How responsible is the headline for the success of any piece of copy?
At least 90%!
I have proven over and over again the indispensible role a headline plays. How? By testing every style headline I could possibly create.
I’ve also invested over $100,000,000 of my own money on refining copy strategies along the way. Besides headlines, these include sub-headlines, opening sentences, closing sentences, the all-important P.S., and the offer.
But headlines are in a special category of their own. The fact is, without a strong headline, the copy simply will not work.
I have run numerous split tests, testing one headline against another. And it’s so important, presently I continue to run comparative headline tests.
Powerful headlines are, in fact, a big reason why I’ve sold over 6 Billion Dollars worth of products and services online and offline.
The fact is, I never “roll out” with an offer without several headline tests. Reason? With exactly the same body copy, the winning headline alone can pull 8 to 15 times compared to the losing headline.
But, in spite of all the evidence and proof demonstrating the crucial importance of a powerful headline, most completely miss the mark.
The majority of headlines are woefully inadequate. And, most surprising, many are written by experienced marketers and copywriters.
Like shortcuts? This article is about a real shortcut to creating perhaps the most powerful headline you could prepare.
I call it “the fill-in-the-blank method.”
I believe if you apply the simple steps which follow, you will increase your sales many fold.
There are 11 major headline types which I’ve identified. Each type, properly implemented, is extremely potent.
They are:
1. How to (Blank)
2. Secrets of (Blank)
3. Stacked Benefits
4. Problem/Solution
5. How to/Guaranteed
6. Get Benefit Fast, Regardless…
7. Solve a Problem…
8. Visualize it…
9. Ways To/Reasons Why
10. Problem Solver…
11. If…Then
Today I’m focusing on Problem/Solution. This method surprisingly is seldom used. But as you’ll see, it is extremely effective.
Here are several examples of a Problem/Solution headline:
*****
No More Butterflies! No More Fear! Learn the Tricks Pros Use to Speak with Ease to Any Size Audience!
*****
No More Wet Beds! An Amazing Technique from Europe for Training Your Child in Just One Week! Try it Risk Free – a 98.7% Success Rate!
*****
No More Bad Hair Days! Here’s a Proven Way to Maintain the Perfect Look Any Day of the Week!
*****
No More Lost Sales! Here is an Automatic System for an Effective and Timely Follow-Up
with Every Prospect!
*****
No More Job Worries! Here is a Proven Guaranteed No-Risk System to Earn Big Money in Your Spare Time Beginning Without Capital!
*****
No More Confusion About Vitamins! Here is a Proven Doctor Approved System that Provides an Individualized Program Just for You!
*****
Tired of Small or Sagging Breasts? Finally, a Natural Remedy for Stimulating and Tightening the Bust – Guaranteed!
*****
Are you beginning to get the idea?
The strategy behind the Problem/Solution technique is this.
No more (major pain or anxiety.) Here’s a quick and easy (remarkably simple, little-known etc.) way to (achieve the ultimate benefit.)
Your correspondent,
Ted Nicholas
—————
“This article appears courtesy of THE SUCCESS
MARGIN, the Internet’s most valuable success and
marketing e-zine. For a complimentary
subscription, visit http://www.tednicholas.com/
Filed under Ted Nicholas, copywriting by on Jan 31st, 2010. Comment. 
That’s the beginning line from the theme song for a children’s TV show I used to watch when I was a kid – Why Don’t You…?
They used to show you how to do cool things, which I no longer remember (was it really that long ago?).
The topic of this post is procrastination.
What is that, I hear you say?
I’ll tell you later.
Just kidding.
Karl Moore, the resident motivation guru made a video which highlights the three big reasons why we tend to procrastinate when it comes to business.
And, to be truthful, I saw all of them in me.
- Fear – What do we fear? Failure – success – what others think of us. It’s true, all those are valid points and we need to analyse ourselves to see why we feel like this and why they limit our abilities to achieve what we really want. Karl also mentioned that we tend to feel sorry for ourselves (Oh why, oh why, oh why, can’t I do it when everyone else can? Sound familiar? I know it does to me and I’m not afraid to admit it). It’s when we accept our self-limiting thoughts that we can begin doing something about them. We are also afraid of the scale of the job before us. The fact is, if anyone tried to climb Mount Everest in a day no one would make it. The ‘trick’ is to do it a little at a time.
- Which brings us on to the next point – Focus. We need to decide what’s important and do those things. Anything that’s not important shouldn’t occupy our time.
- Which smoothly brings us on to the final point (I’m on a roll today) – Time management – In order to ensure we get things done, and on time, we need to work out a to do list. We need to make time and ensure we stick to our schedule.
Again, more on those points later.
Keep your chin up and think positive.
Till next time, feel free to add any comments or questions.
This is Sigmund, signing off.
Filed under 30DC, Motivational, Thirty day challenge, internet business by on Aug 1st, 2009. Comment.
