Insta Content Engine

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name: social-search description: Find trending topics, create editorial-style social media graphics, and post to X/Twitter and Instagram. Includes image generation with photographic backgrounds, dark gradient overlays, and bold typography. No paid social APIs needed.

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Social Search & Content Creator

Find → Create → Post pipeline for X/Twitter and Instagram content.

Prerequisites

X/Twitter: bird CLI installed and authenticated via browser cookies

Instagram Search: Brave Search API key (set BRAVE_API_KEY or configure in OpenClaw)

Image Generation: OpenAI API key (set OPENAI_API_KEY) — uses gpt-image-1

Instagram Posting: pip3 install instagrapi pillow + IG_USERNAME/IG_PASSWORD env vars

1. FIND — Research Trending Topics

X/Twitter (bird CLI)

bird search "query" -n 10          # Search tweets
bird read               # Read a specific tweet
bird thread             # Full thread
bird mentions                      # Check mentions
bird user-tweets         # User's tweets

Instagram (Brave-powered scraper)

node {baseDir}/scripts/instagram-search.js "query" [--limit 10] [--type posts|profiles|reels|all]

Types: posts (inurl:/p/), profiles (user pages), reels (inurl:/reel/), all (default)

Viral/Trending Search (recommended starting point)

# Find viral content about a topic (sorted by engagement)
node {baseDir}/scripts/viral-search.js "query" [options]
Options:
  --platform x|instagram|both    (default: both)
  --min-likes N                  Min likes to include (default: 50)
  --min-retweets N               Min retweets (default: 10)
  --sort engagement|recent       (default: engagement)
  --limit N                      Results per platform (default: 10)
  --trending                     What's blowing up RIGHT NOW on X
  --days N                       Only last N days (default: 7)

Examples:

# What's viral about AI trading this week
node {baseDir}/scripts/viral-search.js "AI trading" --min-likes 100 --days 7
What's trending across crypto right now (no query needed)
node {baseDir}/scripts/viral-search.js --trending
Instagram-only viral search
node {baseDir}/scripts/viral-search.js "DeFi" --platform instagram --limit 10
Lower the bar for niche topics
node {baseDir}/scripts/viral-search.js "delta neutral farming" --min-likes 10 --min-retweets 3

How engagement scoring works:

Score = likes × 1 + retweets × 3 + replies × 2

Retweets weighted highest (distribution signal)

Replies weighted over likes (conversation signal)

Results sorted by score descending

2. CREATE — Generate Editorial Graphics

The System: Photographic Background + Dark Gradient + Bold Typography

This is what makes the images look professional, not just text on a background.

The approach:

Top 60%: Cinematic photographic scene (real subjects, dramatic lighting)

Bottom 40%: Heavy dark gradient overlay (95% black → transparent)

Text: Bold condensed typography (Anton-style) sitting on the gradient

Result: Looks like Bloomberg/Kalshi editorial cards

Generate Images

OPENAI_API_KEY="your-key" python3 {baseDir}/scripts/gen_image.py "prompt" output.png [1024x1536]

Sizes: 1024x1024 (square), 1024x1536 (portrait/Instagram), 1536x1024 (landscape/Twitter)

⚠️ CRITICAL IMAGE RULES (learned the hard way)

1. NEVER just put text on a solid dark background — it looks flat and amateur 2. ALWAYS use a photographic/cinematic background — real scenes, real subjects 3. ALWAYS use dark gradient overlay on the lower 40% for text readability 4. Keep subject visible in the top 60% — face, setting, context 5. Text lives in the bottom 40% only — never cover the subject 6. Use bold condensed typography (Anton-style) — not regular weight fonts 7. Include branded elements — badge, branding URL, slide counter 8. Cinematic lighting — moody, dramatic, not flat studio lighting

Master Prompt Template

Copy this template exactly. Only change the parts in [BRACKETS].

Instagram carousel post design. EXACTLY 1080 pixels wide by 1350 pixels tall (4:5 vertical ratio).
Background: [DESCRIBE THE SCENE - who/what is shown, setting, lighting, mood]. Keep subject clearly visible in top 60% of image. Cinematic lighting, dramatic.
Overlay: Heavy dark gradient ONLY on bottom 40% of image - solid black (95% opacity) at very bottom, fading to transparent at 60% height. Top portion stays clear.
Text positioning (bottom area):
65% from top: Small rectangular badge with [COLOR] background and [TEXT COLOR] bold text: [BADGE TEXT]
70-90% from top: Huge white bold text in Anton font, uppercase, centered:
[MAIN HEADLINE
SPLIT ACROSS
2-3 LINES]
[Optional: Below headline in smaller white text, any supporting details]
Bottom right corner (95% from top): [X/Y] in white, small
Bottom left corner (95% from top): [brand.url] in white, Montserrat Bold, small, lowercase
Font: Anton for headline. Montserrat Bold for branding.
Style: Clean Instagram carousel slide, vertical format, text at bottom like Kalshi/Bloomberg editorial style. Cinematic, high contrast, professional.

Badge Color System

🔵 Cyan (#00D4FF): "EXPLAINED", "GUIDE", educational content

🟠 Orange (#FF6B00): "HOW IT WORKS", "DEEP DIVE", breakdowns

🟢 Green (#22c55e): "THE SHIFT", "SOLUTION", "REAL CASE", positive takes

🔴 Red (#e63946): "WARNING", "UNFAIR", "MYTH", negative/urgent

⚫ Black (#000000): "TRENDING", "BREAKING", news

Background Scene Ideas by Topic

Crypto/Trading: Trader at multiple monitors, trading floor, candlestick charts on screens Tech/AI: Neural network visualizations, server rooms, holographic displays Finance: City skyline at night, office with Bloomberg terminals, stock exchange Startup: Founder at whiteboard, team in modern office, product on screen Education: Person studying, lecture hall, books with highlighted text

Carousel Structure (3 slides)

Slide 1 — The Hook: Sets the scene, asks the question (e.g., "What is X?")

Slide 2 — The Breakdown: How it works, the layers, the details

Slide 3 — The Shift: Why it matters, the bigger picture, call to action

Example: Crypto Educational Carousel

Slide 1 prompt background: "A young male trader in a dark room lit by multiple monitors showing crypto charts. Blue and green screen glow on his face. Hoodie, leaning forward, focused."

Slide 2 prompt background: "Close-up of an AI neural network visualization on a large curved monitor in a dark trading room. Neon blue data streams flowing across the screen."

Slide 3 prompt background: "Aerial view of a massive trading floor with hundreds of screens running autonomously, seats empty. No humans present. Dramatic overhead shot, neon blue glow."

3. POST — Publish Content

X/Twitter (bird CLI)

bird tweet "Your tweet text"                         # Text only
bird tweet "Text" --media image.jpg                  # With image
bird tweet "Text" --media img1.jpg --media img2.jpg  # Multiple
bird reply  "Reply text"            # Reply

Instagram (instagrapi)

# Photo post
node {baseDir}/scripts/instagram-post.js --action photo --caption "Caption" image.jpg
Reel
node {baseDir}/scripts/instagram-post.js --action reel --caption "Caption" video.mp4
Story
node {baseDir}/scripts/instagram-post.js --action story --caption "Caption" image.jpg
Carousel
node {baseDir}/scripts/instagram-post.js --action carousel --caption "Caption" img1.jpg img2.jpg img3.jpg

Instagram auth: Set IG_USERNAME and IG_PASSWORD env vars. Google sign-in won't work — need a password set on the account.

Full Workflow Example

# 1. Research what's trending
bird search "agentic trading crypto" -n 10
node {baseDir}/scripts/instagram-search.js "AI crypto trading" --limit 10
2. Generate 3-slide carousel
OPENAI_API_KEY="key" python3 {baseDir}/scripts/gen_image.py "slide 1 prompt..." slide1.png 1024x1536
OPENAI_API_KEY="key" python3 {baseDir}/scripts/gen_image.py "slide 2 prompt..." slide2.png 1024x1536
OPENAI_API_KEY="key" python3 {baseDir}/scripts/gen_image.py "slide 3 prompt..." slide3.png 1024x1536
3. Post to X
bird tweet "your caption" --media slide1.png --media slide2.png --media slide3.png
4. Post to Instagram
node {baseDir}/scripts/instagram-post.js --action carousel --caption "your caption" slide1.png slide2.png slide3.png

X/Twitter: bird CLI installed and authenticated via browser cookies

Instagram Search: Brave Search API key (set BRAVE_API_KEY or configure in OpenClaw)

Image Generation: OpenAI API key (set OPENAI_API_KEY) — uses gpt-image-1

Instagram Posting: pip3 install instagrapi pillow + IG_USERNAME/IG_PASSWORD env vars