In the world of marketing, your first impression – your headline – can lead to either sales success…or failure. It’s important to realize that headlines work best when they appeal to your reader’s interests (not yours).
Not only can headlines grab attention, they can also make your message easy to read, convey your main selling points, and lead your customer to a sale. Remember, you want to go for a bold statement that the reader can’t pass up!
Here are 9 easy headline formulas I use all the time:
1. The Question:
“Are You Worried About Your Financial Future?”
A question automatically gets your readers involved in your message, because they answer it in their minds. Many people will read further just to find out what answer or solution you provide. Again, make sure the question focuses on the reader’s interest, not yours. A bad example would be: “Do You Know What New Product We’ve Created This Year?” (No one cares but you!)
2. The How-To:
“How to Get Thinner Thighs in 30 Days”
How-to headlines work very well, because people love information that shows them how to do something. (Thousands of book titles begin with “How to….”) Think of the results your product/service offers and then try creating some “how to” headlines.
3. The Testimonial:
“Jane Smith’s Consulting Is Pure Magic – Our Sales Have Increased by 30%!”
Why not let your clients do the selling for you? Their commendations can go a long way in convincing others to use your services. Tip: To appear credible, always include your clients’ information (as much as they are comfortable with) such as name, city, state, business name, etc.
4. The Command:
“Boost Your Business Today!”
Turn your most important benefit into a commanding headline. A few examples are: “Make More Time for Your Family,” “Look Younger Instantly!” and “Get New Clients This Month.”
5. The News:
“Introducing Our New ‘Rest-Assured’ Tax Service!”
Caution: This only works if you truly have something big to announce that is of interest to the reader. (Something that will make their life or business better.) Don’t try to make news out of something that’s not.
6. The Promise:
“Give Me 3 Days, and I’ll Show You and Your Partner How to Have the Relationship of Your Dreams”
I first used this formula years ago with my Online Success Blueprint Workshop sales page, and then I suddenly started seeing it everywhere, especially for other live events. It’s a good one!
7. The Secret:
“REVEALED: How Any Solopreneur Can Use Email to Leverage Their Business and Make an Extra $5,000+ a Month… Easily and Consistently”
Everybody loves being let in on a little secret. I’ve used variations of this headline through the years, and it’s always been very effective. It says it all…who it’s for, what they’ll learn, and what type of results they can get if they use my methods.
8. The Number:
“7 Secrets of the Super-Wealthy That You Can Start Using today to Build Your Own Portfolio of Riches”
People love numbers. That’s why you see so many magazine covers promoting articles like “The 3 things your husband’s not telling you” and “101 great fashion finds for spring”. Numbers tell us exactly what we’re going to get, making the statement more digestible and believable. (And some studies show people prefer odd numbers to even ones.)
9. The Who-Else:
“Who Else Wants to Work at Home in Their Pajamas and Make a Million?”
This encourages the reader to jump on the bandwagon. If everyone else is doing it, don’t you want to also?
Take Your Time With Headlines. They’re Not Always Easy
Headlines are often the most difficult part of any sales letter or marketing piece. In fact, I typically spend a good 15 minutes brainstorming before I arrive at a single headline. Set a timer and have fun doing it with these formulas. Do not censor yourself, just be outrageous and then when the timer goes off go back and see which ones are usable. If you’re stuck, another trick is to write the rest of your piece first. Then scan what you have written—your headline may be hiding within!
Question: What great headline are you using for your business right now? I’d love to see it below. ~Ali
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© 2014 Ali International, LLC
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