Stuck in a content rut or want to ignite creative conversations? Hypothetical scenarios are a copywriter's secret weapon to provoke imagination and get members thinking outside the box. These templates make it easy to spark lively discussions and draw out fresh perspectives from your community.
Plan your content calendar and auto-post to Skool, Circle, or Mighty Networks
Hypothetical scenario prompts are highly effective because they invite members to step into new roles and experiment with creative solutions. By presenting situations that are not bound by reality, you lower the stakes and encourage more playful, risk-free participation. This format taps into the core skills of copywriters: storytelling, empathy, and persuasive thinking.
Research shows that open-ended, imaginative questions can break habitual thinking patterns and foster a sense of psychological safety. Community members feel valued when their unique viewpoints are solicited, which increases overall engagement, trust, and knowledge-sharing. Hypothetical scenarios also help members practice skills in a fun, low-pressure environment, making learning social and enjoyable.
What if you could only use five words in your next sales email? How would you hook your reader?
💡 Example: "What if you could only use five words in your next sales email? How would you hook your reader? Share your best attempt!"
Imagine your client wants a tagline for a product that does not exist yet. What would you write?
💡 Example: "Imagine your client wants a tagline for a product that does not exist yet. What would you write?"
If you had to swap your writing style with a famous author for a day, who would you choose and why?
💡 Example: "If you had to swap your writing style with a famous author for a day, who would you choose and why? Tell us!"
What would you do if you could only use questions in your next ad copy?
💡 Example: "What would you do if you could only use questions in your next ad copy?"
Suppose emojis are banned from all copy. How would you add personality to your social posts?
💡 Example: "Suppose emojis are banned from all copy. How would you add personality to your social posts?"
If you could only write headlines in rhyme for a week, what would your first one be?
💡 Example: "If you could only write headlines in rhyme for a week, what would your first one be? Share it below!"
Imagine your client insists on zero adjectives. How would you make their product stand out?
💡 Example: "Imagine your client insists on zero adjectives. How would you make their product stand out?"
What if your next brief came with a single instruction: surprise us. What would you deliver?
💡 Example: "What if your next brief came with a single instruction: surprise us. What would you deliver? Let's see your ideas!"
If you had to pitch a product in just three sentences, what would you say?
💡 Example: "If you had to pitch a product in just three sentences, what would you say?"
Suppose your copy is limited to 50 characters. How do you sell a luxury watch?
💡 Example: "Suppose your copy is limited to 50 characters. How do you sell a luxury watch? Try it!"
Imagine you are writing for aliens. How would you explain coffee?
💡 Example: "Imagine you are writing for aliens. How would you explain coffee?"
If you could only use verbs in your next brand story, what would it sound like?
💡 Example: "If you could only use verbs in your next brand story, what would it sound like?"
What if every CTA had to be a question instead of a command? Share your best rewrite.
💡 Example: "What if every CTA had to be a question instead of a command? Share your best rewrite."
Suppose your client wants a viral tweet but only gives you a single noun. What do you do?
💡 Example: "Suppose your client wants a viral tweet but only gives you a single noun. What do you do?"
If you could rewrite any famous slogan, which would you pick and how would you update it?
💡 Example: "If you could rewrite any famous slogan, which would you pick and how would you update it? Show us!"
Imagine all your copy had to be written backward. What creative techniques would you try?
💡 Example: "Imagine all your copy had to be written backward. What creative techniques would you try?"
What if your next client is a time traveler from 1920? How would you write a website homepage?
💡 Example: "What if your next client is a time traveler from 1920? How would you write a website homepage?"
Suppose you could only use analogies to describe a product. What analogy would you choose?
💡 Example: "Suppose you could only use analogies to describe a product. What analogy would you choose? Share it!"
If you had to turn your latest copy project into a haiku, what would it be?
💡 Example: "If you had to turn your latest copy project into a haiku, what would it be? Post yours!"
Imagine your client only wants puns. How would you make a car insurance ad?
💡 Example: "Imagine your client only wants puns. How would you make a car insurance ad?"
What if your copy could only use one sense (taste, touch, sight, etc)? Which sense would you pick and why?
💡 Example: "What if your copy could only use one sense (taste, touch, sight, etc)? Which sense would you pick and why?"
Suppose you are tasked with writing a product description for a completely invisible product. How would you create interest?
💡 Example: "Suppose you are tasked with writing a product description for a completely invisible product. How would you create interest?"
If you could only use one punctuation mark in your next campaign, which would it be and how would you use it?
💡 Example: "If you could only use one punctuation mark in your next campaign, which would it be and how would you use it?"
Imagine your client asks for a landing page written entirely as a conversation between two people. What would that sound like?
💡 Example: "Imagine your client asks for a landing page written entirely as a conversation between two people. What would that sound like?"
What if you had to write a product review as if you were a detective? How would you approach it?
💡 Example: "What if you had to write a product review as if you were a detective? How would you approach it? Share your take!"
Suppose your copy is translated into 100 languages. How would you keep the message clear and simple?
💡 Example: "Suppose your copy is translated into 100 languages. How would you keep the message clear and simple?"
If your next ad could only use numbers, what would it look like?
💡 Example: "If your next ad could only use numbers, what would it look like?"
Imagine you have to write a product launch email in only one sentence. What would it say?
💡 Example: "Imagine you have to write a product launch email in only one sentence. What would it say?"
What if you could only write in metaphors for a month? How would you sell a boring product?
💡 Example: "What if you could only write in metaphors for a month? How would you sell a boring product?"
Suppose your client's instructions are only three words: bold, fast, memorable. What headline do you create?
💡 Example: "Suppose your client's instructions are only three words: bold, fast, memorable. What headline do you create? Share it!"
If you could write copy for any fictional brand, which would you choose and why?
💡 Example: "If you could write copy for any fictional brand, which would you choose and why?"
Imagine you can only use negative space on a website. How would your copy stand out?
💡 Example: "Imagine you can only use negative space on a website. How would your copy stand out?"
What if your client insists on only using positive words? How would you avoid sounding generic?
💡 Example: "What if your client insists on only using positive words? How would you avoid sounding generic?"
Suppose every headline must include a color. What is your most creative headline?
💡 Example: "Suppose every headline must include a color. What is your most creative headline? Share it!"
If your copy could only be read aloud, how would you write for maximum impact?
💡 Example: "If your copy could only be read aloud, how would you write for maximum impact?"
Imagine you must write a product description with only facts, no benefits. What do you write?
💡 Example: "Imagine you must write a product description with only facts, no benefits. What do you write?"
What if you had to write a social post as a poem? What would it look like?
💡 Example: "What if you had to write a social post as a poem? Share your best take!"
Suppose your next client is a robot. How would you connect with a human audience?
💡 Example: "Suppose your next client is a robot. How would you connect with a human audience?"
If you could only use three sentences to tell a brand's entire story, what would they be?
💡 Example: "If you could only use three sentences to tell a brand's entire story, what would they be?"
Imagine you are not allowed to use the word 'free' in any copy. What would you write instead?
💡 Example: "Imagine you are not allowed to use the word 'free' in any copy. What would you write instead?"
What if every testimonial had to be two words only? How would you capture customer emotion?
💡 Example: "What if every testimonial had to be two words only? How would you capture customer emotion?"
Suppose you are given a brand mascot with no backstory. What story would you invent?
💡 Example: "Suppose you are given a brand mascot with no backstory. What story would you invent? Share it!"
If your copy had to be written as a recipe, what would the steps be?
💡 Example: "If your copy had to be written as a recipe, what would the steps be?"
To use these templates, simply copy and paste a scenario into your community feed, forum, or chat. Encourage members to respond with their ideas or approaches, either as a quick comment or in more detail. You can schedule these posts regularly to maintain engagement, or tie them to timely industry trends. For best results, follow up with your own playful answer and tag a few members to jumpstart the discussion.
Since these templates are designed for all platforms, adapt the length or depth as needed. For forums or Slack, you can encourage longer story-driven responses. On fast-moving platforms like Twitter or Discord, keep prompts snappy and invite emoji or one-sentence replies. Always monitor threads for respectful, inclusive participation.
To engage copywriters, present scenarios like: 'You're writing for a product launch—do you focus on direct response tactics (e.g., urgency, CTA-heavy) or a brand storytelling approach (narrative, emotional connection)?' This prompts nuanced discussion about copy objectives, target audience, and conversion goals.
Frame scenarios around common client dilemmas, such as: 'A client asks you to increase sales for a low-engagement email list. Do you recommend reworking subject lines for higher open rates or segmenting the audience for tailored messaging?' This helps members practice problem-solving under industry-relevant constraints.
Pose scenarios involving controversial tactics, like exaggerating product claims or using fear-based language. Encourage members to discuss where they draw the ethical line and reference industry standards such as the FTC guidelines for advertising copy.
Consider your member base: B2B scenarios might involve crafting persuasive LinkedIn messages for SaaS products, while B2C examples could center on emotional storytelling for D2C brands. Mixing both keeps the content relevant and sparks discussion about adapting tone, format, and strategy.
Present options like: 'You're split-testing two headlines—one with emotional appeal, one with a clear value proposition. Which would you choose for a cold traffic ad and why?' This leverages copywriting concepts like emotional triggers, clarity, and relevance to foster deeper analysis.
Introduce situations such as: 'A brand’s product has a sudden recall. Draft a quick-turnaround email to reassure customers and maintain trust.' This allows members to practice tone management, transparency, and strategic messaging under typical copywriting pressure.
Skool · Circle · Mighty Networks