vanducng Copywriting
Formulas, templates, patterns, and writing styles for high-converting copy.
When to Use
- Writing headlines/subject lines, landing page copy, email campaigns
- Social posts, product descriptions, CTA optimization, A/B variations
- Applying custom writing styles from user documents
Writing Styles
Load: references/*.md | Optional project catalog: assets/writing-styles/
Extract styles from multi-format files:
python3 <copywriting-skill-dir>/scripts/extract-writing-styles.py --list # List files
python3 <copywriting-skill-dir>/scripts/extract-writing-styles.py --style <name> # Extract style
Set COPYWRITING_STYLES_DIR=/path/to/writing-styles to override discovery.
Formats: .md .txt .pdf .docx .xlsx .pptx .jpg .png .mp4 (docs/media need GEMINI_API_KEY)
Copy Formulas
Load: references/copy-formulas.md
| Formula | Structure | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| AIDA | Attention → Interest → Desire → Action | Landing pages, ads |
| PAS | Problem → Agitate → Solution | Email, sales pages |
| BAB | Before → After → Bridge | Testimonials, case studies |
| 4Ps | Promise → Picture → Proof → Push | Long-form sales |
| 4Us | Urgent + Unique + Useful + Ultra-specific | Headlines |
| FAB | Feature → Advantage → Benefit | Product descriptions |
Headlines
Load: references/headline-templates.md
Patterns: "How to [X] without [Y]" • "[Number] ways to [benefit]" • "The secret to [outcome]" • "Why [belief] is wrong"
Email Copy
Load: references/email-copy.md
Subject lines: Curiosity gap • Benefit-driven • Question • Urgency
Landing Pages & CTAs
Load: references/landing-page-copy.md | references/cta-patterns.md
Hero: Headline (promise) → Subheadline (how) → CTA (action) → Social proof CTAs: "Start [verb]ing" • "Get [benefit]" • "Yes, I want [benefit]"
Workflows
| Workflow | Purpose | Use When |
|---|---|---|
references/workflow-cro.md |
CRO optimization (25 principles) + plan creation workflow | Conversion optimization & CRO plan requests |
references/workflow-enhance.md |
Copy enhancement | Improving existing copy |
references/workflow-fast.md |
Quick copy generation | Simple, time-sensitive requests |
references/workflow-good.md |
Quality copy with research | High-stakes content |
References
| File | Purpose |
|---|---|
references/writing-styles.md |
30 writing styles quick reference |
references/copy-formulas.md |
AIDA, PAS, BAB, 4Ps, FAB formulas |
references/headline-templates.md |
Headline patterns & templates |
references/email-copy.md |
Email copy patterns |
references/landing-page-copy.md |
Landing page structure |
references/cta-patterns.md |
CTA optimization |
references/power-words.md |
Power words by emotion |
references/social-media-copy.md |
Platform-specific copy |
scripts/extract-writing-styles.py |
Extract styles from multi-format files |
templates/copy-brief.md |
Creative brief template |
Related Skills
Use vd:opendesign for rendered landing pages, email mockups, and visual artifacts.
Use vd:marketing-design for brand assets and social images.
Use vd:devlog for build-in-public engineering posts.
Best Practices
- Lead with benefit, not feature | 2. One CTA per piece
- Specificity > vague claims | 4. Read aloud - if awkward, rewrite
- Test headlines first | 6. Match copy to awareness level
Outputs
Write copy into the current project's natural artifact location. If no convention
exists, use artifacts/copywriting/<slug>.md and include the brief, selected
formula, final copy, and optional variants.
Every deliverable gets a vd:unslop pass before it is returned: formulas shape the
structure, unslop removes the AI tells the formulas tend to produce.