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How many of these ideas are you using?

Headlines are the gateway to your website, blogs, newsletters, e-shots, social media posts, advertisements or any other promotional piece.

Ineffective headline? The result will be fewer readers and sales.

So the question is: how to write better headlines?

“On average, five times as many people read the headline as the body copy. When you have written your headline, you have spent eighty cents out of your dollar.” ~ David Ogilvy

When I was 26, I landed a job as a trainee copywriter. For the next three years, my boss would disembowel my words every single working day, with a blunt red pen. Ouch!

We spent a great deal of time talking about headlines.

Marketers, comms specialists, sales professionals, politicians, charities and business owners live and die by their headlines.

Here are 26 headline writing tips for you:

  1. An effective start for your headline is:   How to…
  2. Are you using questions in your headlines?
  3. Write about what you deliver, not just what you do
  4. Include a benefit statement
  5. An emotional appeal outsells a logical approach
  6. Create pictures inside the reader’s head
  7. Use positive language and never be negative
  8. Include numbers, i.e. “7 ways to save money”
  9. How long will they have to wait?
  10. Talk in the language of your audience
  11. Write several versions, before you select your headline
  12. It is OK to write long headlines as it only takes a moment to read them doesn’t it?
  13. Include precise facts and figures, if you have them
  14. Study advertisement headlines
  15. Avoid superlatives regarding your fantastic and amazing product or service
  16. Help, don’t just sell
  17. See your headline from the reader’s perspective
  18. Provide proof
  19. Be bold
  20. Where appropriate, convey a sense of urgency
  21. Don’t Use Leading Capitals As They Are Harder To Read
  22. Avoid humour in headlines; they won’t all get the joke
  23. Ask whether the reader has a specific problem?
  24. Don’t be vague
  25. Don’t make the reader think too hard
  26. Ensure that your message is clear

Oh yes and tip #27: Employ a professional copywriter (like me, for example). I can be reached via email: nigel@nigeltemple.com or call me on this number: 01628 773128

Or I can train you in the art and science of copywriting: https://copywritingtraining.pro

I have written over three million words of copy for thousands of clients and I love to write.

Which reminds me, tip #28: don’t be shy and retiring. 🙂

Nigel Temple

Author Nigel Temple

Nigel Temple is a marketing consultant, speaker, trainer and writer. Topics include: AI / ChatGPT, Marketing strategy, Digital marketing, SEO, Copywriting, Mailchimp. Nigel is available to hire for a consultancy meeting, training workshop, speaking event or marketing project. Email: nigel@nigeltemple.com Or call Nigel on: 01628 773128

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