10 Explosive Headlines For Superior Sales Results

When you go to the supermarket and stand in line at the checkout counter, do you clans over at the magazines and tabloids to entertain yourself while you wait? I do. I’m a sucker for the headlines because they command attention, make your point quickly across, and prep your prospect for your story.
Think of your headline as a two by four plank of wood. You want to get someone’s attention with it. Do you casually say,”Hi, take a look at my two by four.” or do you play like Babe Ruth and make a home run across the side of your head.
Now don’t get me wrong, some headlines will have to be subtle, depending on the character of the product and the demographic of the market. But, I’ll tell you now; if a headline doesn’t get my attention, it’s not much of a headline to me.
“Britney Marries Bat-Like Creature!” That’s a headline. How about this one? “Is Your Family Prepared If You Died Today?” That’s a headline with a serious tone but not a screamer. Your headline must tell your story in 3 seconds or less.
There are different styles for different purposes but the goal is still the same. Make your headline fit on one line. Remember the headline “Got Milk?”
Appeal to the reader’s interests. Use your headline to point out a problem the reader has or something you know the reader feels strongly about. Headlines aren’t a good place to list the features of your product or service. Instead, headline the benefit the feature provides.
From time to time, use quotes to enclose your headline. This is more appropriate when the headline asks a question or allows the reader to imagine a distinctive voice. Studies have shown that headlines get better results if they’re enclosed in quotation marks.
Here are Ten Explosive Headline Tips
1. The Question Technique. “Will Your Deodorant Pass The Stress Test?” The question headline speaks directly into the mind of the reader. The prospect becomes intimately involved in the dialog.
2. The Testimonial Technique. The more others tout your product or service, the better your credibility will be. “My Teeth have Never Been Whiter!”
3. The Commanding Technique. These are the classic quotes; such as “Just Do It.” or “Fly the friendly Skies.” They tell you to do something but sound very confident in their assertion that what they tell you is good for you.
4. The How-To Technique. If you were looking for the best way to fix an expensive vase and you ran across this headline, “How to fix an Expensive Vase-” would you stop and pay attention to the article or ad? The How-To Technique is geared to a narrow market.
5. Breaking News Technique. Hit your target market right between the eyes with this one. This is the headline that tells your prospect that something exciting is happening – or about to happen.
6. The Conspiracy Technique. This appeals the secret information that the ad will disclose to the reader. “The Hidden Meaning Behind Body Language.” This technique is great for information products.
7. FREE offers Technique. Many people are interested are looking for a great deal. Make the offer eye catching and unbeatable. The offer should be almost too good to be true. “We deliver in 30 minutes or you don’t pay.”
8. Deadline Technique. This one appeals to the Scarcity principle. If the reader is in need of the product, they can only get it for a short time. For example; “For This Weekend Only!” Use this tactic when you really are offering a product or service for a limited time.
9. The Revenge Technique. You may have seen this one in a similar form; “They laughed when I told them I was ordering in French, But when the waiter came..” This one is the story of the underdog. The story usually garners interest in how it turns out.
10. The Declaration. This kind of headline that tells us something that is taken as fact. “Winston Tastes Good Like A Cigarette Should”; or “Virginia is For Lovers”. We know that cigarettes don’t taste good. They might have another appeal and who knows if Virginia really is for lovers or not? The sentence is very strong and authoritative; therefore commands attention.
People are busy and will find time to notice things that stand out from the crowded field of information vying for their attention. You will need to make the headline like a movie trailer to attract the right viewer.
Make the headline punchy and include subheads and bullets whenever possible. Keep your copy clean and to the point. Don’t insult the intelligence of your reader; if you make a claim in your headline, back it up. There’s nothing worse than getting someone’s attention and then disappointing them. You can push the limits of credulity with headlines as long as you can justify it in the copy.