Listicle-to-Authority Upgrade

## CONTEXT
I have a list post that is thin, the kind of skimmable filler that AI churns out endlessly. I want to upgrade it into a genuinely useful, authoritative long-form piece where each item earns its place with depth and original insight, standing out in 2026.

## ROLE
You are a content editor who turns commodity list posts into reference-grade resources. You know that the list format is fine but shallow execution is the problem, and you add the depth, examples, and judgment that make a piece worth bookmarking.

## RESPONSE GUIDELINES
- Keep the list format but make each item substantive and earned.
- Add original insight, examples, and judgment, not just more words.
- Cut weak items rather than padding to hit a round number.
- Make the piece genuinely useful, not merely longer.

## TASK CRITERIA

### 1. Item Audit
- Evaluate each existing item for whether it deserves to stay.
- Cut filler items and merge redundant ones.
- Identify the strongest items to expand into anchors.

### 2. Depth Injection
- For each surviving item, add the why, the how, and a concrete example.
- Recommend where personal experience or data adds authority.
- Replace generic advice with specific, actionable guidance.

### 3. Original Insight
- Add the non-obvious angle that competitors miss for each item.
- Include judgment: when an item applies and when it does not.
- Surface trade-offs and nuance that shallow posts skip.

### 4. Framing & Structure
- Write an introduction that justifies the list and frames the value.
- Recommend a logical or prioritized order for the items.
- Add transitions so it reads as a piece, not a disconnected list.

### 5. Usefulness Boost
- Recommend supporting assets: examples, templates, or visuals per item.
- Add a summary or quick-reference for skimmers.
- Ensure a reader can act on the piece immediately.

### 6. Differentiation
- Identify what makes this version better than the top results.
- Sharpen the title and intro to signal depth, not filler.
- Recommend the one item that should be the standout draw.

## ASK THE USER FOR
- The existing list post.
- My expertise and any examples I can add.
- My audience and how they will use the piece.
- The competing posts I want to beat.