PAS content marketing: the commitment loop for builders

<p>You know the drill. You have a product, and now you need content. The standard advice tells you to follow the PAS formula: Problem, Agitate, Solve. It’s comforting in its simplicity. It feels like a guaranteed path to engagement, like a well-written line of code.</p> <p>Here is the hard truth: PAS is dead. Or, at least, it’s neutered. It works perfectly on paper. But in the wild, it creates articles that are perfectly adequate and completely ignorable. It’s a 1990s sales script adapted for a 2024 internet that moves too fast to care about mere adequacy.</p> <p>Why does it fail? Because "Solve" is not enough. Solving a problem only earns a polite nod. It doesn't earn the next click, the email signup, or the shift in mental effort required to try a new tool. The digital world is too saturated with free solutions. You need to move past the solution and toward a measurable, immediate action. You need a better system.</p> <p>This is where we upgrade the core system. We move from Problem-Agitate-Solve to the <strong>Commitment Loop</strong>, a PAS+C framework designed for technical founders who need content to operate like a predictable traction engine, not a therapy session.</p> <p>A good piece of content doesn’t just solve a problem; it funnels the user into their next right step.</p> <hr> <h2>TL;DR</h2> <p>The Problem-Agitate-Solve (PAS) formula is outdated; modern content marketing requires a fourth step, Commitment, to drive immediate, measurable founder action.</p> <p><em>If you are short on time, scroll straight to The Commitment Loop Content Generator.</em></p> <hr> <h2>How to use pas content marketing for measurable traction: the commitment loop</h2> <p>Most builders treat content as a broadcast. We treat it as an assembly line. When you use <strong>PAS content marketing</strong>, you are not writing to inform; you are writing to convert a reader's attention into momentum. The Commitment Loop achieves this by forcing the fourth, often-skipped, stage.</p> <h3><p>P: The Specific, Structural Problem (Isolation)</p></h3> <p>The classic "P" is just stating a pain point. That's weak. Everyone has vague pains. You need to identify the <em>structural contradiction</em> in your user’s world. They are building a product, but they are stuck on manual tasks. They are trying to <a href="https://learn.getliftkit.com/learn/how-to-write-better-marketing-copy">write better marketing copy</a>, but they are relying on gut feeling instead of a system. You must isolate this specific, repeatable blockage.</p> <p>For example, instead of "Your emails don't get opened," try: "You spend 3 hours writing a launch email, but you are not tracking the single metric that guarantees a 20% open rate." Specificity validates the reader's frustration.</p> <h3><p>A: The Agitation of Opportunity Cost (Consequence)</p></h3> <p>Agitation is not just making the problem hurt more. It's quantifying the cost of inaction. Early-stage founders are allergic to waste—time, code, and cash. Your agitation must focus on opportunity cost.</p> <p>What are they missing out on *right now* because of the structural problem? If their positioning is muddy, they aren't just confused; they are actively losing the next 10 customers to a competitor with cleaner messaging. This reframing makes the chaos feel deterministic—a problem you can engineer your way out of. You can ignore the conventional advice that tells you to focus on emotional pain. Focus on the cold, hard, lost revenue instead.</p> <h3><p>S: The Minimal Viable Solution (Clarity)</p></h3> <p>Your solution must be simple and non-intimidating. The error most content makes here is presenting the final, perfect state. Founders don't need perfection; they need forward movement. The solution is the minimal step that breaks the deadlock.</p> <p>If the problem is "marketing chaos," the solution isn't "implement a seven-stage funnel." It’s "identify the single constraint blocking growth." The solution should feel like a minor adjustment that yields a major systemic improvement. Give them permission to ignore the complex, multi-tool setup and focus on a single lever today.</p> <p><strong>Actionable Step:</strong> In your current draft, find the section where you offer the solution. Reduce the time commitment by 80%. If it takes a week, make it a single afternoon. If it takes an hour, make it 10 minutes. This gives the reader a small win they can achieve today.</p> <h2>The commitment: content that drives the next action</h2> <p>This is where The Commitment Loop separates itself. After the Solve stage, you have the reader's trust and clarity. You solved their immediate, isolated problem. Now, you must demand a micro-commitment (C) that converts passive understanding into active momentum.</p> <p>Commitment is a specific, friction-less action that signals intent. It’s the gate between reading and doing. It isn't a vague "contact us" CTA. It is a measurable behavior that moves them further down the strategic path you’ve laid out.</p> <h3><p>The four commitment types for content</p></h3> <ul> <li><strong>The Diagnostic Commitment:</strong> A tool, calculator, or quick quiz that takes 60 seconds and shows them *exactly* how bad their problem is, forcing a moment of self-diagnosis.</li> <li><strong>The Configuration Commitment:</strong> A copy-paste snippet, a checklist PDF, or a simple prompt they can use right now to configure their own version of your solution.</li> <li><strong>The Social Commitment:</strong> Sharing a counterintuitive realization you provided, thereby broadcasting their new identity as a founder who operates with strategy.</li> <li><strong>The Context Commitment:</strong> An internal link to the next piece of content required to execute the solution you just delivered. This keeps momentum alive. <a href="https://learn.getliftkit.com/learn/content-marketing-strategy">Mastering content marketing strategy</a> is about guiding the reader, not just informing them.</li> </ul> <p>A specific action a founder can take in the next hour is to select the most relevant Commitment Type for their top three articles. If the article is about <a href="https://learn.getliftkit.com/frameworks/pas-startups">PAS for startups</a>, the commitment should be the Diagnostic type—a link to a 2-question tool that determines if their Problem statement is specific enough.</p> <h2>Engineering content around constraints, not wishes</h2> <p>Founders operate under constraints. They have no time, limited cash, and maximum pressure. The Commitment Loop works because it respects these realities. It’s not about selling; it’s about removing the next structural blockage.</p> <p>When you focus your content not on what you want the reader to buy, but on the single constraint you want them to overcome, you earn attention. Your content acts as an advisor, identifying the one thing that will unlock the system. This approach is superior to generalized advice because it is systemic.</p> <p>For high-value topics like <a href="https://learn.getliftkit.com/learn/psychology-of-persuasion-in-marketing">the psychology of persuasion</a>, your content must cut through the noise and deliver a single, operative principle. Then, the Commitment stage should be a Configuration Commitment—a prompt to implement that principle instantly.</p> <p><strong>Actionable Step:</strong> Review your last five pieces of content. If the call-to-action is "Read More" or "Learn More," delete it. Replace it with a sentence that starts: "Before you close this tab, do this one thing:" followed by a Diagnostic or Configuration Commitment.</p> <h2>The commitment loop content generator</h2> <p>The goal is to produce content that is laser-focused on a single, measurable outcome. Use this prompt to bypass the generic structure and create content that forces a next step.</p> <h3><p>The Commitment Loop Outline Builder</p></h3> <p><strong>Instructions:</strong> Use the following prompt to generate a title, thesis, and Commitment CTA for an evergreen article. The tone should be concise, human, and systems-focused. The output must be ready for immediate drafting.</p> <p><strong>Prompt Text:</strong></p> <p><code>You are an operator-grade marketing strategist. Your goal is to write a plan for a high-momentum article. Focus Keyword: [FOCUS KEYWORD] Product: [YOUR PRODUCT/SERVICE] Target Customer: [YOUR TARGET CUSTOMER'S ROLE/INDUSTRY] Primary Pain Point: [THE ONE STRUCTURAL PROBLEM YOUR PRODUCT SOLVES] TASK:1. Generate an H1 Title (Max 60 chars, outcome-focused). 2. Generate a Core Thesis (The contrarian take, max 1 sentence). 3. Generate the Commitment CTA (A specific, no-friction action using a Diagnostic or Configuration commitment type, max 1 short paragraph). The CTA must immediately precede an internal link to /learn/frameworks/aida-content-marketing.Output: H1: [Generated H1] THESIS: [Generated Thesis] COMMITMENT CTA: [Generated CTA]</code></p> <p><strong>Example Output:</strong></p> <p>H1: Fix your content: the 3-step strategy for builder-founders THESIS: Most builders fail because they confuse "solving a problem" with "driving an immediate commitment." COMMITMENT CTA: Before you move on, copy this 3-line boilerplate into your documentation. This is the minimum viable messaging required to launch. Once you’ve done that, the next step is aligning it with the Attention-Interest-Desire-Action model: <a href="https://learn.getliftkit.com/frameworks/aida-content-marketing">The AIDA framework</a>.</p> <p>This is one of countless interconnected strategy prompts in the LiftKit system.</p> <h2>FAQ</h2> <h3><p>Q: Is PAS content marketing just for blog posts?</p></h3> <p>A: Absolutely not. PAS is a structural logic model. You can apply the Commitment Loop to X/Twitter threads, email sequences, or even landing page copy. For instance, when <a href="https://learn.getliftkit.com/frameworks/pas-b2b-marketing">using PAS for B2B marketing</a>, the Problem might be stated in the subject line, the Agitate in the first body paragraph, and the Commitment can be a 1-click survey at the end of the email.</p> <h3><p>Q: How do I avoid sounding too aggressive with the Agitate stage?</p></h3> <p>A: Replace aggression with empathy and quantification. Builders respect data and clarity. When discussing <a href="https://learn.getliftkit.com/learn/how-to-write-better-marketing-copy">how to write better marketing copy</a>, agitate by focusing on the time they waste rewriting mediocre drafts, not their inadequacy. Frame the pain as a systemic leak, not a personal flaw.</p> <h3><p>Q: What if I don't have a specific tool for the Commitment stage?</p></h3> <p>A: A commitment doesn't need to be software. It can be a mental model, a one-sentence rule, or an internal link. The core idea is forcing a transition from passive reading to active doing. If you are discussing <a href="https://learn.getliftkit.com/frameworks/pas-saas">PAS for SaaS</a>, the Commitment can be asking the reader to open their product backlog and rename three feature ideas using the problem-centric language you just taught them. Zero friction, maximum intent.</p> <hr> <h2>Start running operator-grade marketing in under an hour.</h2> <p>LiftKit is the only strategy-first AI marketing system built for founders. It distills the same Fortune-500 frameworks used at Apple, Stripe, and McKinsey into a simple, actionable playbook you can run in under an hour.</p> <p>Stop tinkering with tactics. Start operating with strategy.</p> <p><strong><a href="https://getliftkit.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Get LiftKit</a></strong></p> <h2>Keep learning</h2> <p><a href="https://learn.getliftkit.com/frameworks" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Frameworks</strong></a>: Learn proven mental models to diagnose, prioritise, and scale marketing outcomes.</p> <p><a href="https://learn.getliftkit.com/channels" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Channels</strong></a>: Understand which acquisition paths actually work and how to deploy them strategically.</p> <p><a href="https://learn.getliftkit.com/messaging" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Messaging</strong></a>: Build positioning, angle, and copy that converts without guesswork.</p> <p><a href="https://learn.getliftkit.com/strategy" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Strategy</strong></a>: Make smarter decisions using operator-grade prompts and structured thinking.</p> <p><a href="https://learn.getliftkit.com/tools" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Tools</strong></a>: Use AI, automation, and practical templates to move faster.</p> <p><a href="https://learn.getliftkit.com/research" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Research</strong></a>: Tap into market insights, psychology, and patterns that drive effective marketing.</p> <script type='application/ld+json'> { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Article", "headline": "Pas content marketing: the commitment loop for builders", "description": "TL;DR", "articleSection": "frameworks", "keywords": "pas content marketing, pas,content marketing,copywriting", "author": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "LiftKit" }, "publisher": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "LiftKit" }, "url": "https://learn.getliftkit.com/frameworks/pas-content-marketing", "mainEntityOfPage": "https://learn.getliftkit.com/frameworks/pas-content-marketing" } </script>