In the fast paced world of the internet, if your headline doesn't grab and hold your reader, your terrific copy/article/webpage will NOT be read.
It's not an exaggeration to say that without a killer headline, subject line, or title -you're dead in the water.
Follow these 7 guidelines to create attention-grabbing, compelling headlines! 1.
Answer a burning desire: What desire, pain, or problem does your product solve? Creating your headline around an emotional state in your customer is pretty compelling.
For instance, if I'm desperate to lose weight, I will click on "New Science Promises Significant Weight Loss", or "How I lost 50 pounds in 30 days".
Of course, the copy that follows will prove the promise of the headline.
2.
Create urgency: If winter is coming soon, I will be interested in snow shovels.
If flu season is around the corner, I'll be more likely to read and article or product that prevents the likelihood of my catching it.
"Get Your Free Flu Shot Now- Flu Season is Just Around the corner!" - you get the picture.
3.
Begin an intriguing story: This is an interesting way to attract customers without directly selling a product (that comes later in the body of your copy).
Think of what your product does, and a story that relates to it.
Let's say your product is a cat condo.
Your story could begin, "Remember playing hide and seek when you were little? " - and flow into the cat's playful experience in her new condo.
4.
Promise an easier solution: Everyone comes to the Internet for simpler, easier solutions.
If you can promise that your product or service saves time or frustration, or even money lost in payroll- you've got it made.
Examples: "The Lazy Way to Build Your Nest Egg", or "See How Easily You Can Learn a Foreign Language".
5.
Be quirky: Think of the email piling up in your mailbox, or the Google results when you search tooth whiteners.
You can make your headline stand out from the crowd with personality.
Think sassy, quirky, irreverent...
or funny! 6.
Give something away: Using the word "Free" in your headline, as long as it's a desirable product, works like a charm.
Just make sure the click throughs are in the middle and end of the copy to keep your visitor reading.
And of course, your free offer should relate to your company's products or services.
7.
Optimize your headline for search engines: If you can combine any of the methods above with keyword and keyphrase optimization, you're golden.
This may cause a shift in word placement.
i.
e.
"Article Marketing: 7 Steps to Optimize Your Copy" instead of the more traditional "7 Steps to Optimize your Article Marketing Copy".
If you can sprinkle the keyphrase in your copy, that's even better.
It takes some effort, but with practice you can apply these methods to create attention getting headlines, titles, and subject lines.
If you don't have the time or patience to write your own headlines, a professional web content writer can be a valuable asset.
A good web content writer can optimize your website copy through tone of voice, formatting, and SEO.