So, you’re seeing too many of those “
how to” and
list headlines, and want to try a few different angles?
9 D) Y6 v5 k+ z+ J$ m# ?Let’s move beyond those common headline formulas you see over and over, and add some new blood to your attention-grabbing arsenal.
7 u( ?3 M4 L) i- q& f' y9 `1.
Who Else Wants [blank]?5 }% q1 M8 w8 M9 s6 i4 R+ l( G
Starting a headline with “Who Else Wants…” is a classic
social proof strategy that implies an already existing consensus desire. While overused in the Internet marketing arena, it still works like gangbusters for other subject matter.
/ C4 ^1 H+ t% X4 I0 }# L7 ^$ Q- Who Else Wants a Great Blog Template Design?
- Who Else Wants a Higher Paying Job?
- Who Else Wants More Fun and Less Stress When on Vacation?
2.
The Secret of [blank]
! V& E6 p( y: u: n7 B* xThis one is used quite a bit, but that’s because it works. Share insider knowledge and translate it into a benefit for the reader.
# L- g4 r* Z6 y) W5 \1 J- The Secret of Successful Podcasting
- The Secret of Protecting Your Assets in Litigation
- The Secret of Getting Your Home Loan Approved
3.
Here is a Method That is Helping [blank] to [blank]! E0 w' l" ]7 b+ l& _6 `$ H/ [
Simply identify your target audience and the benefit you can provide them, and fill in the blanks.
: U' ~ i& f5 U( y$ l% Q: k- Here is a Method That is Helping Homeowners Save Hundreds on Insurance
- Here is a Method That is Helping Children Learn to Read Sooner
- Here is a Method That is Helping Bloggers Write Better Post Titles
4.
Little Known Ways to [blank]9 I% e5 T" U. j" S6 N2 F
A more intriguing (and less common) way of accomplishing the same thing as “The Secret of…” headline.
3 p& ~" M; p5 x' M- Little Known Ways to Save on Your Heating Bill
- Little Known Ways to Hack Google’s Gmail
- Little Known Ways to Lose Weight Quickly and Safely
5.
Get Rid of [problem] Once and For All
! C5 ~ w7 H; c" UA classic formula that identifies either a painful problem or an unfulfilled desire that the reader wants to remedy.
: V1 o+ F4 f, Y) e: E: I! f1 m
- Get Rid of Your Unproductive Work Habits Once and For All
- Get Rid of That Carpet Stain Once and For All
- Get Rid of That Lame Mullet Hairdo Once and For All
6.
Here’s a Quick Way to [solve a problem]. ]3 b, i6 S0 I. Z3 Q, T" a% a
# n) R6 D8 O$ q& M) EPeople love quick and easy when it comes to solving a nagging problem.
- E9 c- D" b1 b) P3 M- Here’s a Quick Way to Get Over a Cold
- Here’s a Quick Way to Potty Train Junior
- Here’s a Quick Way to Backup Your Hard Drive
7.
Now You Can Have [something desirable] [great circumstance]
# A; j6 k1 |0 J& W- z+ _The is the classic “have your cake and eat it too” headline — and who doesn’t like that?
. \1 |8 u7 e8 h' z* u, X
- Now You Can Quit Your Job and Make Even More Money
- Now You Can Meet Sexy Singles Online Without Spending a Dime
- Now You Can Own a Cool Mac and Still Run Windows
8.
[Do something] like [world-class example]2 W" ]& B3 G6 q/ g5 U& s8 S* B
Gatorade milked this one fully with the “Be Like Mike” campaign featuring Michael Jordan in the early 1990s.
9 a2 `% w: v V# M# J
- Speak Spanish Like a Diplomat
- Party Like Paris Hilton
- Blog Like an A-Lister
9.
Have a [or] Build a [blank] You Can Be Proud Of
& y8 }1 ? b9 c' ]5 H9 ZAppeal to vanity, dissatisfaction, or shame. Enough said.
( {* F4 v9 O5 }0 v- Build a Body You Can Be Proud Of
- Have a Smile You Can Be Proud Of
- Build a Blog Network You Can Be Proud Of
10.
What Everybody Ought to Know About [blank]5 t! p7 f) a* [! o3 y. `) ~
Big curiosity draw with this type of headline, and it acts almost as a challenge to the reader to go ahead and see if they are missing something.
1 y- v* N6 V( h
- What Everybody Ought to Know About ASP
- What Everybody Ought to Know About Adjustable Rate Mortgages
- What Everybody Ought to Know About Writing Great Headlines
Find these headline templates useful?
Bookmark this page at del.icio.us for future reference.
