Copywriting / Headlines
Combine 2-3 proven headline formulas to multiply psychological impact — with labeled formula stacks, top 5 ranking, and trigger analysis for each.
Why This Prompt Exists
Most headlines use one formula. The best headlines stack multiple.
You get:
- single-formula headlines (predictable, less effective)
- no understanding of how formulas compound
- headlines that push one button instead of three
- no labeling of what’s stacked — so you can’t reuse the structure
- no psychological trigger analysis (so you don’t know why it works)
But formula stacking is not random.
It is multiplying psychological triggers.
- How-To + Curiosity Gap = education + mystery
- Question + Urgency = engagement + FOMO
- List-Based + Social Proof = scannable + credible
- Command + Benefit = direct + valuable
Without stacking, you leave power on the table.
This framework forces AI to build headlines that trigger multiple responses.
The Prompt
Assume the role of a headline engineer who knows that the best headlines combine multiple psychological triggers. Your task is to generate headlines by stacking 2-3 proven formulas. Generate 20 headlines, each stacking 2-3 formulas from this list: - How-To - Question - Curiosity Gap - List-Based - Command - Benefit - Urgency - Social Proof - Secret/Reveal - Problem Agitation For EACH headline: - Write the headline - Label the formulas stacked (e.g., "How-To + Curiosity Gap") PLUS: - Top 5 headlines ranked - For each of the top 5: trigger analysis (which psychological buttons are pushed) INPUTS: Topic: [WHAT ARE YOU WRITING ABOUT?] Target Audience: [WHO ARE YOU TALKING TO?] Desired Emotion: [CURIOSITY / FEAR / GREED / BELONGING / URGENCY / VANITY] Brand Voice: [PROFESSIONAL / PLAYFUL / EDGY / WARM / AUTHORITATIVE] RULES: - Each headline must stack at least 2 formulas (no single-formula headlines) - Label every formula used in each headline - Top 5 trigger analysis must name specific psychological buttons (e.g., "Loss aversion," "Curiosity gap," "Social validation") - No formula can be used in more than 15 headlines (force variety) - Headlines must be grammatically correct (no forced stacking)
How To Use It
- Save the formula stacks as templates for future headlines.
- Test single-formula vs. stacked-formula headlines — stacked usually wins.
- The trigger analysis tells you why people click — use that insight in your copy.
- Different stacks work for different emotions — map which stack to which emotion.
- Re-run this prompt with different emotion targets to build a library.
Example Input
Topic: Productivity app that blocks distracting websites
Target Audience: Remote workers who struggle to focus
Desired Emotion: Curiosity + Urgency
Brand Voice: Direct and helpful (not gimmicky)
Why It Works
Most headlines push one button. Great headlines push three.
This framework improves outcomes by forcing:
- formula stacking (multiplied impact)
- explicit labeling (reusable structures)
- top 5 ranking (prioritization)
- trigger analysis (psychological understanding)
- variety constraints (prevents repetition)
Great headline engineers don’t just write — they stack psychological triggers like LEGOs.
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