Creating Messaging Hierarchy
Quick start
Collect or infer:
- •Product positioning and differentiation
- •Target audience segments and their priorities
- •Competitive landscape
- •Key features and their benefits
- •Business objectives for the messaging
Then produce output using TEMPLATES.md. Validate with RUBRIC.md.
Workflow
- •Define the single core value proposition (10 words or less)
- •Create 3-4 supporting pillars that prove the value prop
- •For each pillar, develop proof points and feature-level messages
- •Map messages to audience segments (what resonates with whom)
- •Create message variations for different channels/contexts
- •Test against competitive messaging for differentiation
- •Run the rubric check. Revise until it passes.
Degrees of freedom
Freedom level: Medium
- •Default: follow templates exactly
- •Allowed variation: number of pillars (3-4), depth of feature messages, audience segment count—as long as rubric passes
State awareness
- •New product launch: Build full hierarchy from scratch; focus on differentiation
- •Feature release: Fit new messaging into existing hierarchy; maintain consistency
- •Repositioning: Audit existing messaging first; document what's changing and why
- •Competitive response: Start from competitor analysis; find defensible gaps
References
- •Templates: TEMPLATES.md
- •Rubric: RUBRIC.md
- •Examples: EXAMPLES.md