Personal Development For Winners

photo: Joe Shlabotnik

If you have not read my previous article, The Power Behind Magnetic Headlines, visit: http://www.dominictay.com/blog/the-power-behind-magnetic-headlines.

I strongly recommend you to read the article before this.

Why?

Because until and unless you recognize and see the importance of writing magnetic headlines, you will not be willing to spend the amount of time and effort that is necessary on writing the most important element of your salescopy.

Now, you must be wondering, 'why a witch' in the picture above? Well, it is because I have given the 7 Ways to writing headlines an acronym, F.A.T  H.A.G.S, and the definition of a 'hag' is an ugly, evil-looking old woman. Read on...

To help you understand better, I have broken down this article in 3 smaller parts, each of them covering 4 ways to writing effective headlines.

So what are the 7 ways to writing headlines to be read? Read on...

The 7 Effective Ways to Writing Headlines

photo: INeedCoffee

1. Filter

Having a bad flu?
Learning how to drive?
Drivers!
Singles!

This approach of writing headlines acts as a filter that only appeals to people who fall under the category you are calling out to.

If your salescopy is promoting a guide to teach drivers how to master driving in less than 7 days, it is very unlikely that the copy will appeal to people who has little or no interest in learning how to drive.

"So by using this 'Filter' approach of writing headlines, you are trimming away the part of the fat off the meat that you don't want."

By writing headlines using this approach, you are most probably going to get lesser responses. However, the responses that you will get, will be more laser-targeted.Why do you need this? Simply because...

"The more targeted your customers are, the lesser refunds you get, the better prospect to customer conversions you will have."

photo: brainware3000

2. Attention Grabbers

Introducing!
Finally!
Warning!
Caution!
Danger!

This approach of writing headlines is known to make eyeballs turn simply because of their power to grab our attention. Writing headlines using this approach works best by leading with words that suggests danger.

Writing headlines this way brings upon a feeling of fear to the reader. And it is with this element of possible danger that keeps the reader's attention long enough for them to read the salescopy in entirety.

In fact, a good example is the chain emails rampant in the late 1990s. Remember the period of time where you received emails or mobile phone messages that states things like: "If you do not forward this email to 7 other friends, you will lose all your friends the very next day!"

This certainly appealed to many of my friends because I ended up having to clear my emails every day instead of the usual 'per week'.

If you could write headlines using this approach effectively, you will definitely gain a lot of attention (mostly negative) because many people would claim that your headline wasted their time. But hey, they did finish the salescopy, didn't they? As long as that's the outcome you desire, why not?

A while ago, I saw this leading paragraph that I thought was well written:

"You're about to discover the terrifying-truth about commercial dog food that is linked to the deaths of thousands of dogs across the US every single day..." - Abstract from TheDogFoodConspiracy.

photo: fabbio

3. Truth

The Big Fat Truth Behind The Slimming Industry...
Discover The Truth Behind The Dog Food Industry...
The Truth Behind Commercialized Foods...

Writing headlines this way offers a sense of curiosity and draws the reader into a story of mystery. I used this approach of writing headlines on my first salescopy and it drew in a considerable amount of traffic.

photo: Ben+Sam

4. How-To

How To Be A Millionaire In 10 Days
How To Write - For Those Who Want To But Can't Get Started
How To Sing And Mesmerize Your Audiences As If You Were The American Idol

This classic approach of writing headlines is used in the famous classic, How To Influence Friends And Win People. And until today, it is probably the most common and still effective approach of writing headlines around.

photo: Mat Culpepper

5. Reasons

10 Reasons Why Just An Apple A Day Won't Keep The Doctor Away
7 Reasons Why Most People At Dead And/Or Dead Broke At Age 65
3 Reasons Why Buying The Lottery Makes You More Broke

By using this approach of writing headlines, explain why your product/service is the best approach to solving their problems.

photo: borrowed time | demi-brooke

6. Ask

When Is The Last Time You Brushed Your Teeth Like This?
Why Pay More When It's So Cheap?
What's Your Take On This?

Writing headlines using this approach encourages readers' involvement and engages them to 'realize' something that they probably overlooked. You might want to use this approach to create curiosity which will drive your readers to want to find out more...

7. Suggest

Use This The Next Time You Get A Backache
Stop Headaches With This New Drug!
The Next Time You Have A Flu, Don't Forget This...

Using this approach in writing headlines suggests your product/service as an alternative for their current problems.

Congratulations!

We have just completed the 7 Effective Ways to Writing Headlines That Will Be Read. Congratulations!