Headline Writing Can Lead To Fortunes: Here Are The Basics Of Writing Headlines
Headlines attract attention. Headlines generate interest. The time spent writing headlines can pay you back many times over.
Do you have a product or service to sell? How do you attract new customers, clients, prospects, leads or patients?
Most likely you attract them through the written word in some sort of advertising, articles, or press release. In each case you need a headline.
In fact, every printed document you publish should have a headline on it. Yes, even including your business card, if you have one!
So, what should go in your headline? Below are seven headline ideas that have proved profitable in the past. Remember the goal of the headline is to stop your reader dead in their tracks and get them to read further in to your sales copy.
1). Answer the question, "What's In It For Me?" Offer the reader a big benefit or promise of they continue reading. Here are a few examples:
* The Secret of Making People Like You
* Who Else Wants A Screen Star Figure?
* You Can Laugh At Money Worries - If You Follow This Simple Plan
* How to Win Friends and Influence People
The promise can be either explicit or implied, but it must be clear to the reader.
2). Tightly target your headlines. Don't write your headline to everyone. A headline written to everyone in reality is written to no one. Grab the attention of a very specific target audience by mentioning them by name. Here are some examples of tightly targeted headlines.
* To People Who Want To Write - But Can't Get Started
* To Men Who Want TO Quit Work Someday
* For the Woman Who Is older Than She Looks
* CAR Owners ... Save ONE GALLON OF GAS In Every TEN
* GIRLS...Want Quick CURLS?
* Attention Small Business Owners: Why Doesn't Your Advertising Work? Finally, You Can Stop Wasting Good Money On Useless Advertising! FREE Report Reveals How To Get More Customers In A Month Than You Now Get All Year - Guaranteed! Call 1-877-232-9362, Toll-Free, 24 hr., For FREE Recorded Message Now!
3). Do you have something new and exciting to offer? Try writing headline like these:
* New Cake-Improver Gets Your Compliments Galore!
* Great New Discovery Kills Kitchen Odors Quick! - Makes Indoor Air "Country Fresh"
* Announcing... The New Edition Of The Encyclopedia That Makes It Fun To Learn Things
* Announcing The New FORD CARS For 2006
* Breakthrough Money-Making Secrets That Sex Sites Do Not Want You to Find Out About - Uncovered And Revealed Inside!
* Breakthrough Internet Marketing Group Uncovers The Secrets To Getting Rich On The Web Using Simple Math Strategies!
4) Got a quick and easy solution to a problem? People are always looking for faster and easier ways to do things, so let them know.
* Headline Creator Pro Software Generates 100 Winning Headlines Quickly With Push-Button Ease!
* PLAY GUITAR In 7 Days Or Money Back [Note: Quick and easy is implied]
* Hands That Look Lovelier In 24 Hours - Or Your Money Back
* How I Improved My Memory In One Evening
* How A New Kind Of Clay Improved My Complexion In 30 Minutes
* Here's a Quick Way to Break Up a Cold.
* How To Take Out Stains... Just Follow These Easy Directions
* Here's What to Do to Get Rid of Pimples Fast
5) Ask a question, especially one that can't be answered by "yes" or "no." When a question can't be answered by "yes" or "no" the reader will generally continue reading to discover the answer. The human mind hates to be left wondering about the answer to a question. Pose a question and the human mind will work to find an answer.
* Can You Talk About BOOKS With The Rest Of Them?
* How Much Is "Working Tension" Costing Your Company?
* Do You Make These Mistakes In English?
* Five Familiar Skin Troubles - Which Do You Want To Overcome?
* Which Of These $2.50 to $5.00 Best Sellers Do You Want For Only $1.00 Each?
* Who Ever Heard Of A Woman Losing Weight - And Enjoying 3 Delicious Meals At The Same Time?
* Whose Fault When Children Disobey?
* Can You Pass This Money Test?
6) Write a hook into your headline to get your reader to continue reading.
* WARNING: Don't Pay For Another Ad Until You Read This Message!
* WARNING: Don't Join An Affiliate Program That Doesn't Meet The Following Criteria!
* Using A Lawyer May Be Dangerous To Your Wealth
* The Truth About Getting Rich
* The Most Expensive Mistake Of Your Life
* How The Next NINETY Days Can Change Your LIFE
7) Put a guarantee in your headline to increase trust.
* Guaranteed To Go Through Ice, Mud or Snow - Or We Pay The Tow!
* Hands That Look Lovelier In 24 Hours - Or Your Money Back
* PLAY GUITAR In 7 Days Or Money Back
* Hot Fresh Pizza Delivered Right To Your Door In 30 Minutes or Less - Guaranteed!
Writing headlines doesn't have to be hard. It just takes a little time and practice, so sharpen your pencil and let's get to work.
George Dodge has been working on the Internet since December 1994 and has developed, and served as webmaster for, numerous government and commercial websites for the past ten years. Two of his commercial sites focusing on copywriting include Winning Website Sales Letters that that is a great resource for entrepreneurs and webmasters trying to write Web Copy to sell on the Web and http://www.Headline-Creator-Pro.com which is a software site where you can get your copy of the amazing headline generating software tool that enables you to create winning headlines quickly with push button ease. Headline Creator Pro can generate 100 winning headline ideas in just 17 seconds flat!
 Google News Updated : Wed, 15 Oct 2008 17:58:10 GMT It's officially over: Madonna and Guy Ritchie are divorcing - New York Daily News
New York Daily News - BY LEO STANDORA Madonna's marriage to Guy Ritchie really is kaput , her rep told the Daily News on Wednesday. "Madonna and Guy Ritchie have agreed to divorce after 7 l/2 years of marrige," Liz Rosenberg said in a statement. Video: AP Exclusive: Madonna, Guy Ritchie to Divorce It's Official: Madonna And Guy Ritchie To Divorce Publ.Date : Wed, 15 Oct 2008 14:56:56 GMT AMR Plan to Buy 787s Will Update Fleet, Bolster Boeing Program - Bloomberg
Bloomberg - By Susanna Ray and Mary Schlangenstein Oct. 15 (Bloomberg) -- AMR Corp.'s American Airlines said it may buy as many as 100 Boeing Co. AMR overcomes fuel costs to squeeze out small profit AMR 3Q Net Down 74%, To Buy Up To 100 Dreamliners Publ.Date : Wed, 15 Oct 2008 17:24:10 GMT Polls: McCain forced to play defense in some red states - CNN
CNN - HEMPSTEAD, New York -- New polls out Wednesday in some crucial states that could decide the race for the White House suggest Sen. John McCain is having to defend himself in areas that once were reliably Republican. Union sues over policy banning political material at polling places Pollsters say odds of McCain winning election 'incredibly remote' Publ.Date : Wed, 15 Oct 2008 16:34:00 GMT Jerry Jones exposed as gutless by Goodell's ruling - FOXSports.com
FOXSports.com - by Ian O'Connor Ian O'Connor is the author of the New York Times bestseller "Arnie & Jack: Palmer, Nicklaus, and Golf's Greatest Rivalry," which Kirkus Reviews calls an "exemplary sports history. Video: Dallas' Adam Jones Suspended Again Give Cowboys credit for not counting on Adam 'Pacman' Jones too much Publ.Date : Wed, 15 Oct 2008 16:52:30 GMT Obama’s spending how much on ads? - Christian Science Monitor
Christian Science Monitor - By Jimmy Orr | 10.15.08 It’s been a week of non-surprises thus far. Dallas Cowboys cornerback Adam “Pacman” Jones has been suspended - again. McCain calls for 'voter fraud' inquiry A stolen election? Publ.Date : Wed, 15 Oct 2008 16:03:33 GMT Migraine-hit Janet Jackson to resume US tour - Reuters
Reuters - By Alex Dobuzinskis LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - A rare form of migraine forced Janet Jackson to cancel several dates on her Rock Witchu concert tour but she planned to return to the stage on Wednesday in Washington, DC, her manager said. Jackson was laid low by migraines Janet Jackson: She's Baaaaack* Publ.Date : Wed, 15 Oct 2008 17:02:47 GMT Hurricane Omar gains strength and nears Puerto Rico - Reuters
Reuters - By John Marino SAN JUAN (Reuters) - Hurricane Omar strengthened on Wednesday as it bore down on Puerto Rico and the small islands of the northeastern Caribbean, and could be a "major" storm by the time it reaches them, US forecasters said. Omar on the Move. Paloma Next? Hurricane Omar heads for US Caribbean islands Publ.Date : Wed, 15 Oct 2008 16:12:36 GMT Increase Search Engine Traffic |
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