Sales & Marketing Authority, Bestselling Author & Business Motivational Speaker

Headlines are the KING of Sales Copy

I have a secret to share with you regarding the sales copy you are writing. When your reader first sees your copy, he is going to scan it for headlines, subtitles, and bulleted point lists. If he likes what he sees, he may or may not go back to the beginning and read the rest. Therefore, your headlines are the key to success. Poorly written headlines will lead to insufficient sales – I guarantee it.

So, what can we do to make our headlines more attractive and inviting? Below are a few things that I keep in mind when writing my own sales copy.

• Include numbers in your headlines. The numbers may be representative of any variety of things: the amount of weight a person will lose; the amount of money they can expect to make; or the number of chances they’ll have to participate in a certain event. People are drawn towards numbers, and the more intriguing the better.
• Talk about the benefits of your product or service. Simply state the benefits as part of your heading or as the titles for your subsections. People want facts that they can easily see or pick out of your writing. If the facts you present are interesting enough, they’ll read on for details. If they don’t see a viable list of benefits right off the bat, they’ll probably move on to someone else’s product.
• Use exciting words and phrases. For example, the phrase “jump-start” is much more interesting than simply “beginning” when applied to a new career, job venture, or lifestyle plan. Use creative and colorful adjectives and verbs to make your headlines stand out on the page.
• Ask a question in your headline. We all love finding answers. If your question is intriguing, your reader will stop to wonder why he never thought about your subject from the perspective of your question. He’ll then read on to see how you answer the question – and hopefully you’re providing excellent details about your product or service within that answer.
• Teach people how to do something. We love “how to” questions and answers. The more detail you can give me when it comes to “how to” complete a task, find information, or achieve a goal, the better. Headlines with “how to” verbiage are often more successful than any other style.
• Don’t try to be cute. Make sure your headline is succinct and to the point, including at least one major keyword related to your niche. A witty headline will mean nothing if it doesn’t say anything about your product or service.

I truly believe your headlines and subheadings are the most important elements of your sales copy. If your headlines are boring, you’re going to drive business away before you even have a chance to make a sale.  Remember – headlines are KING!

Happy Copy Writing!

Sean

Sean McPheat

Marketing Consultant - Internet Marketing Consultant - Sales Expert