# Tagline Writing

> Write taglines, slogans, and headlines that capture a product or brand. Use whenever the user needs a tagline, slogan, headline, hero line, one-liner, or any short piece of copy that has to do a lot of work.

- Skill: `dragoon0x/tagline-writing` (Agent Skill)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add dragoon0x/tagline-writing`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/dragoon0x/tagline-writing/raw
- Safety review: pending
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Coding & Dev Tools
- Author: dragoon0x (https://skillmd.com/u/dragoon0x)
- Updated: 2026-09-17
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/dragoon0x/tagline-writing

---


# tagline-writing

a tagline is a tiny piece of copy that has to do disproportionate work. it tells you what to expect, what to feel, and often, who it's for.

## what a tagline can do

a single tagline doesn't do all four. pick the one or two that matter most for the moment:

- **describe**: explain what the product is
- **position**: define what the product is in contrast to alternatives
- **promise**: signal an outcome
- **provoke**: get attention by saying something unexpected

## the rules

- short. 3-8 words for most. up to 12 if the rhythm demands it.
- specific. "make work better" could fit anything. "the spreadsheet for product teams" couldn't.
- own a word or a shape. the tagline that's memorable is usually the one that's structurally distinct from competitors.
- read it aloud. if your tongue trips, rewrite.
- can a stranger guess what you do from this alone? if no, the tagline isn't carrying weight.

## structural patterns that often work

- the new noun for the new shape: "the [familiar thing] for [new context]"
- the principle: "[unexpected verb] without [common cost]"
- the contrast: "[what you are]. without [what competitors are]"
- the consequence: "now you can [previously impossible thing]"
- the invitation: "[verb] like [archetype]"

avoid:

- "your one-stop shop for X"
- "the future of X"
- "X, simplified"
- "X, made easy"
- "X, reimagined"
- "X for the modern Y"

these patterns are bypass routes that say nothing.

## the generation pass

write 15-25 options across the four jobs (describe / position / promise / provoke). don't filter early. for each:

- read it aloud
- imagine seeing it on a billboard for 2 seconds
- imagine a stranger asking "what does this company do?"
- if the tagline answers nothing or sounds like 10 other companies, cut it

narrow to 5-7 strong candidates. for each strong candidate, write a one-line rationale.

## output

```
[brand]

context for the tagline
  what the product is
  who it's for
  what feeling we want
  what to position against

candidates (15-25 across the four jobs)

top 5
  1. [tagline] — [job it's doing, why it works]
  2. ...

recommendation
  [tagline] — [extended rationale, including any concerns]
```

## what to avoid

- adding adjectives to make a weak tagline sound stronger ("incredibly powerful" doesn't help)
- writing for the founders' ear instead of the audience's
- internal references the public can't decode
- punctuation gymnastics (em dashes, ellipses, colons) used to disguise length
- claims you can't substantiate