territory) **Warning signs:** - Transformation can be stated AND delivered in 1-2 paragraphs - Only 2-3 points to make - Could be fully covered in a single article - Stretching to fill pages would mean padding - Less than 8,000 words seems natural **The test:** "If you started writing this, would you run out of things to say before hitting 10,000 words?" **What to do:** - Kill as ebook candidate, suggest blog post or article - OR find the bigger context this fits into - OR bundle with related ideas ### Too Thick (Full Book Territory) **Warning signs:** - Transformation requires multiple sequential stages - Naturally breaks into 5+ distinct parts, each substantial - Could easily be 50,000+ words - Cutting scope feels like losing essential content - Readers would need months to implement **The test:** "Could someone realistically achieve this transformation from an ebook, or does this require book-length treatment?" **What to do:** - Kill as ebook candidate, suggest full book development - OR extract a subset that stands alone - OR split into series of ebooks ### Ebook-Shaped (Just Right) **Indicators:** - Naturally 10,000-25,000 words - 4-8 chapters feels right - Single, focused transformation - Could be read in 1-3 sessions - Delivers clear value without padding or rushing **The test:** "Does this have enough substance to justify $9.99-$19.99 but not so much that it becomes a slog?" --- ## Example Candidates ### Strong Candidates **Example 1: The Specific Process** > "A guide to writing YouTube video scripts that hook viewers in the first 5 > seconds. Based on my analysis of 200+ videos and what I've learned writing > scripts for my 50K-subscriber channel." **Why it's strong:** - Specific transformation (hooking viewers in 5 seconds) - Clear expertise backing (200+ videos analyzed, real channel) - Ebook-sized (focused on one skill) - Validation potential (existing audience) **Example 2: The Hard-Won Lesson** > "What I learned from losing $50K to a business partner and how to structure > partnerships that protect you. Includes the exact contract clauses I now use." **Why it's strong:** - Genuine expertise (paid for with real experience) - Clear reader (people entering partnerships) - Specific outcome (protection) - Unique value (actual contract clauses) **Example 3: The Translation Bridge** > "Explaining technical debt to non-technical executives: How to get buy-in for > necessary refactoring work without using jargon." **Why it's strong:** - Clear two-audience bridge - Specific problem (getting buy-in) - Ebook-sized (one type of communication) - Practitioner expertise implied ### Weak Candidates **Example 1: The Vague Topic** > "A guide to being more productive." **Why it's weak:** - No specific transformation - Massively overcrowded space - Too broad (productivity how? for whom? in what context?) - No unique angle apparent **Fix path:** Find the specific slice. "Productivity for remote software developers with ADHD" is much stronger. **Example 2: The Thin Insight** > "Why you should use a standing desk." **Why it's weak:** - Could be a blog post - Single insight, not enough for ebook - No transformation beyond the purchase decision **Fix path:** Kill as ebook. Make it a blog post, or find the broader system it fits into. **Example 3: The Disguised Book** > "A complete guide to starting and running a successful podcast, from idea to > monetization." **Why it's weak:** - Too broad for ebook format - Multiple sequential transformations (starting → producing → growing → monetizing) - Each section could be its own ebook **Fix path:** Extract one section. "How to launch your first 10 podcast episodes" is ebook-sized. **Example 4: The Repackage Without Value** > "A collection of my best blog posts about writing." **Why it's weak:** - No transformation beyond access - No value gap from free content - Readers can already get this for free **Fix path:** If pursuing this path, need significant new value: synthesis, framework, new content, updated perspectives. --- ## Validation Signals ### Strong Signals | Signal | What It Means | How to Use | | ----------------------- | ---------------------------------------- | -------------------------------- | | Repeat questions | People actively want this | Note frequency and specificity | | High engagement content | Topic resonates | Track which specific angles work | | Direct requests | "You should write a book about..." | Capture exact phrasing | | Paid for related | People bought courses/consulting on this | Validates willingness to pay | | Problem conversations | People bring this up unprompted | Pattern indicates pain point | ### Moderate Signals | Signal | What It Means | Limitations | | --------------------------- | ----------------------- | -------------------------- | | High views/reads | Interest exists | Interest ≠ purchase intent | | Social shares | Resonance with audience | Sharing ≠ buying | | Newsletter signups on topic | Dedicated interest | Free ≠ paid | | Comments on posts | Engagement | May not represent buyers | ### Weak or False Signals | Signal | Why It's Weak | | ---------------------------- | --------------------------------- | | Friends say it's a good idea | Politeness, not market validation | | You find it interesting | Author interest ≠ reader demand | | "No one else is doing this" | Might mean no demand exists | | Competitor success | Doesn't mean there's room for you | ### No Validation Yet For expertise-based candidates without content history: - Look for analogous signals (similar ebooks that have sold) - Note professional context (do clients ask about this?) - Consider the "would they pay?" test - The ebook itself may become the validation --- ## Validation Experiments Before committing to an ebook, consider testing interest: ### Low-Effort Tests **Newsletter poll:** "I'm considering writing an ebook on [topic]. Would this interest you?" - Quick signal - Biased toward yes (people want to be supportive) **Blog post test:** Write a substantial post on the topic, measure engagement vs. baseline - Real behavior signal - Doesn't test purchase intent **Social media thread:** Share key insights from the potential ebook, track response - Quick feedback - Platform-dependent engagement ### Medium-Effort Tests **Landing page:** Create a simple page describing the ebook, collect email signups - Tests enough interest to take action - Doesn't test payment **Waitlist with price:** "Sign up to be notified when [ebook] launches at [$X]" - Closer to purchase intent - Still not actual payment ### Higher-Effort Tests **Pre-sale:** Offer pre-orders at a discount before the ebook exists - Real purchase intent signal - Requires confidence and commitment **Workshop test:** Teach the content live, gauge response and refine - Tests content quality - Different format, but validates ideas --- ## Matching Candidates to Intent The user's intent affects which candidates to prioritize: ### Income Intent **Prioritize:** - Candidates with strong validation signals - Topics with proven buyer demand - Reasonable competition (some = market exists; too much = hard to stand out) - Evergreen topics over trendy ones **Deprioritize:** - Passion projects without market evidence - Niche topics without clear audience - Topics requiring extensive new creation ### Authority Intent **Prioritize:** - Candidates showcasing unique expertise - Topics that position them as THE expert - Ideas that open doors (speaking, consulting, etc.) - Differentiated perspectives **Deprioritize:** - "Me too" topics - Ideas that anyone could write - Topics outside their expertise zone ### Audience Service Intent **Prioritize:** - Candidates audience is actively requesting - Answers to repeated questions - Problems audience has expressed - Topics that build deeper relationships **Deprioritize:** - "Should want" topics (audience isn't asking) - Ideas that serve new audiences vs. existing ones - Topics that don't deepen the connection ### Lead Generation Intent **Prioritize:** - Candidates that attract ideal customers - Topics that qualify leads - Entry points to higher-ticket offerings - Ideas that demonstrate expertise relevant to services **Deprioritize:** - Topics unrelated to revenue streams - Ideas that attract wrong audience - Ebooks that would cannibalize paid offerings ### Passion Project Intent **Prioritize:** - Whatever the author is most excited about - Ideas with energy and enthusiasm - Topics they'll actually complete - Authentic expression over market optimization **Deprioritize:** - "Should" ideas with no energy - Market-optimized but boring candidates - (Less filtering needed—passion is the filter) --- Source: [Claudary](https://claudary.paisolsolutions.com/skills/candidate-assessment) · https://claudary.paisolsolutions.com