Table of Contents

We drove six hours to get to the Finger Lakes for our ~2026 Company Work Retreat~.
James was an angel the whole way, which is suspicious because he's in the middle of a growth spurt and has been devouring anything within arm's reach. At dinner the other week, he made a very committed grab for a margarita. After a sip or two, he was denied, but I respect the ambition.
Maddie and I listened to The Housemaid for basically the entire drive. I am not going to pretend this is high literature, but I'd be lying if I said we weren’t completely locked in trying to figure out who was going to betray whom. Sometimes you just need a trashy thriller and six hours of upstate New York highway.

Very serious 2026 planning is happening here
That's Janet on the left, she runs strategy and media and will tell you exactly why your ROAS is bad. I've learned to just nod and agree with whatever she says because she’s usually right. Mariah's on the right, she's the reason anything gets delivered at all. If you've ever received something from us on time, that was Mariah. I am largely decorative. 👉👈😄
Anyway, I've been sitting on this prompt chain for weeks, trying to figure out how to write about it, and I finally realized: I should just give you the prompts and shut up.
So here they are. Six prompts. Run them in order. Each one feeds the next. Stop generating garbage forever.
The Problem (in 30 seconds)
You're probably doing this:
Product + Persona + Angle → Copy
This produces generic trash because you're skipping the strategic layer. No tension. No insight. Just vibes.
The fix is forcing a chain: Narrative → Persona → Tension → Insight → Copy → Filter
Now here are the actual prompts.
Prompt 1: Product Narrative Extraction
Run this ONCE per product. Cache the output (i.e., put in a project in Claude or ChatGPT… Gemini Gems don’t work as well).
You are extracting the narrative DNA from a product page.
<product_page>
{{full_product_page_content}}
</product_page>
Extract the following elements:
PRODUCT NAME: [exact name]
TAGLINE: [the short positioning line, if present]
CORE METAPHOR: [the central image or idea the product is built around]
- Quote the exact language used
ORIGIN STORY: [who/what inspired it, summarized in 2-3 sentences]
- Note the key transformation or journey
EMOTIONAL TERRITORY: [what feelings/states does the copy evoke?]
- List 3-5 emotional keywords with supporting quotes
SENSORY PROFILE: [taste/texture descriptors or product specs]
KEY PHRASES: [distinctive language that captures brand voice]
- Pull 5-10 phrases that feel ownable/distinctive
- Avoid generic descriptors
TENSION EMBEDDED IN PRODUCT: [what struggle or conflict does the product acknowledge?]
Do not interpret or add. Extract only what's present.What you get: The raw material your copy should draw from. If your product page is thin, this will expose that problem immediately.
Prompt 2: Persona Translation
Run this ONCE per persona × angle combination. Cache it.
You are translating a marketing persona into actionable creative guidance.
<persona>
{{persona_name}}
</persona>
<angle>
{{angle_name}}
</angle>
<product_category>
{{product_category}}
</product_category>
Generic persona labels are useless for writing copy. You need to understand HOW this persona thinks, what they're SKEPTICAL of, and what PROOF they need.
Answer the following:
IDENTITY: How does this persona see themselves? What are they proud of? What do they value?
INSIDER SIGNALS: What language, references, or details would signal "this is for me" to this persona? What would make them feel seen by someone who truly understands them?
SKEPTICISM: What is this persona likely to doubt or dismiss about this product category or this specific angle? What objection lives in their head? Write this as a direct quote in their voice.
PROOF REQUIRED: What specific evidence would overcome their skepticism? Be concrete—not "quality" but what KIND of proof this specific persona would find credible.
VISUAL IDENTITY: What contexts, settings, or situations feel authentic to this persona's life? What would feel aspirational vs. generic or false to them?
TURN-OFFS: What language, imagery, or approaches would make this persona tune out or feel like "this isn't for me"?
Format as:
PERSONA: {{persona_name}}
ANGLE: {{angle_name}}
THEY SEE THEMSELVES AS: [2-3 sentences]
INSIDER SIGNALS:
- [minimum 5]
THEIR SKEPTICISM: "[Direct quote in first person]"
PROOF THAT LANDS:
- [minimum 4]
VISUAL CONTEXTS:
- RESONATES: [minimum 4]
- AVOID: [minimum 4]
LANGUAGE TURN-OFFS:
- [minimum 5]
Do not use generic descriptors. Be specific to THIS persona in THIS category.What you get: The skepticism quote is the most valuable part. You're now writing against a specific objection, not into a void.
Prompt 3: Tension Extraction
Run this ONCE per product × persona × angle. Uses output from Prompts 1 and 2.
You are a strategist identifying where a persona's tension meets a product's narrative.
<persona>
{{persona_name}}
{{persona_enrichment_from_prompt_2}}
</persona>
<brand_strategy>
Archetype: {{archetype}}
Archetype traits: {{archetype_description}}
Positioning: {{positioning_statement}}
</brand_strategy>
<product_narrative>
{{output_from_prompt_1}}
</product_narrative>
First, identify the PRIMARY TENSION this persona lives with—the conflict between what they want and what they currently have to sacrifice to get it.
Then, map how the PRODUCT'S EMBEDDED TENSION (from the narrative) connects to or amplifies the persona's tension.
Format your response as:
PERSONA TENSION:
- DESIRE: [What they specifically want—be concrete, not abstract]
- SACRIFICE: [What they currently give up to get it]
- INTERNAL CONFLICT: [One sentence framing the tension in first person]
PRODUCT-PERSONA RESONANCE:
- CONNECTION: [How the product's story/metaphor speaks to this persona's specific struggle]
- AMPLIFICATION: [What the product narrative adds that generic category messaging doesn't]
COMBINED TENSION: [One sentence that weaves persona desire + product narrative into a single tension statement]
Do not write copy. Do not suggest solutions. Only articulate the tensions and their connection.What you get: A combined tension statement like "I'm someone who pushes through: why should my beer hold me back?" That's something you can actually write to.
Prompt 4: Angle → Insight Mapping
This converts your generic angle into an actual point of view.
You are translating a marketing angle into a specific insight, informed by product narrative.
<angle>
{{angle_name}}
</angle>
<tension>
{{combined_tension_from_prompt_3}}
</tension>
<product_narrative>
Core Metaphor: {{core_metaphor}}
Key Phrases: {{key_phrases}}
Emotional Territory: {{emotional_territory}}
</product_narrative>
<product_proof_points>
{{sensory_profile_or_product_specs}}
{{awards_reviews_or_credibility_markers}}
</product_proof_points>
An ANGLE is a category-level claim (a broad benefit or position).
An INSIGHT is how that angle resolves the specific tension for this persona, expressed through the product's own narrative language.
Convert the angle into an insight by answering:
- How specifically does this product resolve the tension?
- What does the persona GET TO DO/BE/FEEL that they couldn't before?
- Which KEY PHRASES or METAPHORS from the product narrative could carry this insight?
- What's the emotional shift—what state do they move FROM and TO?
Format your response as:
ANGLE: {{angle_name}}
RESOLUTION: [How the product specifically resolves the tension—be concrete]
PERMISSION: [What the persona now has permission to do/be that they couldn't before]
EMOTIONAL SHIFT: [FROM state] → [TO state]
NARRATIVE HOOKS: [2-3 key phrases from the product that could express this insight]
INSIGHT: [One sentence that captures the above, borrowing product language where powerful]
Do not write final copy yet.What you get: An insight like "The best NA IPA doesn't ask you to wait for perfect conditions: it's made for people who push through."
That's a point of view. "Authentic IPA Taste" is not.
Prompt 5: Headline Generation
NOW you write. Uses everything above.
You are a copywriter for {{brand_name}}.
<insight>
{{insight_from_prompt_4}}
</insight>
<narrative_hooks>
{{narrative_hooks_from_prompt_4}}
</narrative_hooks>
<product_key_phrases>
{{key_phrases_from_prompt_1}}
</product_key_phrases>
<tension>
{{combined_tension_from_prompt_3}}
</tension>
<brand_voice>
Voice attributes: {{voice_tags}}
Archetype: {{archetype}}
Tone: {{tone_description}}
VOICE REFERENCE - Examples of how the brand actually sounds:
{{sample_brand_copy}}
</brand_voice>
<constraints>
- Headlines must be 2-7 words
- Prioritize language that echoes the product's existing narrative (KEY PHRASES)
- Must sound like something the target persona would say TO THEMSELVES, not marketing speak AT them
- Must be specific enough that a direct competitor couldn't use it unchanged
- BANNED: "guilt-free," "have it all," "best of both worlds," "without compromise," "enjoy," "discover," "introducing," "meet," "say hello to," "experience," "unlock," "elevate," "crafted for those who," "perfect for"
</constraints>
Generate 10 headline candidates in three categories:
NARRATIVE EXTENSIONS (3-4): Headlines that directly build on the product's key phrases or core metaphor
INSIGHT EXPRESSIONS (3-4): Headlines that express the insight in fresh language
TENSION PROVOCATIONS (2-3): Headlines that name the persona's conflict directly
For each headline, note:
- Which key phrase, metaphor, or insight element it draws from
- Why the target persona would respond to this specific language
Then select your top 3 and rank them with rationale.Prompt 6: Brand Voice Filter
Quality gate. Run your headlines through this.
You are a brand guardian for {{brand_name}}.
<candidates>
{{top_3_headlines}}
</candidates>
<brand_voice>
Voice attributes: {{voice_tags}}
Archetype: {{archetype}}
VOICE REFERENCE (actual brand copy examples):
{{sample_brand_copy_excerpts}}
</brand_voice>
<product_narrative>
Core Metaphor: {{core_metaphor}}
Emotional Territory: {{emotional_territory}}
</product_narrative>
<competitor_territory>
{{competitor_1}}: {{competitor_1_positioning}}
{{competitor_2}}: {{competitor_2_positioning}}
</competitor_territory>
For each headline candidate, score 1-5 on:
- VOICE MATCH: Does this sound like {{brand_name}}?
- NARRATIVE CONTINUITY: Does it feel like it belongs alongside the product's existing copy?
- DISTINCTIVENESS: Would this feel wrong coming from the listed competitors?
- TENSION RESONANCE: Does it speak to the persona's internal conflict?
- MEMORABILITY: Would someone repeat this?
PASS/FAIL each headline. A headline fails if:
- Voice match < 3
- Narrative continuity < 3
- Distinctiveness < 3
For passing headlines, suggest one refinement to increase the lowest score.
For failing headlines, explain what's wrong and whether it's salvageable.What This Actually Produces
Before (old way):
Headline: "TASTE THE FREEDOM"
Body: "Discover the bold flavor of Prophets Hazy IPA, your new favorite NA beer."
Visual: People clinking beers at outdoor gathering
After (this chain):
Headline: "Push Through. Then Pour."
Body: "72 calories. Full craft flavor. For the moments after you've earned it."
Visual: Solo figure, post-workout, quiet reward moment
The first one could be any beer. The second one could only be THIS beer talking to THIS person.
Bonus: Body Copy & Visual Prompts
I'm already at 1,500 words. If you want the body copy generation prompt and visual concept prompt, reply, and I'll send them.
Or just take the six above and see what happens. The strategic prompts (1-4) are where the magic is. Once you have a real tension and a real insight, the execution writes itself.
That's it. No wisdom. No frameworks. Just prompts.
Go make something that doesn't sound like a robot having an identity crisis.
Will