| In part 1 we covered the importance of writing a | | | | may just say "No... I love the gym" and never read |
| great headline to grab your readers attention & | | | | on. |
| get them to read your article in full. | | | | The 'Order' Headline... Do it now! |
| Now we take a look at other ways of developing | | | | "Act now and save £1000 on your insurance this |
| your headline style. | | | | year!" |
| You need to think about your audience. Who is it | | | | Giving a command focuses attention on a desired |
| that you are writing for? | | | | action that you want the reader to take on reading |
| For gossip and entertainment? | | | | the article. |
| For those looking for financial advice - facts and | | | | What ever style of headline you choose... make sure |
| figures? | | | | that you 'Deliver' |
| For someone looking for exercise or health | | | | What I mean is, if you suggest that you are going to |
| information - reliable and assuring? | | | | tell them the solution to the problem, in the headline, |
| For those browsing for ideas and pastimes? | | | | you must give that solution in the article or at least |
| Who are they and what are they looking for? | | | | tell them where the reader must go to find the |
| Answering these two questions will set you on the | | | | solution. |
| right route to plan and write an article that will | | | | Don't refer to something in your headline and then |
| capture their attention... and from this you can then | | | | not mention it in the article. This leaves the reader |
| style the headline. | | | | confused and cross... they'll feel cheated and won't |
| For example say that you're writing an article aimed | | | | trust you or read your articles again! |
| at someone who is searching for the right mortgage. | | | | Add Value to your headline |
| That person will look for 'facts', 'figures', 'surveys' and | | | | Turn an 'ok' headline like "How to write a good |
| even maybe a case study that they can identify | | | | headline" into a great one "Get your articles read - |
| with. The language will be business like & | | | | Writing headlines that GRAB!" |
| authoritative. Anyone reading would not expect lots | | | | Short and sweet. |
| of jokey thoughts and gossip in the article. On the | | | | 7 words is a good guide. If you've got more to say |
| other hand if you are writing your article aimed at | | | | then put it in a sub-headline. |
| someone searching for news on their favourite pop | | | | Need some more ideas... here are some words and |
| star, gossip, jokes and light frothy sentences will hit | | | | run-ins that'll help to attract readers attention: |
| the mark. | | | | - Activate, Achieve, Affordable, Amaze, Amazing, |
| You've got 5 seconds! | | | | Avoid, |
| When writing your headlines remember that you only | | | | - Best, Breakthrough, Banish, Bounce back from ..., |
| have about 5 seconds to grab your potential readers | | | | Beginners guide to..., (the) Best & Worst ways |
| attention. | | | | to ...., Budget, |
| If they scan the list of headlines and yours doesn't | | | | - Captivate, Create, Cash in on..., Complete guide to ..., |
| 'pop out' you've lost them forever. | | | | ..... on the Cheap |
| Here are a few more styles that can help you to | | | | - Discover, Discovery, Deliver, ..... Dreams come true, |
| write a great headline. | | | | - Eliminate, Essential, Energise, Essential elements, |
| The 'Testimonial' Headline | | | | Exciting, |
| "I used 'XY's' formula B ... now I earn $ssss and have | | | | - Formula, Fantastic, |
| financial freedom" | | | | - Great, Gigantic, Guaranteed, Gain the..., Get the |
| Testimonials are very powerful, when they sound | | | | edge..., Good news when...., |
| believable. Use them to help you sell a new product | | | | - How to ..., Hidden secret ..., Hot tips on..., |
| or idea. | | | | - Incredible, Ingenious, Impossible (to miss), |
| The 'News' Headline - Make an announcement | | | | - Just out..., Judge for yourself..., |
| "It's here at last! The breakthrough in internet | | | | - Kill, Killing, |
| marketing has arrived" | | | | - Love, Loveliest, Looking for..., Longing for..., (the) |
| A great way for announcing new products and | | | | Last word on..., |
| services, making the reader feel that they're in at the | | | | - Master, Mastering, Must have, Must-know, |
| beginning. | | | | - No more, New, Newest, Never .... again, No-fail guide |
| Also you may have noticed that I didn't say 'what' it | | | | to...., |
| was... so you add an element of curiosity in the | | | | - Outrageous, Outrage, One time offer..., |
| headline too. | | | | - Powerful, Profit from, Perfect (solution, birthday |
| The 'Formula' headline - tell them 'how to' | | | | gift, holiday,etc) |
| "Follow these 3 simple steps to increase your writing | | | | - Quick guide to, Questions & Answers to..., |
| speed" | | | | Questions that you must ask about...., |
| How often are you looking for the solution to the | | | | - Results, Revealed, Revelation, (the) Real...., Read this |
| problem? Well if the headline tells you that you can | | | | before...., |
| find the solution in just 3 simple steps... aren't you | | | | - Simple, Simplest, Secrets, Scientific, Shocking, |
| going to want to read 'what' those simple steps are? | | | | Special report...., Strategies for..., Straight answers |
| Often these headline begin with words like "How to" | | | | about..., (the) Solution to..., |
| ... "how to loose 5lb's in 1 week... with just 5 minutes a | | | | - Ten Quick Tips, Tips, Tricks, Time-tested, Tactics, |
| day". The secret is that the headline suggest that the | | | | Top, Techniques, Thrifty |
| solution will be revealed in the article. | | | | - Unbelievable, User-friendly ways to..., Unleash, |
| The 'Question' Headline | | | | Unlimited, Unique, |
| "Do you hate the Gym? - How to have a gym | | | | - Value added, Valuable, |
| workout without ever stepping inside one again" | | | | - (7) Ways to..., What's HOT and What's NOT in..., |
| The secret to this type of headline is to pose the | | | | When to ... and when not, (the) Worst thing you...., |
| question that you know most people will answer in a | | | | - You must try this...., You need to know how...., |
| certain way... then you suggest that the answer will | | | | I'm sure you'll begin to think of hundreds of variations |
| be given in the article. When writing this sort of | | | | and improvements.... start writing them down now... |
| headline... you need to be sure that the majority of | | | | and when you see a good headline... adapt it for your |
| your readers are going to agree with you ... or they | | | | use. |