PluginBench
Skill
Pass
Audit score 90

copywriting

coreyhaines31/marketingskills

Write clear, compelling marketing copy that converts for any page.

What is copywriting?

Expert conversion copywriter for creating or improving marketing copy across homepages, landing pages, pricing pages, feature pages, and about pages. Use this when you need to write, rewrite, or strengthen website text designed to persuade and drive action.

  • Craft headlines, subheadlines, and CTAs using proven formulas and frameworks
  • Structure page copy with clarity-first principles: benefits over features, specificity over vagueness, customer language over jargon
  • Apply the Human Action Model and message-market fit tools to align copy with audience needs
  • Provide multiple copy options with rationale for headlines and calls-to-action
  • Organize copy by page section (hero, social proof, problem, solution, objection handling, final CTA)
  • Generate annotations explaining copywriting choices and principles applied

How to install copywriting

npx skills add https://github.com/coreyhaines31/marketingskills --skill copywriting
Claude Code
Cursor
Windsurf
Cline

How to use copywriting

  1. 1.Provide the page type (homepage, landing page, pricing, feature, or about) and primary action you want visitors to take
  2. 2.Share audience context: who they are, their problem, objections, and language they use
  3. 3.Describe your product or offer, what makes it different, and any proof points (numbers, testimonials, case studies)
  4. 4.Specify traffic source and what visitors already know before arriving
  5. 5.Receive organized copy by section with annotations and 2-3 alternatives for headlines and CTAs

Use cases

Good for
  • Rewrite a homepage headline to better communicate your value proposition
  • Improve landing page copy to increase conversion rate on a paid ad campaign
  • Create pricing page copy that helps visitors choose the right plan
  • Write feature page copy that connects product capabilities to customer outcomes
  • Strengthen an about page to connect company mission with customer benefit
Who it's for
  • Marketing managers and copywriters
  • Product managers writing website copy
  • Founders and entrepreneurs launching or redesigning sites
  • Growth and conversion specialists optimizing page performance

copywriting FAQ

What's the difference between this skill and copy-editing?

Copywriting creates or rewrites marketing copy from scratch to persuade and convert. Copy-editing polishes existing copy line-by-line for clarity, grammar, and style. Use copywriting first to draft, then copy-editing to refine.

Should I use this for email or popup copy?

No. Use the 'emails' skill for email copy and the 'popups' skill for popup copy. This skill focuses on website pages: homepages, landing pages, pricing, feature, and about pages.

How do I choose between multiple headline options?

Test them if possible, but prioritize clarity and specificity. The best headline directly addresses your audience's main pain point or desired outcome in simple, concrete language. Avoid clever wordplay that requires decoding.

What if I don't have all the context information?

The skill will ask for missing context. At minimum, provide: page type, primary action, target audience, and what you're selling. The more detail on audience pain points and proof points, the stronger the copy.

Can this skill help with offers, bonuses, or guarantees?

No. Use the 'offers' skill for framing bonuses, guarantees, and value-stacking underneath your copy. This skill focuses on the persuasive website text itself.

Full instructions (SKILL.md)

Source of truth, from coreyhaines31/marketingskills.


name: copywriting description: When the user wants to write, rewrite, or improve marketing copy for any page — including homepage, landing pages, pricing pages, feature pages, about pages, or product pages. Also use when the user says "write copy for," "improve this copy," "rewrite this page," "marketing copy," "headline help," "CTA copy," "value proposition," "tagline," "subheadline," "hero section copy," "above the fold," "this copy is weak," "make this more compelling," or "help me describe my product." Use this whenever someone is working on website text that needs to persuade or convert. For email copy, see emails. For popup copy, see popups. For editing existing copy, see copy-editing. For the offer underneath the copy (bonuses, guarantees, value framing), see offers. metadata: version: 2.0.2

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?

Copywriting Principles

Clarity Over Cleverness

If you have to choose between clear and creative, choose clear. Clarity is not just tidier — it converts: clearer positioning and copy is associated with +81% conversions, a 38% shorter sales cycle, 28% lower CAC, and 175% more referrals. When a reader has to decode your line, you've lost them.

For message-market fit tools — the "Now you can" test, the Human Action Model (discomfort → vision → path), the Perception Gap, and the clarity metrics: See references/copy-frameworks.md

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.


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?

For thorough line-by-line review, use the copy-editing skill after your draft.


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.


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

Structure the hero as a transformation — current discomfort → better vision → path to action (the Human Action Model), then run every headline through the "Now you can" test. 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

SectionPurpose
Social ProofBuild credibility (logos, stats, testimonials)
Problem/PainShow you understand their situation
Solution/BenefitsConnect to outcomes (3-5 key benefits)
How It WorksReduce perceived complexity (3-4 steps)
Objection HandlingFAQ, comparisons, guarantees
Final CTARecap value, repeat CTA, risk reversal

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


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"

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

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

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

Related Skills

  • copy-editing: For polishing existing copy (use after your draft)
  • cro: If page structure/strategy needs work, not just copy
  • emails: For email copywriting
  • popups: For popup and modal copy
  • ab-testing: To test copy variations