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Headlines Online -- 7 Ways To Use Powerful Headlines Profitably On The Web
 by: Robert Boduch

Are you applying proven principles to ALL your headlines?

If not, you're missing a golden opportunity to build your business. A strong headline can make a huge difference in the offline world of marketing. But it works just as well online.

In this article, I'll reveal 7 ways to utilize the power of headlines online.

To achieve online marketing success, you need to promote your most appealing and unique competitive advantages. Take those advantages and turn them into a persuasive message and convey this message to the right prospects.

Marketing is all about communication... and the more effective your communication, the more success you'll enjoy.

But your primary task is to first and foremost -- attract an audience. That's the job of all headlines online and off. Headlines serve to both draw attention and inspire interest. Following are 6 ways you can cash in on the powerful, magnetic-appeal of headlines in your online marketing activities.

Headlines Online #1: Web Sites. Every web site can be made more effective by leading off with a benefit-packed headline. In fact, every page of a site can be improved this way. If you want visitors to spend some time exploring your page, tell them right up front the reasons they should stay. Do this in the form of a headline. Tell your site visitors what each page offers in an exciting way that appeals to their own self-interest.

Headlines Online #2: Signature Files. In most exchanges with prospects via e-mail, you can benefit by adding a sig file to your outgoing messages. Signature files can also be used at the bottom of articles, reports and discussion group postings.

Compelling headlines have much more impact. They give the reader (your prospect) an opportunity to take additional action to further strengthen the relationship between the two of you (potential buyer & seller). The best signature files are difficult for prospects to resist and usually feature a strong offer.

Headlines Online #3: Banner Ads and Pop-Up Windows. What good is a banner or pop-up if it doesn't inspire visitors to point and click? Yet, most are woefully inadequate as compelling messages that trigger action.

Though many banners and windows provide a call to action, often they don't give a strong enough reason for prospects to do so. Plant a seed of possibility. Deliver a huge promise. Tell your prospects what you can do for them. Tell them precisely what the get on the other side of the click.

Think of your banner or small pop-up window as a miniature billboard. It jumps out on the landscape as prospects travel the web. Now think about what it is that would make your ad, banner, or pop-up window more appealing. It's not the artwork, but the words that motivate action. Create a headline that not only stops prospects in their tracks, but one that also moves them to follow through with action.

Headlines Online #4: Discussion Board Headings. Visit any discussion forum and what's the first thing you see? It's the headings of course. A list of subject headings acts as an index where visitors can click and choose whatever messages they want to open and read.

Subject headings are colorful, active links that take visitors directly to the full post.

What headings enjoy the highest click-through rates? It's those that appeal, intrigue, interest, or arouse a little curiosity in readers. In short, the best headlines attract more prospects.

Another key factor is the name of the person who authored the post. Well-known contributors who tend to post information of value naturally draw more attention. But without name recognition, your best bet is to write a headline that's difficult for visitors to ignore.

Here's an example from a post I wrote a few months ago: How To Defeat Procrastination Forever and Easily Finish Your Book In Less Than 2 Weeks - Guaranteed!

Headlines Online #5: Discussion Board Links. Links that follow informative posts are another opportunity for you to deliver a power-packed headline. Most discussion boards allow you to post a link with each message. Those that don't make this provision, usually allow a signature file as an alternate to a live link.

Links stand out visually, due to their contrasting color and underscored appearance. As a visual siren, they provide an ideal opportunity to deliver a message with punch -- one that drives traffic to your chosen page. Again, the most effective links are interest-inspiring headlines.

Headlines Online #6: Email Subject Lines. Here's how to make sure your message gets noticed -- turn your subject line into a mini-headline.

Subject lines are the first thing email recipients see, in addition to the return address. You don't have a lot of room here, just enough for a small handful of words. So choose your words carefully. It's your first and perhaps only chance to convince the recipient to open your message, instead of trashing it.

Avoid common advertising words used by mass mailers. Personalization can be very effective - but only when your reader recognizes you as a valuable source of wanted information.

Headlines Online #7: Titles Of Articles, Reports And Ezines. Give provocative, attention-grabbing titles to all your writing. Add interest and intrigue to draw more readers.

Give your work headings that make readers want to know more and you'll pull them into the body of your articles and reports. As a consequence, they'll also learn more about you and your products and services.

Use your titles to hint at the secrets you have to reveal, or your new, evolutionary technique that will save money, time, or energy. Offer new information or a major benefit that would be of great interest to your prospects. The stronger your titles, the more powerful the pull.

More resources at www.makeyoursalessoar.com

About The Author Robert Boduch is an author of dozens of best-selling books, reports and articles on the art and science of selling. A free newsletter targeted at anyone interested in selling more of anything is available at www.makeyoursalessoar.com service@makeyoursalessoar.com

5 Reasons Why Headlines Are Crucial To Your Website’s Success
 by: Robert Boduch

With such visual and sequential prominence, it's little wonder why headlines are the number one key to an effective web site.

Without a powerful lead, your message stands little chance of being noticed in an increasingly competitive marketplace. If your headline doesn’t capture attention and pull prospects into your sales copy, than your marketing effort is a total waste of energy and resources.

Nothing is more important to getting your message noticed than the first few words on a page. If you’re not allocating a sizable percentage of your time and creative effort to the headline used on each page of your website, you could be losing out on a large chunk of business.

Top copywriters understand this concept well. They know how essential it is to capture attention by literally stopping pre-occupied prospects in their tracks. It's the reason why headlines command so much of their collective creative effort.

Here are five good reasons why your site headlines deserve greater emphasis and attention:

Why Headlines Are Crucial #1: Headlines Are Natural Attention Getters.

The majority of online prospects are quick scanners. No one reads the body copy of a page without first reading and being pulled in by the headline. Headlines are the first thing your visitors see. They jump out visually and command attention. Headlines are leads set distinctly above the rest of the text. Often the typeface, size, and style used for headlines contrasts with that uses in the body copy. It’s a proven approach that naturally attracts eyeballs, virtually forcing interested prospects to grasp the message of the headline and to read on.

According to advertising legend David Ogilvy, 5 times more people read headlines than body copy. Although Ogilvy was talking about print advertising in general, the observation is certainly applicable to websites as well. With 5 times the readership, headlines have the power and capability to make any message many times more successful.

Why Headlines Are Crucial #2: Site Headlines Serve As Valuable Guides To The Busy Surfer.

Headlines reveal key details. They tip off readers as to what follows. They provide clear signals to help readers decide whether they should stick around for the full message, or dash off to something else – something better suited to their own special needs and interests. As a quick summary of the entire piece, the headline either attracts continued interest and readership, or they repel it. Without a headline, the reader is forced to wade through a portion of the text to understand the meaning. Forcing readers to do this is to risk losing them altogether. It’s sales suicide. In effect, having no headline will cost you at least 80% of your potential audience.

Why Headlines Are Crucial #3: Headlines Prepare The Reader For What Is To Come.

Headlines stimulate interest. They captivate, arouse curiosity and stimulate the desire for more. It’s the headline that starts the reader’s motor running. A good headline sets up a feeling of expectation as the reader anticipates discovering more -- and can’t wait to get it!

Successful headlines address specific audiences. They open prospects minds to new possibilities and expand their level of enthusiasm and interest. The best headlines involve prospects... virtually guaranteeing their sustained attention for the time being.

Why Headlines Are Crucial #4: Headlines Simplify The Learning Curve.

Every headline serves to introduce whatever follows. As an opening or lead-in, the role of the headline is to succinctly communicate the essence of the message it precedes in an interesting and compelling way. Effective headlines and sub-headings reveal key bits of information -- often with the added power of emotion. A review of the various headings alone can often provide one with the gist of a given message. This makes it faster and easier to understand, remember, and review. Use your headings to generate emotional involvement and you increase the chances prospects will go back and read more of your copy.

When you make it easier to read and comprehend your messages, you increase the chances of making the sale.

Why Headlines Are Crucial #5: Headlines Allow You To Deliver Your Biggest Bang Right Up Front.

Capture attention and interest at the outset, by using your most appealing selling point. If your strongest, most desirable product attribute (benefit) fails to pull prospects in, surely nothing else you could ever say would do the trick, either. They're your initial point of contact with visitors -- that's why headlines play such an important role.

The stronger and more compelling your headline, the more readers are likely to read on and spend more time at your website. Create every headline to grab attention and inspire interest. The more alluring and irresistible you can make it, the more genuine prospects you’ll attract and ultimately, the more sales you’ll record.

Headlines are powerful marketing tools when used effectively. Take a good look at your site headline. Could you add more intrigue, curiosity, or interest? Test different headlines by trying various appeals and offer combinations. Keep an eye out for additional headline opportunities throughout your sales letters, as well as on other pages on your site. Make your headlines impossible to miss and difficult to ignore... then, watch your results soar!

When you see the difference a strong opening statement makes, you'll see why headlines are the most important part of your sales copy.

More resources at www.makeyoursalessoar.com

About The Author Robert Boduch is an author of dozens of best-selling books, reports and articles on the art and science of selling. A free newsletter targeted at anyone interested in selling more of anything is available at www.makeyoursalessoar.com service@makeyoursalessoar.com

Make Or Break Headlines
 by: Larry B Lang

"Learn one FREE technique that INCREASES PROFITS by $1,000s or more in under two minutes!'

Did that headline grab your attention? Are you anxious to learn what this amazing free technique is?

Why, it's the headline itself!

You have one chance and one chance only to grab your audience's attention like our headline grabbed yours. If your heading doesn't draw readers in, odds are that they will never even get to the second sentence. Instead, they'll move on—right to your competitor.

A strong headline guarantees that you will never lose a visitor before they stop to learn more. More people stopping translate directly into more sales and more profits!

By keeping just a few key points in mind, you can start writing engaging, money-making headlines in minutes. The sooner you improve your headlines, the sooner you can enjoy the wealth that has been waiting for you inside them.

Key Point #1: Be Specific!

 Stand out from the competition!
 Real numbers and dollar signs attract the most attention.

Chances are you have some competition selling something similar to the same people you are targeting. Get ahead of your competitors by specifically telling customers what they have to gain—and lose—from you right upfront.

In our example headline above, we didn't simply say that our technique increases profits. Instead, we said it increases profits "by $1,000s." By adding this tiny detail, it immediately changed from a generic headline to an enticing offer.

It's easy to overlook the thousands of messages we come across each day. They all promise to create undisclosed amounts of money in undisclosed amounts of time. However, it's hard to pass by a headline promising to reveal how to make $1,000s in under two minutes. (This second headline detail drives home the idea that our technique is *really* fast!)

Leave the vague promises that everyone else is trying behind. Today, start to attract customers' curiosities with headlines full of concrete facts and figures.

Key Point #2: Choose Your Words!

 Choose positive ("winning") instead of negative ("not losing") language.
 Headlines should always be upbeat and inspiring.

Always keep your headlines positive, upbeat, and full of inspiration. By the time a visitor gets to the end of that very first line, they should not only want to keep reading—they should be *eager* and *excited* to keep reading!

Think carefully about how you word each portion of your heading. Focus on the verbs, or action words. How are you currently describing the action? How else could you describe that same action? Which wording sounds most attractive?

For example, say that you stay home to watch a football game instead of going out to the grocery store. You could describe your action in two ways: "staying home to watch the game" or "not going out to the store."

The former ("staying home to watch the game") is the more upbeat of the two and makes a better headline. It involves a positive action ("staying") and a positive result ("to watch the game"). In contrast, the second option involves a negative action ("not going") and a boring result ("to the store"). Negativity and boredom will not interest the reader, and they'll quickly be headed elsewhere.

Key Point #3: Longer Is Better!

 Never skimp on the critical first sentence.
 Highlight key points.
 Use a sub-headline if necessary.
 Four key questions your headline MUST answer.

In most writing, we are taught to be "short and sweet." In other words, to say as much as possible in as few words as possible.

Not with headlines!

You only have one sentence to hook a reader—make it count!

By the end of that first line, the reader should know what they stand to gain; how easily they can benefit; and how fast they can start benefiting!

Touch on as much of the following as you can:

- What your product is (i.e. "an e-book," "a technique")
- How it's used (i.e. "right from your browser," "effortlessly")
- What's required to use it (i.e. "less than two minutes of your time")
- Benefits from using it (i.e. "increases profits," "doubles memory")

Make the main ideas of your heading stand out! Pepper your headline with uppercase letters, underlines, italics, and/or bold text.

Too many important details? Consider adding a sub-headline. The real headline should include the most captivating points, but a sub-headline can add information to really seal the deal. When positioned close together, many readers can be "tricked" into reading both sentences right off the bat!

Your headline is ultimately what makes or breaks a sale. If it cannot capture your readers' attention, it cannot bring in sales. If you think your current headline is doing its job, think again. You'll be pleasantly surprised at how much success you'll enjoy—all from taking just two minutes to incorporate the above key points into your headlines.

About The Author Copyright 2006 Larry Lang All Rights Reserved. Lang Enterprises Inc. http://www.webworkingideas.com - This article may be distributed freely on your website, as long as this entire article, including links and this resource box are unchanged.