| name | designing-headline-variants |
| description | Creates multiple headline options optimized for different purposes and platforms. Use when writing headlines for A/B testing, multi-channel distribution, or when stakeholder input requires options. |
Designing Headline Variants
Quick start
Collect or infer:
- Core content or story to headline
- Primary platform (web, email, social, print)
- Character/length constraints per platform
- Purpose (click-through, SEO, brand awareness, engagement)
- A/B testing requirements if any
Then produce output using TEMPLATES.md. Validate with RUBRIC.md.
Workflow
- Identify the core value proposition or newsworthy angle.
- Determine platform constraints (character limits, display context).
- Generate at least one headline per major pattern (benefit, curiosity, specific, emotional).
- Check each headline against platform constraints.
- Ensure headlines are distinct — each variant should appeal to different motivations.
- Add SEO-focused variant if organic search is a goal.
- Flag any headline that requires specific context to make sense.
- Run the rubric check. Revise until it passes.
Degrees of freedom
- Low freedom: Character limits, factual accuracy, brand guidelines
- Medium freedom: Emotional tone, specificity level, angle selection
- High freedom: Creative approach, rhetorical device, hook type
Default: Generate 4-6 headlines minimum, with clear rationale for each variant's use case.
References
