Jeffery's Tweets



LifeTips Home
Marketing/Promotion
Copywriting Tips
Copywriting Guru
Copywriting Blog
1. Introduction
Advertising Principles
Answer User Questions
Before You Begin
Benefits & Features
Copywriters Checklist
Creating Urgency
Guarantees
Headlines
Placing Ads
Proven Response Strategies
Testimonials
Testing your Ads
Web Content Writing
Writing for Ezines
Writing Techniques
Writing Techniques 2
Your Offer
Copywriting FAQs

Bookmark This Site
Keep up with our Tips


Tip of the Day RSS Feed
Fresh Copywriting Tips Daily

Sponsor Program
Our tips are powerful.
Our writers are experts.
Our results are guaranteed.
 

Listen to our Radio Show
Hot topics for both consumers
and webmarketers
on WebmasterRadio.FM

Every Wednesday, 4PM Eastern.
 



Types to Avoid

John Caples outlines these headlines that failed when tested:
"The Trouble with Many Married Men is..." (Life Insurance ad)
"Letters Wives Donīt Write to Their Unsuccessful Husbands" (Business Training Course ad)
"Iīll never Give Another Party," She Sobbed (Book of Games for Parties ad)

They are all poorly used curiosity headlines. Only experienced copywriters should write and use curiosity headlines. None of the headlines gives any news. None of the headlines contains an offer of a benefit that appeals to the readerīs self-interest. They are all negative.
6.5 6.5
Save Tip Comments Tip Rating



News

News headlines are the second most successful. A news headline is powerful because everyone listens to news. News is NEW. Examples:

"Breakthrough Treatment for Dandruff"
"New Safety Features for Cars"
"New Therapy Improves Child Behavior"
6.4 6.4
Save Tip Comments Tip Rating

Never Use Your Business Name

It may be a hard one to accept as we all love our business and itīs name, but Never use your business name as an advertisement headline. Sure, at times you may see a huge billboard with Coca-Cola, but they spend millions of dollars on their image and advertising. Most times, companies of that size also place a huge emphasis on the benefits of using their product.

In general, most people are not interested in our business name or logo. They want to know what your business can do for them. "Bugsī Restaurant" would be a very poor choice for a headline. "Enjoy Eating Fresh Delicious Seafood at Bugs Restaurant," is a much better choice.

Why? Because the headline offers several benefits: Enjoy, Eating, Seafood and Fresh. "Bugs Restaurant" offers no benefit at all. People, in a hurry, tend to rush through headlines and ignore those without any interest or appeal. Even if Bugs is well- known it needs to offer benefits in its headlines.
6.4 6.4
Save Tip Comments Tip Rating

Attention

The headline is the most important part of any ad. This doesnīt mean you can write lousy copy in the rest of the ad and expect to make money. The headline is the most important part because it either grabs or loses a readers attention.

You may have the best offer in the world and great copy, but if the headline is no good then no one will have any reason to read further. Work hard at learning to write "attention grabbing" headlines.
6.4 6.4
Save Tip Comments Tip Rating

Warning!

I strongly suggest that you stick with writing Self-interest headlines. They are the most effective, so use them. News and curiosity headlines are good but should only be attempted by experienced copywriters and carefully tested. A curiosity headline can be a winner but the down side is that it doesnīt actually offer a benefit. Very good body copy needs to accompany a curiosity headline.
6.3 6.3
Save Tip Comments Tip Rating

Curiosity

Curosity headlines are the third best option. They work because a readers curiosity is aroused so they are compelled to read further. Examples:

"Is Your Accountant Trustworthy?"
"Does this Habit Inflict Your Marriage?"
" I bet You Canīt Answer This Question?"
6.3 6.3
Save Tip Comments Tip Rating

Self Interest

Copywriters who have tested ad campaigns for many years have noticed that three categories of headlines get the most results. Firstly:

Self-Interest headlines are the most effective. These types of headlines focus on benefits that interest the readers. Everyone is interested in things that make life easier or appeal to their desires. Examples:

"Make an Extra $2000 a Month"
"Discover the Secrets of Successful Investors"
"Increase Cash Flow Into Your Business"
"How to Attract New Customers"
6.2 6.2
Save Tip Comments Tip Rating

Do Not Steer Clear of Negative Headlines

Most of the time people in the marketing world will tell you to steer clear of negative headlines for your marketing pages. Tuth be told, negativity could be one of the best weapons in your writing arsenal. This is not true all the time, of course, but which of these headlines would you find more appealing?



  1. 5 Things Everyone Should Know About Health Insurance

  2. 5 Things Your Health Insurance company Doesn't Want You To Know


I know I'm not alone in saying that I would love to find out why my insurance company has been screwing me for the past 13 years. Just make sure when you use a negative headline for your article that the content delivers the goods or you will end up with some very unhappy readers.
3.0 3.0
Save Tip Comments Tip Rating



Learn more about our Exclusive Program we offer our clients.


 
LifeTips is part of ideaLaunch, the hub for a group of websites offering
solutions that help clients improve mind share, market share and profit online.
Privacy Guaranteed.
Satisfaction Required.