Compliance Checker SkillCreated by Rob Palmer — direct-response copywriter ($523M+ tracked). Source & updates: https://github.com/robpalmer99/claude-code-copywriting-skills Free under CC-BY-4.0. Attribution requested when redistributed.
This skill checks direct response copy (ads, landing pages, VSLs, emails) against platform compliance rules. Built on real-world compliance knowledge from practitioners who've been banned 300+ times and learned what actually triggers rejections.
The goal: catch compliance issues BEFORE your ad gets rejected or your account gets banned, while preserving persuasive power through compliant rewrites.
Step 1: Classify the Copy
Before checking anything, determine these four things. Ask the user if unclear.
Copy Type
- Ad (primary text, headline, description, video script)
- Landing page (bridge page, pre-sell, PDP)
- VSL script (video sales letter transcript)
- Email (broadcast, sequence, autoresponder)
- Advertorial (native content, editorial-style)
Platform
- Meta/Facebook (strictest — deep rules below)
- Google Ads (medical claims ban, bait-and-switch enforcement)
- TikTok (commercial disclosure, biometric imagery ban)
- YouTube (more lenient — before/afters allowed)
- ClickBank (affiliate network rules, income claims)
Product Category
- Supplement / ingestible (HIGHEST scrutiny on Meta — extra fine-tooth comb)
- Ecom physical (post-purchase surveys, page score penalties)
- Digital product (lower scrutiny — no post-purchase surveys)
- Coaching / service (income claim sensitivity)
Note: Digital products with physical upsells may be reclassified as ecom.
Funnel Position
- Front-end ad (strictest rules)
- Landing page (strict — product must be visible, exit nav required)
- Upsell page (more leniency — countdown timers, urgency, aggressive language OK post-purchase)
Step 2: Load Trigger Words Reference
Read references/trigger-words.md for the consolidated table of trigger words and compliant substitutions.
Step 3: Phase 1 — Checklist Audit
Run through each category. Report PASS / FAIL / WARN for each.
The 9-Point Compliance Checklist
1. Personal Attributes
- No "you" or "your" assuming the viewer has a condition (ecom/supplement ads)
- No questions implying problems ("Are you struggling with...?" = implies they have the problem)
- No singling out demographics ("women's metabolism" = personal attribute)
- No calling out conditions ("if you have diabetes" = implies they have it)
- Uses third-person framing where needed ("Many Americans..." / "Most people...")
Why this matters: Facebook considers implying you know the viewer's personal attributes (age, medical conditions, body type, financial status) a violation. Change "you" to "I" when describing pain, or use third-person framing.
Compliant patterns:
- "Many Americans are looking for ways to..." (third-person)
- "I used to struggle with..." (first-person story)
- "People working on problem areas..." (general group)
Non-compliant patterns:
- "Are you struggling with...?" (implies they have the problem)
- "If you have diabetes..." (calls out condition)
- "Women over 40 who..." (singles out demographic + age)
2. Sensational & Negative Language
- No banned negative words: ruin, destroy, kill, wreck, terrible, worse, disgusting, bad, harmful, detrimental, damaging, wipe out, butcher
- No scare tactics ("If you don't take X, you'll decrease your lifespan")
- No shocking, violent, or fear-based content
- No negative imagery descriptions (sad faces, red spots on bodies, weapons)
- Positive/neutral framing throughout
Compliant substitutions: impact, change, support, help, balance, manage, affect, influence
3. Medical & Health Claims
- All health claims use softening words (helps, supports, can, may, promotes)
- No definitive claims ("grow hair" → "help support hair growth")
- No "X results in Y days" (timelines + outcomes = definitive claim)
- No disease names used directly (diabetes, Alzheimer's, dementia, cancer)
- Scientific claims reference studies if made
- Testimonials include "results may vary" asterisk
The softening rule: NEVER use health verbs without a modifier. "Regulate blood sugar" is a claim. "Helps support blood sugar" is compliant.
Required modifiers: helps, supports, can, may, promotes, aids in, assists with
Disease name workarounds:
- "Diabetes" → "type two" (without the word "diabetes")
- "Alzheimer's/dementia" → "memory," "brain health," "brain fog"
- "Cancer" → cannot mention, must reframe entirely
- "Arthritis" → "joint health," "joint comfort"
4. Income & Financial Claims
- No guaranteed income promises
- No specific earnings claims without disclaimers
- Uses "revenue" not "earnings" where possible
- No "lifetime" access (ClickBank ban)
- Reflects actual/typical effort required
Compliant income language:
- NOT: "Let me show you how to generate XXX leads at $5 a pop"
- OK: "My unique process makes generating XXX leads for $5 possible"
- NOT: "Guarantee passive income"
- OK: "Potential income opportunity with effort and attention"
5. Before & After
- No before/after side-by-side images (Facebook ban)
- No zooming into body parts (makes users feel self-conscious)
- Compliant alternatives used if showing results
Compliant alternatives:
- First-person success stories on camera (influencer style)
- Customer testimonials describing specific benefits (text, not images)
- Product demonstration videos
Note: YouTube ALLOWS before/afters. This rule is Facebook-specific.
6. Open Loops & Clickbait
- No unresolved open loops (even if closed in body, headline can't leave them open)
- No multi-click curiosity chains / information gates
- Product name visible in post text, headline, or video watermark
- Ad accurately reflects landing page content
The open loop rule:
- NOT compliant: "Watch now to discover 5 foods that accelerate arthritis" (open loop)
- Compliant: "We reveal what foods to avoid below" (resolved)
- NOT compliant: "Find out what the 3 most effective ways to lose weight really are" (hidden behind noun)
- Compliant: "Three effective ways to manage weight" (direct statement)
7. Trigger Words
- Check all copy against
references/trigger-words.md - All flagged words replaced with compliant alternatives
- Softening modifiers present on all health/medical verbs
8. Landing Page Elements (if reviewing a landing page)
- Product info visible without watching VSL (viewer can determine what's sold by scrolling)
- VSL does not auto-play (looping GIF OK if not first 2 seconds of video)
- Exit navigation present (hamburger menu, header links, footer links)
- Homepage is legitimate (not just 2-page blog — needs substance, privacy policy, ToS)
- No fake countdown timers or fake scarcity
- Disclaimers present (privacy policy, return policy, ToS)
- "Results may vary" on testimonials
- Scientific claims have citation + full study reference at page bottom
9. Ad-to-Page Consistency
- Visual consistency (same logo/watermark across ad and page)
- Same messaging vibe (viewer feels they're in the right place)
- No bait-and-switch (ad claims match landing page content)
- Same root domain (no redirect chains to different domains — common ban reason)
- Go direct to brand URL (no affiliate-style redirect links)
Step 4: Phase 2 — Line-Level Flagging
Go through the copy line by line. For each issue found:
### Issue N [SEVERITY]
> "The exact problematic text quoted here"
**Rule:** Which compliance rule this violates and why
**Rewrite:** A compliant alternative that preserves persuasive power
Severity levels:
- HIGH — Likely rejection or account ban. Must fix before running.
- MEDIUM — Risky, could be flagged depending on reviewer. Should fix.
- LOW — Minor concern, could be flagged in stricter review cycles.
Prioritize issues by severity. HIGH first, then MEDIUM, then LOW.
Rewrite rules:
- Preserve the persuasive intent of the original
- Use compliant substitutions from
references/trigger-words.md - Maintain the copy's voice and rhythm
- The rewrite should be drop-in ready — same approximate length, same tone
Step 5: Compliance Score
After both phases, calculate:
Scoring: Start at 10. Subtract 2 per HIGH issue, 1 per MEDIUM, 0.5 per LOW. Floor at 0.
| Score | Rating | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| 8-10 | Ready to run | Minor or no changes needed |
| 5-7 | Needs fixes | Address flagged issues before submitting |
| 0-4 | Major rewrite | Significant compliance issues — rewrite required |
Output Format
## Copy Classification
- Type: [ad / landing page / VSL / email / advertorial]
- Platform: [Meta / Google / TikTok / YouTube / ClickBank]
- Product: [supplement / digital / ecom / coaching]
- Funnel position: [front-end ad / landing page / upsell]
## Phase 1: Checklist Audit
| # | Category | Status | Notes |
|---|----------|--------|-------|
| 1 | Personal Attributes | PASS/FAIL/WARN | [brief note] |
| 2 | Sensational/Negative Language | PASS/FAIL/WARN | [brief note] |
| 3 | Medical/Health Claims | PASS/FAIL/WARN | [brief note] |
| 4 | Income/Financial Claims | PASS/FAIL/WARN | [brief note] |
| 5 | Before/After | PASS/FAIL/WARN | [brief note] |
| 6 | Open Loops & Clickbait | PASS/FAIL/WARN | [brief note] |
| 7 | Trigger Words | PASS/FAIL/WARN | [brief note] |
| 8 | Landing Page Elements | PASS/FAIL/WARN/N/A | [brief note] |
| 9 | Ad-to-Page Consistency | PASS/FAIL/WARN/N/A | [brief note] |
## Phase 2: Line-Level Issues
### Issue 1 [HIGH]
> "quoted text"
**Rule:** explanation
**Rewrite:** compliant alternative
### Issue 2 [MEDIUM]
> ...
## Compliance Score: X/10
[Ready to run / Needs fixes / Major rewrite needed]
## Summary
- X HIGH issues, Y MEDIUM, Z LOW
- Top priority fixes: [numbered list]
- What's already compliant: [brief note]
Platform-Specific Rules
Meta / Facebook (Deep Coverage)
The 7 Deadly Sins of Facebook Ads
- Implied negative attributes — assuming you know the viewer's problems
- Sensational/shocking language — scare tactics, violent imagery, death language
- Withholding information — clickbait loops that never deliver
- Definitive medical claims — "X results in Y days," guaranteed outcomes
- Before/after imagery — side-by-side body comparisons
- Personal attributes — singling out gender, age, condition
- Negative language framing — ruin, destroy, kill, wreck, terrible
Meta's 3-Tier Review System
| Tier | What They Check |
|---|---|
| 1. The Ad | Claims, sensational language, personal attributes, clickbait, accuracy to landing page |
| 2. Landing Page | Product visibility, VSL auto-play, exit nav, disclaimers, fake urgency |
| 3. Post-Conversion | Feedback surveys to purchasers (ecom only); low scores = penalty |
Digital vs Ecom Scrutiny on Meta
| Factor | Digital Products | Ecom / Supplements |
|---|---|---|
| Post-purchase surveys | No (automatic delivery) | Yes (feedback score) |
| Page score penalties | No | Yes (below threshold = automatic penalty) |
| Ingestible scrutiny | N/A | Extra fine-tooth-comb |
| Reclassification risk | Yes, if physical upsell | Default |
| Overall scrutiny | Lower | Higher |
Compliant Headline Rewrites (Meta Examples)
| Non-Compliant | Why It Fails | Compliant |
|---|---|---|
| "Are you struggling with high blood sugar?" | Personal attribute + disease name | "Many Americans are looking for ways to help support balanced glucose levels" |
| "Regulate erratic blood sugar with XYZ" | Definitive claim ("regulate") | "XYZ helps support erratic blood sugar" |
| "Why a spare tire increases death risk" | Sensational + scare tactic | "How does a spare tire impact health?" |
| "The ideal way to stabilize weight" | "The ideal" = only way | "An ideal way to support weight management" |
| "These 5 foods ruin women's metabolism" | Personal attribute + negative word | "Discover how 5 foods impact metabolism" |
| "Avoid these 5 foods at all costs" | Scare tactic + negative | "5 foods that may impact digestive health" |
| "If you don't take X, you'll gain weight" | Scare tactic + "you" + definitive | "How X may help support weight management" |
Facebook vs YouTube Comparison
| Element | YouTube | |
|---|---|---|
| Before/afters | Banned | Allowed |
| Zooming into body parts | Banned | Allowed |
| Aggressive claims | Heavily restricted | More lenient |
| Scrutiny level | High (especially ingestibles) | Lower |
| Language tone | Must be positive/neutral | Can be more direct |
Google Ads (Light Coverage)
- Prohibited: medical claims, "free trial," "miracle cure," "unproven remedy"
- All claims must be supported by scientific evidence
- Bait-and-switch: Landing page must align perfectly with ad
- Consequences: Immediate account suspension without warning; potential permanent ban
- Google is less nuanced than Meta — they tend to ban first, ask questions never
TikTok (Light Coverage)
- Mandatory commercial content disclosure for all promotional posts
- Claims must be proven with in-frame disclosures
- Medical props or "biometric imagery" banned
- Hormone-related keyword ads removed
- Supplement advertisers must show regional certification before approval
- More focused on disclosure requirements than language policing
YouTube (Light Coverage)
- More lenient than Facebook — before/afters allowed, more direct claims
- Same FTC rules apply — no deceptive claims, income disclaimers required
- Many things banned on Facebook are fine on YouTube
- Still: no outright false claims, no medical diagnosis language
ClickBank (Light Coverage)
- Never use "lifetime" for lifetime access
- No personalized coaching/services claims that cannot be delivered at scale
- Cannot claim specific income from techniques taught
- Reasonable assumption: Average person can achieve supplemental income with effort
- Sales pages must clearly explain what customers receive
- Salesmanship encouraged, but do not over-embellish
FDA Language Rules (Health/Supplement Specific)
For health and supplement copy, FDA rules apply on top of platform rules:
- Cannot claim to treat, cure, diagnose, or prevent any disease
- Structure talk is OK: Describe anatomy and body functions ("supporting healthy liver function")
- Function talk is OK: "Helping brain function in a healthy way"
- Conditional language required: "may," "can," "helps support"
- Abstract nouns safe: Happiness, wellness, vitality, freedom (cannot be measured = cannot be disputed)
Specific FDA language flags:
- "High blood sugar" → use "erratic blood sugar"
- "Blood sugar spike" → use "blood sugar fluctuations"
- "Managing your blood sugar" → use "sustaining your blood sugar"
Pro tip: Read FDA warning letters — they show the exact language the FDA does not like. These are essentially a cheat sheet for what to avoid.
The Compliance Philosophy
Compliance is a creative constraint that produces better copy. When you cannot rely on hype, you need:
- Better stories
- Stronger mechanisms
- More credible proof
- More nuanced emotional appeals
The best modern DR copy is MORE sophisticated because of compliance. Smart copywriters treat compliance as a competitive advantage — those who understand it can scale while others get banned.
The golden rule: Write for conversion, then edit for compliance. Do not let compliance thinking kill the creative process — get the persuasive draft right first, then run it through this checklist.
Being compliant and being persuasive are not mutually exclusive. The best copy does both.