We live in an era where anyone can call on the minds of history’s best marketers, without needing a Manhattan office, a glass of Scotch, or a cigarette break.
For the record, I only started watching Mad Men recently.
On the one hand, Don Draper probably would have been brilliant at real estate copy (“Advertising is about one thing – happiness…”).
On the other hand, he didn’t spend nearly enough time actually working to know just how good he really was.
According to Wikipedia — that source of all truth just behind Facebook — Don Draper is partly inspired by Draper Daniels, a 1950s creative director at Leo Burnett (famous for the Marlboro Man), and Bill Backer, who gave the world the “I’d Like to Buy the World a Coke” ad in 1971.
So, between them, they probably would’ve nailed listing copy too.
Lately, I’ve been reviewing some of my earliest posts—and now seems like a great time to give a few of those prompts and tools an update.
Let’s get into it…
Craft an attention-grabbing opening hook for a digital advertisement that effectively captures the target audience’s interest in the style of a renowned copywriting expert.
Call in the experts
The original prompt was:
Could you please act as a copywriting expert - for example - Don Draper - and write me an opening hook that will stop the scroll?For an early attempt, this is not totally awful; I’ve given ChatGPT a role, given it some context, and asked for hooks (and you have to know about the fabulousness of a good hook to be able to ask for one).
So, there are some solid prompt-building blocks there.
But knowing what I know now, here is how I would restructure this one (and yes there are a lot more words…)
Craft an attention-grabbing opening hook for a digital advertisement that effectively captures the target audience's interest in the style of a renowned copywriting expert.
Steps
1. Understand the Target Audience: Consider the demographics, interests, and pain points of the target audience.
2. Identify Key Message: Determine the core message or unique selling point that needs to be conveyed in the hook.
3. Create Intrigue: Use language that evokes curiosity, emotion, or a strong desire to learn more.
4. Incorporate a Unique Voice: Channel the persona of an iconic ad figure, such as <insert your favourite ad guy here>, to add charisma and persuasive power to the copy.
5. Keep it Succinct: The hook should be brief yet powerful enough to capture attention immediately.
Output Format - A single, powerful sentence or a very short paragraph designed to engage and intrigue the reader instantly.Notes
1. The hook must be versatile enough to be effective across various platforms, including social media, email, and online advertising.
2. You must ask the user questions to tailor the prompt further, such as specifics about the product, details about the target audience, or any unique aspects of the brand that should be highlighted.
Here’s a breakdown of what’s changed:
- There is a clear plan (steps) to make sure all the key elements of writing a good hook are covered.
- There is a clear focus on the audience rather than the features of the service (or product).
- We are spotlighting what makes the service (or product) unique.
- We’re creating something short and impactful.
We’re not just giving ChatGPT a role but also calling in the experts—your favourite ad guy.
If you don’t have a favourite, ask ChatGPT for the 10 best ad guys of all time and choose your favourite.
The “Notes” section is where ChatGPT considers important matters —such as the type of output we want—and asks for user input.
Try both prompts side by side and see which one works better for you.
*This article was originally published by AI Powered Agents.
