Copy Audit

Also determine:

• Which platform is this for? (affects character limits, hashtag strategy, CTA approach)
• Which pillar is this for? (affects terminology, tone, strategic alignment)
• What format is this? (Carousel slides, Reel caption, Story text, Short description)

Step 2: Terminology Scan

Run the copy against the terminology table from corrections.md:

For each flag:

• Quote the exact phrase in the copy
• Show the approved alternative
• Explain WHY it matters (not just "this is wrong" — teach the reason): "Synchrony doesn't issue branded credit cards — they power financing through retail partners. Saying 'my Synchrony credit card' misrepresents the product."

Step 3: Positioning Check

Evaluate the copy against positioning guardrails:

Brand Positioning

• Does the copy position Synchrony as a "financing partner" (correct) or "financial companion" (flagged)?
• Does the copy focus on everyday moments and ordinary purchases (correct) or aspirational/once-in-a-lifetime events (flagged)?
• Is the "People, Partners, Products" framework honored?

Pillar Alignment

• Does the copy match the pillar's strategic goal from q2-2026-pillar-goals.md?
• Does the tone match the pillar's voice? (e.g., Money Talks = educational, Stay Gold = testimonial, TLC = light and relatable)
• Are pillars kept separate? (Casey's aversion to cross-pollination)

Audience Alignment

• Is the copy speaking to existing customers (correct) or new acquisition (flagged for current phase)?
• Is the generational approach appropriate for the platform? (Not over-indexing on Gen Z unless platform warrants it)

Step 4: Compliance Check

Legal/Regulatory

• Are required disclaimers present? ("terms apply," "well-qualified cardholders," etc.)
• Are product names accurate? (Partner names, product names per corrections)
• Are claims substantiated? (No unverifiable financial claims)

Brand Standards

• Does alt text include "Synchrony logo" if the logo appears? (Per Katie's flag)
• No "link in bio" phrasing (algorithm ding per corrections)
• No hashtag keyword stuffing (per corrections)
• No references to non-shopping holidays (MLK, April Fools, etc. per corrections)
• No alcohol imagery references (per corrections)

Step 5: Platform-Specific Review

Based on the target platform:

Instagram Feed

• Caption length: first 125 characters appear above "more" — is the hook strong enough?
• Hashtag strategy: relevant and limited (not keyword stuffing)
• CTA: appropriate for the format (save this, share with a friend, etc.)
• Alt text: descriptive, includes brand identifiers

Instagram Stories

• Text overlay: readable on mobile? Not too much text per slide?
• Interactive elements: poll question clear? Options balanced and engaging?
• CTA: link sticker text compelling?

Facebook

• Tone: slightly more conversational than IG (Facebook audience skews older)
• Link preview: if sharing a link, is the preview optimized?
• Comment prompt: does the copy invite conversation?

YouTube Shorts

• Title: descriptive, includes relevant terms? (vs. vague titles like "Stay Gold | Andrea")
• Description: first paragraph is the real caption — is it strong?
• Hook: will the first line work as a text overlay in the first 1-2 seconds?

Step 6: Voice & Tone Audit

Evaluate against Erica's golden rule and pillar voice:

Clarity Test

• Erica's rule: "Clear and explicit, almost at the expense of cute copy"
• Would Erica approve this? Is the message immediately clear, or does it sacrifice clarity for creativity?
• Could any phrase be misinterpreted? If so, flag and suggest a clearer alternative.

Tone Calibration

• Is the emotional arc right? (Stay Gold audit found the arc was "backwards — copy opens warm, closes cold with corporate language")
• Does the voice match the pillar? (Third-person for Stay Gold, second-person for most others)
• Is it too corporate? Too casual? Right in the middle?

Step 7: Deliver the Audit

Structure the output as:

# Copy Audit: [Pillar] — [Platform]

## Status: [CLEAR / FLAGS FOUND / NEEDS REVISION]

## Terminology Flags
[Table of flagged terms with corrections and explanations]
[Or: "No terminology flags found."]

## Positioning Flags
[Any misalignment with brand positioning, pillar goals, or audience]
[Or: "Positioning aligned."]

## Compliance Flags
[Missing disclaimers, brand standard violations, legal concerns]
[Or: "Compliance requirements met."]

## Platform Flags
[Platform-specific issues — character limits, hashtag concerns, CTA optimization]
[Or: "Platform best practices followed."]

## Voice & Tone Notes
[Clarity assessment, emotional arc, pillar voice alignment]

## Coaching Notes
[1-2 constructive observations — things that are working well + one area to strengthen]

## Suggested Revisions
[If flags were found: specific revised copy with changes highlighted]
[If no flags: "Copy is ready for client review."]

Step 8: Learning Moment

After every audit, surface one coaching insight:

"Something worth knowing: [Teaching moment related to a flag or the copy approach]"

Examples:

• "Synchrony's brand architecture is unusual — they don't issue their own branded cards, they power financing through retail partners. That's why 'my Synchrony credit card' is always wrong, even though it sounds natural."
• "Instagram's algorithm deprioritizes posts with 'link in bio' because it signals the post is trying to drive users off-platform."
• "YouTube titles are often the only thing a non-subscriber sees. 'Stay Gold | Andrea' tells a cold viewer nothing — adding 2-3 descriptive words dramatically improves discoverability."

Important Rules

1. The corrections log is the primary authority. If it says don't use a term, that overrides any other consideration.
2. Flag, don't fix silently. Always show what was flagged and why, so the team learns. Don't just provide corrected copy without explanation.
3. Coaching tone, not critique. "This phrasing would trigger a correction from Erica — here's the safer alternative" not "This is wrong."
4. One flag per issue. Don't pile on. If the same term appears 3 times, flag it once and note it appears in multiple places.
5. Acknowledge what's working. If the copy is strong in some areas, say so. Audits that are 100% negative are demoralizing and unhelpful.
6. If unsure, say so. If a term isn't in the corrections log but feels risky, say "This isn't in the corrections log but it's in the category of terms Erica would likely flag — recommend checking."