$npx -y skills add Productfculty-aipm/PM-Copilot-by-Product-Faculty --skill messaging-hierarchyUse this skill when the user asks to "write our messaging", "create a messaging framework", "what should our tagline be", "value proposition", "messaging hierarchy", "how do we talk about our product", "craft our positioning statement", "what's our one-liner", or needs to develop
| 1 | # Messaging Hierarchy |
| 2 | |
| 3 | You are building a messaging hierarchy — a structured set of messages from the tagline down to the proof points, ensuring that everything the product says about itself is coherent, differentiated, and audience-appropriate. |
| 4 | |
| 5 | Framework: April Dunford (Obviously Awesome — positioning-first messaging), Lenny Rachitsky (GTM), Donald Miller (StoryBrand). |
| 6 | |
| 7 | ## Step 1 — Load Context |
| 8 | |
| 9 | Read `memory/user-profile.md` for product context, ICP, and current bets. Read `context/company/competitors.md` for competitive context. Apply April Dunford's 5-component positioning as the foundation. |
| 10 | |
| 11 | ## Step 2 — Positioning Foundation |
| 12 | |
| 13 | Before messaging, confirm the positioning inputs (from competitive-positioning or positioning-five-component skills, or gather now): |
| 14 | |
| 15 | 1. **Competitive alternatives:** What do users do today if they don't use us? |
| 16 | 2. **Unique attributes:** What do we do that alternatives don't? |
| 17 | 3. **Value enabled:** What can users accomplish because of those attributes? |
| 18 | 4. **Who cares most:** Which user segment gets the most from those attributes? |
| 19 | 5. **Market category:** What is the simplest way to categorize us that makes our value obvious? |
| 20 | |
| 21 | These inputs drive every message down the hierarchy. If the inputs are wrong, the messages will be wrong. |
| 22 | |
| 23 | ## Step 3 — Messaging Hierarchy Structure |
| 24 | |
| 25 | **Level 1 — Category frame (1 phrase):** |
| 26 | How do users understand what kind of product this is? The category frame sets the context that makes all other messages make sense. |
| 27 | Example: "AI-native PM operating system" (not "Claude plugin", not "PM templates") |
| 28 | Test: Does the category frame make the value obvious without explaining anything further? |
| 29 | |
| 30 | **Level 2 — Tagline / One-liner (5–10 words):** |
| 31 | The single sentence that captures what makes us different and valuable. |
| 32 | Test: Could someone who has never heard of us understand what we do AND why they'd want it from this one line? |
| 33 | |
| 34 | **Level 3 — Value proposition (2–3 sentences):** |
| 35 | For the specific ICP, what problem do we solve and how? What does success look like? |
| 36 | Test: Could a champion use this to explain us to their CEO in 30 seconds? |
| 37 | |
| 38 | **Level 4 — Proof points (3–5 bullets):** |
| 39 | Specific evidence that supports the value proposition. Concrete capabilities, outcomes, frameworks, or customer results. |
| 40 | Test: Each bullet should make the tagline more believable, not just restate it. |
| 41 | |
| 42 | **Level 5 — Audience-specific messages:** |
| 43 | Adapted versions of Level 1–4 for each key audience: |
| 44 | - ICP champion: What do they care about? |
| 45 | - ICP buyer: What do they need to know to approve the purchase? |
| 46 | - Anti-competitor (if relevant): How do we address the main competitor's claim? |
| 47 | |
| 48 | ## Step 4 — Write the Hierarchy |
| 49 | |
| 50 | For each level, write 2–3 alternative versions, then recommend the strongest with rationale. |
| 51 | |
| 52 | Apply these tests to each: |
| 53 | - **Does it start with the customer, not with us?** "You can now..." beats "We built..." |
| 54 | - **Is it specific?** "Solo PMs who run discovery, write PRDs, and manage stakeholders alone" beats "product managers" |
| 55 | - **Does it differentiate?** Would a competitor say the same thing? If yes, it's not differentiating. |
| 56 | - **Is it believable?** Is the claim supported by the proof points below it? |
| 57 | |
| 58 | ## Step 5 — Messaging for Skeptics vs. Embracers |
| 59 | |
| 60 | Based on the attitudinal segmentation from the personas: |
| 61 | |
| 62 | **AI Embracer messaging:** Emphasize power and speed. "Build like a 3-person PM team without the headcount." Lead with capabilities. |
| 63 | |
| 64 | **AI Skeptic messaging:** Emphasize craft preservation and control. "Your judgment, amplified by Teresa Torres and Marty Cagan's frameworks." Lead with framework credibility and the "you stay in control" message. |
| 65 | |
| 66 | **AI Neutral messaging:** Emphasize efficiency and ROI. "Cut PRD writing time from 4 hours to 20 minutes." Lead with before/after concrete outcomes. |
| 67 | |
| 68 | ## Step 6 — Output |
| 69 | |
| 70 | Produce: |
| 71 | - Messaging hierarchy (all 5 levels with recommended version) |
| 72 | - Alternative versions for levels 1–3 with commentary on each |
| 73 | - Audience-specific adaptations (champion vs. buyer vs. skeptic) |
| 74 | - Test results: which messages pass all 4 quality tests? |
| 75 | - One-page messaging document ready to share with the team |