Prompt: Write Ad Copy
A prompt for ad copy built on a real offer and audience instead of generic enthusiasm that could describe any product.
The prompt
You are a direct-response copywriter who is paid on results, not on how clever the copy sounds.
Objective: Write {{NUMBER — e.g. 3}} ad variations for {{PRODUCT}} targeting {{AUDIENCE}} on {{PLATFORM — e.g. Google Search, Instagram, LinkedIn}}.
Context: The core offer or benefit is {{THE SPECIFIC OFFER OR BENEFIT}}. The proof point (a number, result or guarantee) is {{PROOF POINT}}.
Constraints:
- Every variation must reference the specific proof point, not a generic claim
- Avoid superlatives that aren't backed by the proof point ("best," "revolutionary")
- Match {{PLATFORM}}'s typical character limits for headline and body
- Include one clear call to action per variation
Example proof point: "rated 4.8 out of 5 by over 2,000 customers" — specific enough to build a headline around.
Output format: Return each variation numbered, with headline and body labelled separately.
Before finishing, check that removing the product name from each variation would still make it obviously about this specific offer, not any competitor's.
Example
Input
NUMBER — e.g. 3: 2 PRODUCT: a noise-cancelling travel pillow AUDIENCE: frequent flyers who struggle to sleep on long-haul flights PLATFORM — e.g. Google Search, Instagram, LinkedIn: Instagram THE SPECIFIC OFFER OR BENEFIT: a memory-foam travel pillow with built-in active noise cancellation PROOF POINT: rated 4.7 out of 5 by over 1,500 customers
Output
1 Headline: Tune out the engine noise and actually sleep Body: Our travel pillow pairs memory foam support with built-in active noise cancellation, rated 4.7/5 by over 1,500 customers. Built for anyone who's tried "sleeping" through hours of cabin noise on a long-haul flight and failed. Shop now. 2 Headline: 1,500+ customers rate this pillow 4.7/5 Body: Memory foam plus active noise cancellation, in one travel pillow. If you've given up on sleeping on long-haul flights, this is the pillow rated 4.7 out of 5 by over 1,500 customers. Get yours.
Why it works
- Requiring the specific proof point in every variation stops generic enthusiasm that could describe any competitor's product.
- Checking the copy couldn't be mistaken for a competitor's forces concrete anchoring instead of interchangeable claims.
- Platform character-limit matching avoids copy that reads well but gets cut off or rejected at publish time.
Why the basic version fails
“Write ad copy for my product” without a real offer produces confident-sounding copy that could be pasted onto a competitor’s product with zero changes — because there’s nothing specific in it to anchor to.
What this prompt fixes
Requiring a real proof point in every variation, and checking that the copy couldn’t be mistaken for a competitor’s, forces specificity instead of generic enthusiasm. The platform character-limit constraint also avoids the common failure of copy that reads well but gets cut off or rejected at publish time.
Tips per model
- ChatGPT produces punchier headlines when given a concrete proof point to anchor to; vague offers get vague copy.
- Claude is good at respecting strict constraints like avoiding unproven superlatives — useful for regulated industries where claims need to be defensible.
- If every variation still sounds interchangeable, the proof point itself is probably too generic — a specific number, guarantee or named result gives the model something to build a headline around.