Material Types

Start by sorting expert knowledge into 7 practical material types

Material type answers a simple question: what kind of source is this? It should be easy for experts to understand before they think about any setup details.

Profile

Bio, background, credentials, personal story, positioning, and how to introduce the expert.

Views and principles

Values, beliefs, judgment criteria, stances, and recurring principles.

Methods

Frameworks, processes, tools, diagnostic methods, and step-by-step approaches.

Content library

Articles, talks, transcripts, newsletters, course notes, and general source material.

Services and offers

Services, courses, products, consulting scope, delivery model, pricing context, and suitability.

Cases and experience

Client stories, anonymized examples, before-and-after situations, and practical lessons.

FAQ and boundaries

Common questions, standard answers, disclaimers, limits, rules, and unsuitable requests.

Why not classify material by assistant type?

When experts prepare knowledge, they often do not yet know whether a source will be used for a public assistant, a course assistant, a client support assistant, or an internal helper. The safer starting point is the material itself.

Less helpful question

Which assistant will use this source?

Better question

Is this source a profile, principle, method, content item, service note, case, or boundary?

How to use the 7 types

Each material type gives the assistant a different kind of context.

Material type Best used for Common mistake
Profile Identity and positioning Turning it into a full private biography.
Views and principles Judgment criteria and values Writing slogans instead of usable distinctions.
Methods Repeatable processes Listing vague advice without steps.
Content library Source material and references Uploading too much low-signal content at once.
Services and offers Scope, suitability, and next steps Letting the assistant make business commitments.
Cases and experience Examples and lessons Using identifiable or confidential client details.
FAQ and boundaries Safety, refusal, and standard answers Leaving the assistant to guess what is off limits.