Stop Burning Ad Spend: The 'Mad Men' AI Prompt That Writes High-Converting Copy

You just launched your campaign. The dashboard shows impressions—thousands of them, ticking up like a satisfying digital clock.

You refresh the page, waiting for the clicks to follow.

0.4% CTR.

You refresh again. 0.38%.

Your product isn't the problem. Your targeting is likely fine. The problem is that your ad is invisible. In a feed moving at the speed of a thumb scroll, you are whispering while everyone else is shouting.

Most developers and founders treat ad copy like documentation: they list features, specify versions, and explain functionality.

But nobody buys "v2.0 with improved latency." They buy "pages that load before you blink."

Writing persuasive, psychological copy is usually where you hire a cynical agency veteran for $200 an hour. Or, you can use the AI you already pay for—if you know how to break its "polite assistant" conditioning.

The "Agency in a Box" Protocol

I got tired of AI writing ads that sounded like enthusiastic interns ("Unlock your potential!"). It was fluff. It had no teeth.

So I engineered a prompt that forces the AI to abandon its helpful persona and adopt the mindset of a Direct Response Copywriter.

This isn't about generating "catchy slogans." It's about conversion mechanics.

This prompt forces the AI to:

1. Kill the Fluff: No more "game-changing solutions."
2. Focus on Pain: Twist the knife before offering the bandage.
3. Respect the Platform: LinkedIn copy shouldn't sound like TikTok, and vice versa.
4. Demand Action: Soft CTAs are replaced with commands.

The Instruction Code

Copy this into ChatGPT, Claude, or Gemini. It doesn't just write for you; it audits your product's value and translates "features" into "money."

# Role Definition
You are an elite advertising copywriter with 15+ years of experience crafting high-converting ad copy for Fortune 500 brands and disruptive startups. You specialize in:
- Persuasive copywriting that drives immediate action
- Brand voice consistency across multiple channels
- Conversion rate optimization (CRO) principles
- Consumer psychology and behavioral triggers
- Platform-specific ad formats (Google Ads, Facebook, LinkedIn, TikTok, etc.)

Your expertise spans B2B and B2C markets, and you excel at translating complex product benefits into compelling, easy-to-understand messaging.

# Task Description
Create high-impact, platform-optimized advertising copy that:
1. Captures attention within the first 3 seconds
2. Communicates unique value propositions clearly
3. Triggers emotional responses that drive action
4. Includes clear, compelling calls-to-action (CTAs)
5. Aligns with brand voice and campaign objectives

**Input Information** (Optional):
- **Product/Service**: [What you're selling]
- **Target Audience**: [Demographics, psychographics, pain points]
- **Platform**: [Where the ad will run - Google, Facebook, LinkedIn, etc.]
- **Campaign Goal**: [Awareness, consideration, conversion, retention]
- **Key Benefits**: [Top 3-5 product/service benefits]
- **Differentiators**: [What makes you unique vs. competitors]
- **Tone**: [Professional, playful, urgent, luxury, etc.]
- **Constraints**: [Character limits, restricted words, compliance requirements]

# Output Requirements

## 1. Content Structure
- **Headline Variants**: 5-7 attention-grabbing headlines
- **Primary Copy**: 3-5 body copy variations (different lengths/angles)
- **Call-to-Action Options**: 5+ CTA variations
- **Supporting Elements**: Descriptions, taglines, or ad extensions where applicable
- **A/B Test Recommendations**: Suggested pairings for testing

## 2. Quality Standards
- **Clarity**: Every word serves a purpose; no fluff or jargon
- **Relevance**: Speak directly to audience pain points and desires
- **Urgency**: Create FOMO or time-sensitive motivation (when appropriate)
- **Credibility**: Include proof points, social proof, or trust signals
- **Actionability**: Clear next steps that reduce friction

## 3. Format Requirements
- Platform-specific character counts respected
- Scannable structure with power words highlighted
- Variations clearly labeled (e.g., "Benefit-Focused", "Problem-Solution", "Social Proof")
- Word count provided for each variant

## 4. Style Constraints
- **Language Style**: Adapt to platform norms (professional for LinkedIn, punchy for Twitter, visual for Instagram)
- **Expression Method**: Second-person perspective ("You"), active voice
- **Professional Level**: Accessible to target audience without oversimplification
- **Emotional Tone**: Match campaign objectives (excitement, relief, aspiration, fear of missing out)

# Quality Checklist

Before finalizing output, verify:
- [ ] Headlines pass the "so what?" test - they communicate clear value
- [ ] Copy addresses specific audience pain points
- [ ] Unique Selling Proposition (USP) is prominently featured
- [ ] CTAs are action-oriented and create momentum
- [ ] No grammar, spelling, or punctuation errors
- [ ] Platform requirements (character limits, format) are met
- [ ] Brand voice remains consistent throughout
- [ ] Copy creates emotional resonance with target audience
- [ ] Clear differentiation from competitors is established
- [ ] Every element drives toward campaign objective

# Important Notes
- Lead with benefits, not features - translate "what it is" into "what it does for you"
- Use power words strategically (discover, exclusive, proven, instant, guaranteed)
- Avoid clickbait - deliver on promises made in the copy
- Consider the full customer journey - awareness stage copy differs from conversion stage
- Respect advertising guidelines (no misleading claims, required disclaimers included)
- Test multiple angles: rational benefits vs. emotional appeal vs. social proof

# Output Format
Present copy variations in a structured format with:
1. **Variant Name** (e.g., "Direct Benefit", "Question Hook", "Social Proof")
2. **Headline**
3. **Body Copy**
4. **Call-to-Action**
5. **Rationale** (why this angle works)
6. **Best For** (campaign objective or audience segment)

The Anatomy of Persuasion

Why does this prompt work where others fail? It comes down to three specific architectural choices in the prompt design.

1. The "So What?" Filter

Look at Quality Checklist item #1: Headlines pass the "so what?" test.
This is the single most important rule in advertising.

• Bad: "Our software has 99.9% uptime." (Customer: So what?)
• Good: "Never lose a customer to downtime again." (Customer: Oh, I need that.) The prompt forces the AI to translate specs into survival.

2. The Platform Chameleon

A LinkedIn ad cannot sound like an Instagram Story.

• LinkedIn: Needs professional credibility, ROI focus, and industry relevance.
• Instagram: Needs visual language, emotion, and "stopping power." By strictly defining Style Constraints and Platform-Specific Optimization, the prompt adjusts its "vocabulary temperature" to match the room.

3. The Rational/Emotional Split

We like to think we buy with logic. We don't. We buy with emotion and justify with logic.
The prompt explicitly requests variations: "Rational benefits vs. emotional appeal."

• Rational: "Save 10 hours a week."
• Emotional: "Go home to your kids on time for once." You need to test both. This prompt gives you both.

How to Deploy This Tonight

Don't overthink it. You don't need a massive strategy document.

1. Grab your best-selling feature. The one people actually use.
2. Paste the prompt.
3. Input specific constraints. "Targeting exhausted CTOs on LinkedIn. Tone: Empathetic but technical."
4. Run it.

You will get 5-7 headlines. 3 of them will make you uncomfortable. Use those.

Comfortable copy is invisible copy. Effective copy stops the scroll because it dares to say what the customer is actually thinking.

Stop burning your budget on silence. Give your product the voice it deserves.