What Makes a Great Headline?
Headlines are far more important than the copy beneath them. If you don't use headlines within your chapter or in your Web site sales letters and article titles, you will lose your audience's attention in a few seconds. And, that's serious.
Apply These Top Ten Headline Ideas and Prosper
Your Headline...
1. Needs to compel and propel the skimmer to stay and go to sales copy beneath if on your Web site. Your book chapter headlines should lead your reader by the hand to what he wants to know. They can be questions or statements, but make them clear, and if possible, sizzle.
2. Must be attention-getting. Use emotion in your copywriting because people buy because they connect emotionally, not because they need something.
3. Make it benefit-driven--how your product or service will solve your audience's problem, concern, or challenge.
4. Make an irresistible offer. Most eBooks that sell well offer special bonus reports they attach at the end of the document. People often buy just because of the bonus such as my "How to Get Testimonials from the Rich and Famous" for my book on writing a book.
5. Make a wild promise and pay up. Most people don't like hype, but will notice your promises in your benefit statements. Back it up with the how when they read the copy beneath the headline.
6. Keep it simple. Some headlines go on and on to include many problems and benefits. Stick to a one line for the best results.
7. Include one top benefit. The top headline of your Web or email sales letter should taut your number one benefit of your product or service. Show the big result and wow your readers. They are looking for answers.
8. Build curiosity/suspense. Would this attract you? "Overcome Writers' Block with Snake Dancing?" Sometimes the improbable can hook your readers attention, and that's what you want.
9. Must be "you" centered.
Instead of saying "I can do this for you" write it "You will get this benefit when you..." Check out your home page. Does it need a lift? If it has a lot about you, your mission, and your bio, you have missed the mark.
10. Think before you write your headlines. Leave the lackluster ones behind. To announce his seminars, one client put "Upcoming Seminars" in the email subject line. Who cares? Entice your market to act by making a specific, benefit-driven headline.
To prepare for great headlines, start with a list of great benefits. Before you post, check with associates for their reactions. They are a sample of the groups and individuals you want to attract.
Judy Cullins ©2005 All Rights Reserved.
Judy Cullins, 20-year Book and Internet Marketing Coach works with small business people who want to make a difference in people's lives, build their credibility and clients, and make a consistent life-long income. Judy is author of 10 eBooks including Write your eBook or Other Short Book Fast, Ten Non-Techie Ways to Market Your Book Online, The Fast and Cheap Way to Explode Your Targeted Web Traffic, and Power Writing for Web Sites That Sell. She offers free help through her 2 monthly ezines, "The BookCoach Says...," "Business Tip of the Month," blog Q & A at http://www.bookcoaching.com/opt-in.shtml and over 170 free articles.
===============
Email her at Judy@bookcoaching.com. Phone: 619/466-0622 -- Orders: 866/200-9743
Having problems writing? I don't know why. San Francisco Chronicle... Read More
Taming the Book Proposal: The BasicsOh, that most maddening of... Read More
Story Structure Templates are the fastest way to write screenplays.... Read More
Writer's forums are bustling with debate over whether or not... Read More
I hate to admit this, but I rarely get an... Read More
There's a little known secret we writers like to keep... Read More
Griselda spent hours polishing up her resume. No detail was... Read More
Q. My writing sounds stiff and stilted. Help!A. Memories of... Read More
Creative Writing Tips ?Writing is a creative process and how... Read More
If Ben Franklin were alive today, he would be...uh, very... Read More
When I asked new ezine subscribers, "What is your Number... Read More
10 - You will always have a job. As long... Read More
IntroductionSometimes it may be beyond a companies or individuals budget... Read More
If you become a writer for any publication, private business,... Read More
Effective screenwriting relies on the good understanding and use of... Read More
You must write a hypnotic persuasion letter to help you... Read More
Have you ever started a creative writing project with great... Read More
You can create a great headline, a dynamic first sentence,... Read More
Creative Writing Tips ?What a plot is and what a... Read More
When one population in one century survived five wars, two... Read More
Writers are often are greatly surprised or disappointed by how... Read More
When I first started tracking the information preferences of people... Read More
As in all endeavors, toil is necessary to succeed and... Read More
Writing papers and book reports has long been the bane... Read More
Q: How do I expand on an idea without getting... Read More
1) Can you summarize the story in about a sentence... Read More
Business etiquette is fundamentally concerned with building relationships founded upon... Read More
People can't believe I did it, but I did. I... Read More
List-making is a favorite journaling technique and is often used... Read More
Authors need to write their book according to their target... Read More
Creative Writing Tips ?It should.A theme is a one-line explanation... Read More
There is a lot of confusion about recommendation letters.Recommendation letters... Read More
If you are reading this article then you probably have... Read More
Most writers are familiar with first and third points of... Read More
It's a good idea to use TextPad because all opt-in... Read More
To write books for readers at an elementary reading level... Read More
Eight or nine times out of ten, picking up and... Read More
What am I supposed to give Anthony as a wedding... Read More
If your dream is to get published, the chance is... Read More
1. SECRETS TO SUCCESS2. MAKING A POWERFUL FIRST IMPRESSION3. AVOID... Read More
Your query letter can be a deal maker or a... Read More
You must write a hypnotic persuasion letter to help you... Read More
Writers are an insecure lot.It's easy to understand why. You... Read More
Sailors had it for years. Great explorers had it as... Read More
Names are important. Names give clues about us, where we... Read More
Your computer is a writing machine, a word processor, a... Read More
In a crowded market, clients will be seeking personality as... Read More
Suspense novels, unlike any other genre, need fast starts. Fans... Read More
Sit back, and imagine what it feels like to be... Read More
Anyone who has read any of my articles on the... Read More
Some writers are just too kind.They hate to put their... Read More
Business etiquette is fundamentally concerned with building relationships founded upon... Read More
What to do when you get rejected.You've just finished your... Read More
SO YOU WANT TO BE A WRITER?Many people have entertained... Read More
In order to be successful with a newsletter, specialize in... Read More
If a writer considers writing to be a task, he/she... Read More
1. Before you write anything down define not what you... Read More
We writers are a powerful lot. We control time. We... Read More
Real Estate has "Location, location, location," and writing has "Clips,... Read More
Most people can easily identify with the dreaded "writer's block".... Read More
List-making is a favorite journaling technique and is often used... Read More
Choosing the wrong words can have a poor effect on... Read More
Finding the time to write a novel is one of... Read More
Do you know what a query letter is? If so,... Read More
The greatest gift you have to give to yourself and... Read More
Regardless of what sort of writer you are and how... Read More
Writing |