HOW TO CREATE A CAPTIVATING HEADLINE

Copyright 1998 By Bob Leduc

You're reading this article because the headline captured your attention. It sparked your desire to know more about creating headlines. That's the mission of an effective headline. It captures the reader's attention and provides a compelling reason to read whatever follows.

The headline is the most important part of any ad or sales letter. It determines whether or not people will read your message. You may have the best written copy in the world but you've wasted your time if your headline doesn't excite readers enough to read your message.

Here are some examples of effective headlines I found in the classified ad section of a popular website:

* Lose 15 Pounds In 30 Days... And Keep It Off * Submit Your Ad To 200 Websites With 1 Mouse Click * Instantly Increase Your Orders By 29% * How To Make $2,000/Month At Home With Your Computer * Discover How To Reduce Your Fuel Bills By 43%

Each of these headlines clearly states the benefit I can expect to get from the product, service or business opportunity promoted in the ad under the headline. If I am interested in gaining the benefit, I cannot resist reading the entire ad to find out more.

A SIMPLE FIVE STEP PROCEDURE

I've used the following 5 step procedure many times to create powerful headlines. It's simple and easy to follow. Even someone without special talent, skill or previous experience can use it to create a captivating headline.

STEP #1. Define in writing the ideal prospect you want to capture with your headline. Be sure to include the characteristics that make your product or service valuable to this prospect.

STEP #2. Personalize this ideal prospect by visualizing them as one person you want to attract with your headline. Keep this vision of one person in your mind whenever you're writing a headline. Your ad or sales letter will be read by one person at a time. Therefore, you'll find it easier to produce an effective headline by visualizing just one person and writing to that person.

STEP #3. Determine the most valuable benefit this person will gain from the product, service or business opportunity promoted in the message under your headline.

STEP #4. Write as many one sentence statements as you can about this benefit. Use one or more of the words from the following list in each statement. There are many other power words you can use in your headlines. However, many years of trial and error have taught me these 12 are the most effective:

You, Free, New, Guaranteed, Fast, Easy, Discover, Proven, How-to, Save, Increase, $7953 (any exact amount of money)

STEP #5. Select the most powerful statement on your list. If you have several that seem equally powerful, try combining them into one statement and use that as your headline.

That's it! You've just created a powerful headline to capture your reader's attention and provide a compelling reason to read whatever follows your headline.
Here are some examples of effective headlines I developed using this 5 step procedure.

* Easy Way To Increase Your Sales 60% or More This Month! * Discover How You Can Reduce Arthritis Pain FAST! * You Can Earn 50% More Commissions This Year - Guaranteed! * How To Save $1,329 On Your Next Printing Job! * NEW Free Report: 10 Proven MLM Recruiting Ads YOU Can Use * How To Build Your Small Business FAST - Guaranteed!

Use this simple 5 step procedure the next time you want to create a captivating headline. It's easy to follow and you'll create a powerful headline to attract your reader's attention and compel him/her to read your ad or sales letter.

Bob Leduc retired from a 30 year career of recruiting sales personnel and developing sales leads. He is now a Sales Consultant. Bob recently wrote a manual for small business owners titled "How to Build Your Small Business Fast With Simple Postcards" and several other publications to help small businesses grow and prosper. For more information... Email: BobLeduc@aol.com  Subject: "Postcards". Phone: (702) 658-1707 (After 10 AM Pacific time) Or write: Bob Leduc, PO Box 33628, Las Vegas, NV 89133