Creating message maps
Quick start
Collect or infer:
- •Product or feature name
- •Target audience(s) and segments
- •Core problem being solved
- •Key differentiators (vs. alternatives)
- •Proof points and evidence
- •Business goals for the messaging
Then produce output using TEMPLATES.md. Validate with RUBRIC.md.
Workflow
- •Define the primary audience and their key pain point.
- •Draft the core message (single sentence value proposition).
- •Identify 3-4 supporting pillars (key themes or benefit categories).
- •For each pillar, add supporting messages and proof points.
- •Map messages to audience segments if multiple audiences.
- •Validate hierarchy: can someone understand value in 10 seconds?
- •Run the rubric check. Revise until it passes.
Degrees of freedom
- •Low: Core message and pillar count (3-4) are constrained.
- •Medium: Supporting message phrasing, proof point selection.
- •Allowed variation: Pillar naming, depth of proof points, audience segmentation approach—as long as rubric passes.
References
- •Templates: TEMPLATES.md
- •Rubric: RUBRIC.md
- •Examples: EXAMPLES.md
- •Message map schema: reference/message-map-schema.md