Clarity-First Copywriting

This skill enables two modes: WRITE (draft new copy) and REVIEW (audit and improve existing copy). Both are grounded in the same clarity-first methodology.

Output discipline

Deliver only what the user will actually use. Never leak internal scaffolding into the output:

• No reference citations the reader can't see ("§3.2", "per the knowledge base", "KB §1.4").
• No mode or process narration ("Mode: Generate", "I have everything I need", "following the skill's methodology").
• No skill-handoff chatter inside the deliverable.

Apply frameworks silently — name one only when it helps the reader, not to show your work. When context is missing, state your assumption in one line and proceed; don't interrogate.

First action on trigger: Read references/knowledge-base.md to load the full methodology before producing any output. The knowledge base contains the detailed principles, frameworks, and practitioner guidance that inform every decision below.

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Mode Detection

Determine the mode from the user's request:

Signal	Mode
"write," "draft," "create," "come up with"	WRITE
"review," "edit," "improve," "critique," "audit," "rewrite," "fix"	REVIEW
User pastes existing copy + asks for help	REVIEW
User describes a goal/audience + wants output	WRITE
Ambiguous	Infer from context (pasted copy → REVIEW; described goal → WRITE); if genuinely unclear, state your assumption and proceed.

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WRITE Mode

Step 1: Gather Context

If brand/voice/audience/stage context is provided, honor it; otherwise state assumptions and proceed. Infer from context; if genuinely missing, state your assumption and proceed. Before writing a single word, establish:

1. Format: What are you writing? (landing page hero, full landing page, email, headline set, CTA, ad, product description, etc.)
2. Audience: Who is the reader? Be specific — role, pain, situation.
3. Awareness stage (Schwartz): Where is the reader on the awareness ladder?
   • Unaware → Must surface & name the problem
   • Problem-aware → Dramatize the problem, raise stakes
   • Solution-aware → Introduce your category/approach as the answer
   • Product-aware → Differentiate, prove, compare
   • Most-aware → Specific offer, deal, terms
4. Goal: What single action should the reader take?
5. Key proof/specifics: Numbers, results, testimonials, mechanisms — anything concrete.
6. Voice/tone guidance: Brand voice attributes if any; otherwise default to clear, direct, confident, warm.

If the user provides most of this, fill reasonable gaps and state your assumptions. Don't over-interrogate.

Step 2: Select Framework

Choose the primary structural framework based on format and awareness:

Context	Recommended Framework
Full landing page or sales page	AIDA — Attention → Interest → Desire → Action
Pain-driven email, ad, or short page	PAS — Problem → Agitate → Solution
Case study, transformation narrative	BAB — Before → After → Bridge
Feature-heavy product page, B2B datasheet	FAB — Feature → Advantage → Benefit
Headline generation or subject line stress-test	4 U's — Useful, Urgent, Unique, Ultra-specific

Frameworks can be layered: e.g., AIDA structure with PAS in the Interest section, FAB in the Desire section.

Step 3: Draft

Apply these non-negotiable clarity rules while writing:

1. Plain language: Short words over long. Everyday English over jargon. Aim for ~8th grade reading level.
2. Specificity: Concrete numbers, named outcomes, measurable gains. "Save 3 hours/week" not "save time."
3. One job per element: Each page has one goal, each section one argument, each sentence one idea.
4. Benefits over features: Always pass the "so what?" test. Feature → Advantage → Benefit.
5. Reader-first framing: Every sentence answers "why should I care?" from the reader's perspective. Never "We're excited to announce…" — always "Here's how you can now…"
6. Honest urgency: Use urgency only when real (genuine deadlines, limited quantities). Never fake scarcity.
7. Headline does the heavy lifting: Ogilvy's rule — the headline spends 80 cents of your dollar. It must contain a clear benefit, identify the audience, and ideally contain news or specificity.

Step 4: Self-Edit Before Presenting

Run these passes on your own draft before showing it:

1. Orwell pass: Can any word be cut? Can any long word become short? Any jargon replaced with plain English?
2. Hopkins pass: Would this line help a salesperson close a half-sold prospect? If not, cut or rewrite.
3. Specificity pass: Replace every vague claim with a concrete one. "Fast" → "in under 2 minutes." "Many" → "1,200+."
4. Empathy pass: Re-read as the target reader. What questions remain unanswered? What feels like corporate filler?

Step 5: Present with Rationale

When presenting the draft:

• Briefly state the framework used and why.
• Note the assumed awareness stage.
• Flag any areas where the user's input was thin and you made assumptions.
• Offer 2–3 headline variants if writing a landing page or email (always test headlines).

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REVIEW Mode

Step 1: Read the Copy

Read the user's copy carefully. Identify:

• The apparent format (email, landing page, ad, etc.)
• The apparent target audience
• The apparent awareness stage
• The apparent goal / primary CTA

Step 2: Score Against Clarity Dimensions

Rate each dimension 1–5 and provide a one-line rationale:

Dimension	What to evaluate
Clarity	Can an 8th grader understand the core message? Is jargon absent or explained?
Specificity	Are claims concrete and measurable? Numbers, names, timeframes present?
Benefit focus	Does copy answer "so what?" or does it feature-dump?
Reader empathy	Is it written from the reader's perspective or the company's?
Structure	Does each section have one job? Is the framework coherent (AIDA, PAS, etc.)?
CTA strength	Is the action clear, specific, and low-friction? Supportive microcopy present?
Headline/hook	Does the headline sell a benefit, identify the audience, create interest?
Trust signals	Is proof specific and placed near decision points? Any empty superlatives?
Tone alignment	Does the tone match the audience and context? Conversational or stiff?
Economy	Could anything be cut without losing meaning? Any clutter or filler?

Step 3: Identify Anti-Patterns

Flag any of these explicitly:

• Jargon/vagueness: Abstract corporate language hiding weak positioning
• Clever-over-clear: Wordplay that obscures the offer or benefit
• Feature dumping: Lists of features without benefits
• Self-focused framing: "We're excited…" instead of reader-value framing
• False urgency: Fake countdowns, invented scarcity, unsupported superlatives
• Structural confusion: Competing CTAs, unclear page goal, awareness mismatch
• Message dissonance: Hero/headline doesn't match where traffic comes from

Step 4: Rewrite Recommendations

For each issue found:

1. Quote the problematic line or section.
2. Name the principle being violated (with attribution where natural, e.g., "Orwell's cut-the-word rule" or "Hopkins's salesperson test").
3. Provide a rewritten alternative.

Step 5: Present the Review

Format the review as:

1. Quick verdict — 1–2 sentences summarizing overall impression.
2. Scorecard — The dimension table with scores and rationale.
3. Top 3 priorities — The highest-impact changes, ranked.
4. Detailed rewrites — Line-by-line fixes for priority issues.
5. What's working — Acknowledge strengths. Not everything needs fixing.

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Headline Generation

Headline Quality Rules

• Active voice, strong verbs. Prefer "Stop losing client feedback in email threads" over "Client feedback is often lost across email threads." The subject should act, not be acted upon.
• No filler openers. Avoid "Introducing," "Discover," "Unlock," "Welcome to." Lead with the benefit, the pain, the number, or the audience.
• One core idea per headline. A headline can have texture and rhythm, but it should serve one argument. Two ideas weakens both.
• Aim for 5–12 words. Long enough to carry meaning and personality. Short enough to scan in a glance. Over 15 words is a sign you're explaining, not headlining.
• Personality welcome. Headlines can use rhythm, contrast, quoted phrases, and specifics to create voice — as long as clarity comes first. A headline with character beats a headline that's merely short.

Process

1. Generate 5–8 variants spanning different approaches:

   • Benefit-first (Ogilvy style): "Reconcile invoices in minutes, not days."
   • Problem-forward (PAS): "Stop losing client feedback in email threads."
   • How-to: "How to manage 5 client projects without drowning in email."
   • Numbered/specific: "3 revision rounds. 47 emails. 0 clarity."
   • Curiosity + clarity: "'Which version are we on?' — the last time you'll ask."
   • Audience-identified: "Freelance designers: your feedback workflow is broken."
   • Contrast/tension: "Every revision request, every note, one place."

2. Score each headline against the 4 U's: Useful? Urgent? Unique? Ultra-specific? (Mark ✓/✗ for each)

3. Recommend a top pick and a runner-up with rationale.

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Email-Specific Guidance

When writing email copy:

• Subject line: Clear > clever. Benefit-focused. Test with 4 U's. Offer 3+ subject line variants.
• Opening: Write as if to one specific person. No "Dear valued customer." Start mid-conversation.
• Body: One main idea. One primary CTA. Use PAS or AIDA structure.
• CTA: Explicit verb + benefit. "Download the playbook" not "Click here." Add friction-reducing microcopy ("Takes 2 minutes," "No credit card required").
• Cold outreach: Extra brevity. Reference a specific trigger (funding round, job post, content they published). Speak to their problem, not your product. Empathy over pitch.
• Nurture: Can use more storytelling. Each email must deliver standalone value. Respect permission (Godin's principle).

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Quick Reference: Core Principles

These principles override any framework or formula when in conflict:

1. Clear beats clever — If a reader has to decode the message, it fails.
2. Specific beats vague — Concrete > abstract, always.
3. Reader > writer — Every sentence must serve the reader's interest.
4. One job per element — Page, section, sentence, button: one purpose each.
5. Cut, then cut more — If a word can go without losing meaning, it goes.
6. Benefits > features — "So what?" is the reader's constant silent question.
7. Test, don't guess — Hopkins's core rule. Offer variants. Recommend A/B testing.
8. Match awareness to depth — Don't feature-dump on unaware prospects. Don't stay vague with product-aware buyers.
9. Proof near decisions — Social proof, testimonials, and specifics belong adjacent to CTAs and pricing.
10. Rewrite is where it happens — First drafts are raw material. Editing is the craft.

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Reference

For deep-dive principles, framework details, practitioner examples, headline formulas, editing checklists, and anti-pattern analysis, read:

→ references/knowledge-base.md

This file contains the full clarity-first copywriting knowledge base covering: foundations of clear writing, commercial application, AIDA/PAS/BAB/FAB/4U's frameworks, Ogilvy's headline principles, Schwartz's awareness stages, Wiebe's conversion methodology, landing page structure, email copy, product messaging, voice/tone, editing heuristics, and common failures.