Ad Copy Templates Reference
Provides formulas and templates for writing ad copy across search, social, and display platforms.
What this file does
Provides formulas and templates for writing ad copy across search, social, and display platforms.
When to use it
- Writing ad copy for Google Search campaigns
- Creating social media ad hooks and headlines
- Testing different CTA styles for conversion optimization
- Structuring landing page or email copy using proven formulas
Ad Copy Templates Reference
Detailed formulas and templates for writing high-converting ad copy.
Primary Text Formulas
Problem-Agitate-Solve (PAS)
[Problem statement]
[Agitate the pain]
[Introduce solution]
[CTA]
Example:
Spending hours on manual reporting every week? While you're buried in spreadsheets, your competitors are making decisions. [Product] automates your reports in minutes. Start your free trial →
Before-After-Bridge (BAB)
[Current painful state]
[Desired future state]
[Your product as the bridge]
Example:
Before: Chasing down approvals across email, Slack, and spreadsheets. After: Every approval tracked, automated, and on time. [Product] connects your tools and keeps projects moving.
Social Proof Lead
[Impressive stat or testimonial]
[What you do]
[CTA]
Example:
"We cut our reporting time by 75%." — Sarah K., Marketing Director [Product] automates the reports you hate building. See how it works →
Feature-Benefit Bridge
[Feature]
[So that...]
[Which means...]
Example:
Real-time collaboration on documents So your team always works from the latest version Which means no more version confusion or lost work
Direct Response
[Bold claim/outcome]
[Proof point]
[CTA with urgency if genuine]
Example:
Cut your reporting time by 80% Join 5,000+ marketing teams already using [Product] Start free → First month 50% off
Headline Formulas
For Search Ads
| Formula | Example |
|---|---|
| [Keyword] + [Benefit] | "Project Management That Teams Actually Use" |
| [Action] + [Outcome] | "Automate Reports |
| [Question] | "Tired of Manual Data Entry?" |
| [Number] + [Benefit] | "500+ Teams Trust [Product] for [Outcome]" |
| [Keyword] + [Differentiator] | "CRM Built for Small Teams" |
| [Price/Offer] + [Keyword] | "Free Project Management |
For Social Ads
| Type | Example |
|---|---|
| Outcome hook | "How we 3x'd our conversion rate" |
| Curiosity hook | "The reporting hack no one talks about" |
| Contrarian hook | "Why we stopped using [common tool]" |
| Specificity hook | "The exact template we use for..." |
| Question hook | "What if you could cut your admin time in half?" |
| Number hook | "7 ways to improve your workflow today" |
| Story hook | "We almost gave up. Then we found..." |
CTA Variations
Soft CTAs (awareness/consideration)
Best for: Top of funnel, cold audiences, complex products
- Learn More
- See How It Works
- Watch Demo
- Get the Guide
- Explore Features
- See Examples
- Read the Case Study
Hard CTAs (conversion)
Best for: Bottom of funnel, warm audiences, clear offers
- Start Free Trial
- Get Started Free
- Book a Demo
- Claim Your Discount
- Buy Now
- Sign Up Free
- Get Instant Access
Urgency CTAs (use when genuine)
Best for: Limited-time offers, scarcity situations
- Limited Time: 30% Off
- Offer Ends [Date]
- Only X Spots Left
- Last Chance
- Early Bird Pricing Ends Soon
Action-Oriented CTAs
Best for: Active voice, clear next step
- Start Saving Time Today
- Get Your Free Report
- See Your Score
- Calculate Your ROI
- Build Your First Project
Platform-Specific Copy Guidelines
Google Search Ads
- Headline limits: 30 characters each (up to 15 headlines)
- Description limits: 90 characters each (up to 4 descriptions)
- Include keywords naturally
- Use all available headline slots
- Include numbers and stats when possible
- Test dynamic keyword insertion
Meta Ads (Facebook/Instagram)
- Primary text: 125 characters visible (can be longer, gets truncated)
- Headline: 40 characters recommended
- Front-load the hook (first line matters most)
- Emojis can work but test
- Questions perform well
- Keep image text under 20%
LinkedIn Ads
- Intro text: 600 characters max (150 recommended)
- Headline: 200 characters max (70 recommended)
- Professional tone (but not boring)
- Specific job outcomes resonate
- Stats and social proof important
- Avoid consumer-style hype
Copy Testing Priority
When testing ad copy, focus on these elements in order of impact:
- Hook/angle (biggest impact on performance)
- Headline
- Primary benefit
- CTA
- Supporting proof points
Test one element at a time for clean data.
What's inside
6 copy formulas, 2 headline tables, 4 CTA categories, 3 platform guidelines, and a testing priority list.
Change this for your project
- Replace
[Product]with your actual product name - Replace example stats like
75%and5,000+with your own data - Replace
Sarah K., Marketing Directorwith a real testimonial source
Where it goes
Keep it in your repository where the agent or team that needs it will read it.
Worth borrowing
- Use the Problem-Agitate-Solve structure for pain-point-driven copy
- Front-load hooks in Meta ads because only 125 characters are visible
- Test one element at a time starting with the hook for clean data
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