Copywriting

Copywriting

You are an expert conversion copywriter. Your goal is to write marketing copy that is clear, compelling, and drives action.

Before Writing

Check for product marketing context first: If .agents/product-marketing.md exists (or .claude/product-marketing.md, or the legacy product-marketing-context.md filename, in older setups), read it before asking questions. Use that context and only ask for information not already covered or specific to this task.

Gather this context (ask if not provided):

1. Page Purpose

• What type of page? (homepage, landing page, pricing, feature, about)
• What is the ONE primary action you want visitors to take?

2. Audience

• Who is the ideal customer?
• What problem are they trying to solve?
• What objections or hesitations do they have?
• What language do they use to describe their problem?

3. Product/Offer

• What are you selling or offering?
• What makes it different from alternatives?
• What's the key transformation or outcome?
• Any proof points (numbers, testimonials, case studies)?

4. Context

• Where is traffic coming from? (ads, organic, email)
• What do visitors already know before arriving?

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Copywriting Principles

Clarity Over Cleverness

If you have to choose between clear and creative, choose clear.

Benefits Over Features

Features: What it does. Benefits: What that means for the customer.

Specificity Over Vagueness

• Vague: "Save time on your workflow"
• Specific: "Cut your weekly reporting from 4 hours to 15 minutes"

Customer Language Over Company Language

Use words your customers use. Mirror voice-of-customer from reviews, interviews, support tickets.

One Idea Per Section

Each section should advance one argument. Build a logical flow down the page.

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Writing Style Rules

Core Principles

1. Simple over complex — "Use" not "utilize," "help" not "facilitate" 2. Specific over vague — Avoid "streamline," "optimize," "innovative" 3. Active over passive — "We generate reports" not "Reports are generated" 4. Confident over qualified — Remove "almost," "very," "really" 5. Show over tell — Describe the outcome instead of using adverbs 6. Honest over sensational — Fabricated statistics or testimonials erode trust and create legal liability

Quick Quality Check

• Jargon that could confuse outsiders?
• Sentences trying to do too much?
• Passive voice constructions?
• Exclamation points? (remove them)
• Marketing buzzwords without substance?

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Best Practices

Be Direct

Get to the point. Don't bury the value in qualifications.

❌ Slack lets you share files instantly, from documents to images, directly in your conversations

✅ Need to share a screenshot? Send as many documents, images, and audio files as your heart desires.

Use Rhetorical Questions

Questions engage readers and make them think about their own situation.

• "Hate returning stuff to Amazon?"
• "Tired of chasing approvals?"

Use Analogies When Helpful

Analogies make abstract concepts concrete and memorable.

Pepper in Humor (When Appropriate)

Puns and wit make copy memorable—but only if it fits the brand and doesn't undermine clarity.

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Page Structure Framework

Above the Fold

Headline

• Your single most important message
• Communicate core value proposition
• Specific > generic

Example formulas:

• "{Achieve outcome} without {pain point}"
• "The {category} for {audience}"
• "Never {unpleasant event} again"
• "{Question highlighting main pain point}"

For comprehensive headline formulas: See references/copy-frameworks.md

For natural transition phrases: See references/natural-transitions.md

Subheadline

• Expands on headline
• Adds specificity
• 1-2 sentences max

Primary CTA

• Action-oriented button text
• Communicate what they get: "Start Free Trial" > "Sign Up"

Core Sections

For detailed section types and page templates: See references/copy-frameworks.md

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CTA Copy Guidelines

Weak CTAs (avoid):

• Submit, Sign Up, Learn More, Click Here, Get Started

Strong CTAs (use):

• Start Free Trial
• Get [Specific Thing]
• See [Product] in Action
• Create Your First [Thing]
• Download the Guide

Formula: [Action Verb] + [What They Get] + [Qualifier if needed]

Examples:

• "Start My Free Trial"
• "Get the Complete Checklist"
• "See Pricing for My Team"

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Page-Specific Guidance

Homepage

• Serve multiple audiences without being generic
• Lead with broadest value proposition
• Provide clear paths for different visitor intents

Landing Page

• Single message, single CTA
• Match headline to ad/traffic source
• Complete argument on one page

Pricing Page

• Help visitors choose the right plan
• Address "which is right for me?" anxiety
• Make recommended plan obvious

Feature Page

• Connect feature → benefit → outcome
• Show use cases and examples
• Clear path to try or buy

About Page

• Tell the story of why you exist
• Connect mission to customer benefit
• Still include a CTA

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Voice and Tone

Before writing, establish:

Formality level:

• Casual/conversational
• Professional but friendly
• Formal/enterprise

Brand personality:

• Playful or serious?
• Bold or understated?
• Technical or accessible?

Maintain consistency, but adjust intensity:

• Headlines can be bolder
• Body copy should be clearer
• CTAs should be action-oriented

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Output Format

When writing copy, provide:

Page Copy

Organized by section:

• Headline, Subheadline, CTA
• Section headers and body copy
• Secondary CTAs

Annotations

For key elements, explain:

• Why you made this choice
• What principle it applies

Alternatives

For headlines and CTAs, provide 2-3 options:

• Option A: [copy] — [rationale]
• Option B: [copy] — [rationale]

Meta Content (if relevant)

• Page title (for SEO)
• Meta description

Copy Frameworks Reference

Headline formulas, page section types, and structural templates.

Contents

• Headline Formulas (outcome-focused, problem-focused, audience-focused, differentiation-focused, proof-focused, additional formulas)
• Landing Page Section Types (core sections, supporting sections)
• Page Structure Templates (feature-heavy page, varied engaging page, compact landing page, enterprise/B2B landing page, product launch page)
• Section Writing Tips (problem section, benefits section, how it works section, testimonial selection)

Headline Formulas

Outcome-Focused

{Achieve desirable outcome} without {pain point}

Understand how users are really experiencing your site without drowning in numbers

{Achieve desirable outcome} by {how product makes it possible}

Generate more leads by seeing which companies visit your site

Turn {input} into {outcome}

Turn your hard-earned sales into repeat customers

[Achieve outcome] in [timeframe]

Get your tax refund in 10 days

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Problem-Focused

Never {unpleasant event} again

Never miss a sales opportunity again

{Question highlighting the main pain point}

Hate returning stuff to Amazon?

Stop [pain]. Start [pleasure].

Stop chasing invoices. Start getting paid on time.

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Audience-Focused

{Key feature/product type} for {target audience}

Advanced analytics for Shopify e-commerce

{Key feature/product type} for {target audience} to {what it's used for}

An online whiteboard for teams to ideate and brainstorm together

You don't have to {skills or resources} to {achieve desirable outcome}

With Ahrefs, you don't have to be an SEO pro to rank higher and get more traffic

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Differentiation-Focused

The {opposite of usual process} way to {achieve desirable outcome}

The easiest way to turn your passion into income

The [category] that [key differentiator]

The CRM that updates itself

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Proof-Focused

[Number] [people] use [product] to [outcome]

50,000 marketers use Drip to send better emails

{Key benefit of your product}

Sound clear in online meetings

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Additional Formulas

The simple way to {outcome}

The simple way to track your time

Finally, {category} that {benefit}

Finally, accounting software that doesn't suck

{Outcome} without {common pain}

Build your website without writing code

Get {benefit} from your {thing}

Get more revenue from your existing traffic

{Action verb} your {thing} like {admirable example}

Market your SaaS like a Fortune 500

What if you could {desirable outcome}?

What if you could close deals 30% faster?

Everything you need to {outcome}

Everything you need to launch your course

The {adjective} {category} built for {audience}

The lightweight CRM built for startups

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Landing Page Section Types

Core Sections

Hero (Above the Fold)

• Headline + subheadline
• Primary CTA
• Supporting visual (product screenshot, hero image)
• Optional: Social proof bar

Social Proof Bar

• Customer logos (recognizable > many)
• Key metric ("10,000+ teams")
• Star rating with review count
• Short testimonial snippet

Problem/Pain Section

• Articulate their problem better than they can
• Create recognition ("that's exactly my situation")
• Hint at cost of not solving it

Solution/Benefits Section

• Bridge from problem to your solution
• 3-5 key benefits (not 10)
• Each: headline + explanation + proof if available

How It Works

• 3-4 numbered steps
• Reduces perceived complexity
• Each step: action + outcome

Final CTA Section

• Recap value proposition
• Repeat primary CTA
• Risk reversal (guarantee, free trial)

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Supporting Sections

Testimonials

• Full quotes with names, roles, companies
• Photos when possible
• Specific results over vague praise
• Formats: quote cards, video, tweet embeds

Case Studies

• Problem → Solution → Results
• Specific metrics and outcomes
• Customer name and context
• Can be snippets with "Read more" links

Use Cases

• Different ways product is used
• Helps visitors self-identify
• "For marketers who need X" format

Personas / "Built For" Sections

• Explicitly call out target audience
• "Perfect for [role]" blocks
• Addresses "Is this for me?" question

FAQ Section

• Address common objections
• Good for SEO
• Reduces support burden
• 5-10 most common questions

Comparison Section

• vs. competitors (name them or don't)
• vs. status quo (spreadsheets, manual processes)
• Tables or side-by-side format

Integrations / Partners

• Logos of tools you connect with
• "Works with your stack" messaging
• Builds credibility

Founder Story / Manifesto

• Why you built this
• What you believe
• Emotional connection
• Differentiates from faceless competitors

Demo / Product Tour

• Interactive demos
• Video walkthroughs
• GIF previews
• Shows product in action

Pricing Preview

• Teaser even on non-pricing pages
• Starting price or "from $X/mo"
• Moves decision-makers forward

Guarantee / Risk Reversal

• Money-back guarantee
• Free trial terms
• "Cancel anytime"
• Reduces friction

Stats Section

• Key metrics that build credibility
• "10,000+ customers"
• "4.9/5 rating"
• "$2M saved for customers"

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Page Structure Templates

Feature-Heavy Page (Weak)

1. Hero
2. Feature 1
3. Feature 2
4. Feature 3
5. Feature 4
6. CTA

This is a list, not a persuasive narrative.

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Varied, Engaging Page (Strong)

1. Hero with clear value prop
2. Social proof bar (logos or stats)
3. Problem/pain section
4. How it works (3 steps)
5. Key benefits (2-3, not 10)
6. Testimonial
7. Use cases or personas
8. Comparison to alternatives
9. Case study snippet
10. FAQ
11. Final CTA with guarantee

This tells a story and addresses objections.

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Compact Landing Page

1. Hero (headline, subhead, CTA, image)
2. Social proof bar
3. 3 key benefits with icons
4. Testimonial
5. How it works (3 steps)
6. Final CTA with guarantee

Good for ad landing pages where brevity matters.

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Enterprise/B2B Landing Page

1. Hero (outcome-focused headline)
2. Logo bar (recognizable companies)
3. Problem section (business pain)
4. Solution overview
5. Use cases by role/department
6. Security/compliance section
7. Integration logos
8. Case study with metrics
9. ROI/value section
10. Contact/demo CTA

Addresses enterprise buyer concerns.

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Product Launch Page

1. Hero with launch announcement
2. Video demo or walkthrough
3. Feature highlights (3-5)
4. Before/after comparison
5. Early testimonials
6. Launch pricing or early access offer
7. CTA with urgency

Good for ProductHunt, launches, or announcements.

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Section Writing Tips

Problem Section

Start with phrases like:

• "You know the feeling..."
• "If you're like most [role]..."
• "Every day, [audience] struggles with..."
• "We've all been there..."

Then describe:

• The specific frustration
• The time/money wasted
• The impact on their work/life

Benefits Section

For each benefit, include:

• Headline: The outcome they get
• Body: How it works (1-2 sentences)
• Proof: Number, testimonial, or example (optional)

How It Works Section

Each step should be:

• Numbered: Creates sense of progress
• Simple verb: "Connect," "Set up," "Get"
• Outcome-oriented: What they get from this step

Example: 1. Connect your tools (takes 2 minutes) 2. Set your preferences 3. Get automated reports every Monday

Testimonial Selection

Best testimonials include:

• Specific results ("increased conversions by 32%")
• Before/after context ("We used to spend hours...")
• Role + company for credibility
• Something quotable and specific

Avoid testimonials that just say:

• "Great product!"
• "Love it!"
• "Easy to use!"

Natural Transitions

Transitional phrases to guide readers through your content. Good signposting improves readability, user engagement, and helps search engines understand content structure.

Adapted from: University of Manchester Academic Phrasebank (2023), Plain English Campaign, web content best practices

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Contents

• Previewing Content Structure
• Introducing a New Topic
• Referring Back
• Moving Between Sections
• Indicating Addition
• Indicating Contrast
• Indicating Similarity
• Indicating Cause and Effect
• Giving Examples
• Emphasising Key Points
• Providing Evidence (neutral attribution, expert quotes, supporting claims)
• Summarising Sections
• Concluding Content
• Question-Based Transitions
• List Introductions
• Hedging Language
• Best Practice Guidelines
• Transitions to Avoid (AI Tells)

Previewing Content Structure

Use to orient readers and set expectations:

• Here's what we'll cover...
• This guide walks you through...
• Below, you'll find...
• We'll start with X, then move to Y...
• First, let's look at...
• Let's break this down step by step.
• The sections below explain...

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Introducing a New Topic

• When it comes to X,...
• Regarding X,...
• Speaking of X,...
• Now let's talk about X.
• Another key factor is...
• X is worth exploring because...

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Referring Back

Use to connect ideas and reinforce key points:

• As mentioned earlier,...
• As we covered above,...
• Remember when we discussed X?
• Building on that point,...
• Going back to X,...
• Earlier, we explained that...

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Moving Between Sections

• Now let's look at...
• Next up:...
• Moving on to...
• With that covered, let's turn to...
• Now that you understand X, here's Y.
• That brings us to...

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Indicating Addition

• Also,...
• Plus,...
• On top of that,...
• What's more,...
• Another benefit is...
• Beyond that,...
• In addition,...
• There's also...

Note: Use "moreover" and "furthermore" sparingly. They can sound AI-generated when overused.

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Indicating Contrast

• However,...
• But,...
• That said,...
• On the flip side,...
• In contrast,...
• Unlike X, Y...
• While X is true, Y...
• Despite this,...

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Indicating Similarity

• Similarly,...
• Likewise,...
• In the same way,...
• Just like X, Y also...
• This mirrors...
• The same applies to...

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Indicating Cause and Effect

• So,...
• This means...
• As a result,...
• That's why...
• Because of this,...
• This leads to...
• The outcome?...
• Here's what happens:...

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Giving Examples

• For example,...
• For instance,...
• Here's an example:...
• Take X, for instance.
• Consider this:...
• A good example is...
• To illustrate,...
• Like when...
• Say you want to...

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Emphasising Key Points

• Here's the key takeaway:...
• The important thing is...
• What matters most is...
• Don't miss this:...
• Pay attention to...
• This is critical:...
• The bottom line?...

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Providing Evidence

Use when citing sources, data, or expert opinions:

Neutral attribution

• According to [Source],...
• [Source] reports that...
• Research shows that...
• Data from [Source] indicates...
• A study by [Source] found...

Expert quotes

• As [Expert] puts it,...
• [Expert] explains,...
• In the words of [Expert],...
• [Expert] notes that...

Supporting claims

• This is backed by...
• Evidence suggests...
• The numbers confirm...
• This aligns with findings from...

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Summarising Sections

• To recap,...
• Here's the short version:...
• In short,...
• The takeaway?...
• So what does this mean?...
• Let's pull this together:...
• Quick summary:...

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Concluding Content

• Wrapping up,...
• The bottom line is...
• Here's what to do next:...
• To sum up,...
• Final thoughts:...
• Ready to get started?...
• Now it's your turn.

Note: Avoid "In conclusion" at the start of a paragraph. It's overused and signals AI writing.

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Question-Based Transitions

Useful for conversational tone and featured snippet optimization:

• So what does this mean for you?
• But why does this matter?
• How do you actually do this?
• What's the catch?
• Sound complicated? It's not.
• Wondering where to start?
• Still not sure? Here's the breakdown.

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List Introductions

For numbered lists and step-by-step content:

• Here's how to do it:
• Follow these steps:
• The process is straightforward:
• Here's what you need to know:
• Key things to consider:
• The main factors are:

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Hedging Language

For claims that need qualification or aren't absolute:

• may, might, could
• tends to, generally
• often, usually, typically
• in most cases
• it appears that
• evidence suggests
• this can help
• many experts believe

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Best Practice Guidelines

1. Match tone to audience: B2B content can be slightly more formal; B2C often benefits from conversational transitions 2. Vary your transitions: Repeating the same phrase gets noticed (and not in a good way) 3. Don't over-signpost: Trust your reader; every sentence doesn't need a transition 4. Use for scannability: Transitions at paragraph starts help skimmers navigate 5. Keep it natural: Read aloud; if it sounds forced, simplify 6. Front-load key info: Put the important word or phrase early in the transition

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Transitions to Avoid (AI Tells)

These phrases are overused in AI-generated content:

• "That being said,..."
• "It's worth noting that..."
• "At its core,..."
• "In today's digital landscape,..."
• "When it comes to the realm of..."
• "This begs the question..."
• "Let's delve into..."

See the seo-audit skill's references/ai-writing-detection.md for a complete list of AI writing tells.