Back to basics today…
For us entrepreneurs, the key to more of the things we want in life – time with family, paid off mortgage, college tuition for the kids, vacations, new car – is more sales at a good margin. And the key to that is delivering more value to more of our best prospects.
So how do we make that happen?
Well, assuming we have something awesome to offer, the old saying applies:
“Doing business without advertising is like winking at a girl in the dark. You know what you are doing but nobody else does.”
And the key to a great ad is a great headline.
So does that mean writing a great headline will bring you success and happiness?
Well, that’s up to you, but without a doubt, a results-getting headline for a trade journal ad, email subject line, YouTube video, sales letter or web page can make a big difference in getting traffic, closing more deals and taking home a bigger chunk of cash at the end of the month.
Here then are five of the top tried-and-true fill-in-the-blank formulas for writing a good headline:
1. ________ [Number] ways to eliminate ____________ [Problem] almost instantly
2. Who else wants ________ [Problem solved, desire satisfied]
3. How to ________ [Solve a problem, satisfy a desire, do something interesting]
4. They all laughed when I started ________ [Doing something cool, yet ambitious] until I [Actually did, or implied doing the cool thing]
5. Secrets of ________ [Somebody intriguing]
6. (Bonus) Weird ________ trick: How to ________ [Do something cool]
And here are some examples:
1. Five ways to eliminate stubborn shower mold almost instantly
2. Who else wants to cut their electric bill in half?
3. How to travel Japan on a shoestring
4. They all laughed when I took up golf, until they saw my scores…
5. Secrets of a billionaire currency trader
6. (Bonus) Weird tomato gardening trick: How to grow juicy red tomatoes even in the dead of winter
Legendary ad writer Gary Halbert said, “The solution to pretty much every problem in life is a really good sales letter.”
With a great headline you’re half way to the bank.
To your wild success,
– Mike
