Capture the Attention of Your Readers with These 5 Proven Headline Formulas

Even if you dread the process of coming up with headlines, with the right formula, some headlines simply fall into place.

These proven headline templates have been used time and time again to sell everything from shoes to stocks.

Here’s how you can apply these proven formulas.

A Headline that Tells a Story.

A good story wraps you up in intrigue and curiosity – wondering what happens next.  Good copy should do that too.

Great headlines pull the reader in and make them want to know more.  Everyone loves a triumphant “underdog” story too – them against you.  You don’t just have to stick with the old “They laughed…” headline either – what about:

• They thought I couldn’t make six figured online, but when I made $320,405 my first year…
• They told me I’d never lose 50 pounds, but when I showed up in a bikini…
• Doctors swore I’d never cure my acid reflux, but my results showed…

Think about ways you can use to subtly persuade the reader into cheering for your success?

Provide Genuinely Helpful Information.

We’ve all heard about how your content should be useful, inspiring and motivating – but when the headline itself promises a benefit, it will compel readers to dive down even further to find out more:

• 7 WordPress Security Plugins You Need to Install NOW.
• Hidden Report Reveals 4 Surefire Ways to Pick Winning Stocks – Even in a Down Market
• How Wildlife Can Make Your Plants Grow Healthier and More Beautiful

Incorporate a Testimonial.

Good testimonials do half the selling for you, because they’re coming from a standpoint of someone who has experienced fantastic results from using your service.

If customers have left raving reviews about your product or service, tap into those reviews and use them as the basis for a headline, like so:

• How Our Largest Corporate Client Saved Over $125,000 Buying X from Us
• “My Conversion Rate Tripled Overnight – and I Got 22,000 New Subscribers This Week!”
• “In just days, I managed to take my blood sugar down from 180 to 86 – a diabetes miracle!”

Make Your Readers Visualize the Results.

One of the “golden oldies” of headlines appeared in a women’s magazine:  “Why Some Foods Explode in Your Stomach” Can you just see that happening?  Wouldn’t you want to know what’s causing it?  What are some ways that you can use visual words like “explode”, “crush”, “balloon” or other terms to help your reader see the result in their “mind’s eye”?

• How One Simple Tweak Caused My Website to Skyrocket to the Top of the Search Engines
• Refresh Your Office Space into a Zen Paradise in 3 Easy Steps
• 5 Life Lessons I Learned as a Survivor of Cubicle Hell

Ask a Question that’s Cause for Concern.

Asking a question by itself – like “Who Else Wants to…” is no longer enough. The web is saturated with these kinds of headlines.

Instead, give the reader cause for alarm by asking questions that startle them and persuade them to want to know more – just to be safe.

These kinds of questions are designed to make people ask themselves, “What does he/she know that I don’t?”

• Is Your WordPress Blog Safe from Hackers?
• Are Your Trees Safe from This Deadly Fungus?
• Is Your Life Insurance Truly Looking Out for You and Your Family?

Make sure to follow up on these headlines by writing solid, responsive copy that answers their questions, addresses their concerns and gets them actively involved in what you have to say.

And please share your opinion by leaving a comment below.

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