Every day, countless people unknowingly craft bad headlines.
These
headlines fail to capture attention, engage readers, or drive action.
The master key to avoiding this mistake lies in understanding your audience and the thoughts and words that may trigger them to take action.
If you're reading this, it's likely because the headline "How to Write a Really Bad Headline" piqued your curiosity. Why?
Because nobody wants to write a bad headline, but knowing how might help you write great ones.
Here's how to avoid common pitfalls:
What Makes a Headline Bad?
Lack of Clarity:
Bad headlines are often vague and confusing. If your reader has to guess what your content is about, they
will likely move on.
Example of a Bad Headline: "Discover This Amazing Thing!"
Why It's Bad: It doesn't specify what the "amazing thing" is, leaving the reader puzzled and uninterested.
No Audience Connection:
Bad headlines fail to resonate with the
target audience. Understanding your audience's needs, desires, and pain points is crucial.
Example of a Bad Headline: "General Tips for Everyone"
Why It's Bad: It's too broad and fails to address a specific audience, making it less likely to attract targeted readers.
Lack of Urgency or Intrigue:
Bad headlines don't create a sense of urgency or curiosity, which are essential for prompting immediate action.
Example of a Bad Headline: "Some Information on Marketing"
Why It's Bad: It's bland and lacks any compelling reason for the reader to click and read
more.
The Headline That Triggered You
The fact that you're reading this post shows that the headline "How to Write a Really Bad Headline" triggered your curiosity.
It works because it plays on the desire to avoid mistakes and improve skills. Here's what
I originally wrote to illustrate how good headlines work.
This guide provides essential
techniques and strategies to create compelling headlines and hooks that capture your reader's attention and keep them engaged throughout your copy.
The same ones I have used over and over and over to not only beat the control more than 70% of the time but to generate over $100 million in subscription and product sales.
In it you'll
find:
10 Powerful Examples of Headlines and Hooks
10 Types of Headlines That Will Keep Your Readers Reading and Why
20 Powerful Headlines You Can Use Mimic That Can Increase Your Results
How to Use These Examples as Models for Your Work
Whether you're a copywriting novice or a seasoned professional, this short guide will take your skills to the next level and help you achieve copywriting success.
The reason is simple:
In hundreds of split-run copywriting tests, I have seen these simple headline changes outsell others by as much as 30 times!
This guide will show you how to write headlines as I do.
Headlines that
grab readers by the throat while increasing the selling power of your emails, landing pages, and video sales letters.
You'll learn my simple formula for writing:
How-to headlines
Number headlines
Benefit headlines
Urgency headlines
Intrigue headlines
Personalization headlines
Controversial Headlines
Storytelling headlines
Direct headlines, and
Question headlines.
By studying them, you will have a better understanding of how to create headlines that effectively target your audience and drive results.
But don't just take my word for it.
Here's what a few of my readers have to say:
"This simple
guide provided me with the knowledge and tools to create headline ideas that will connect with my audience. I love it!" - SV, Poshmark Seller
"I've read countless books on copywriting, but this one stands out. Many are long and drawn out. This guide gets to the point with simple strategies and techniques are easy to understand and apply. A must-have for anyone looking to take their copywriting skills to the next
level." - Chris, Business Analyst
"I was skeptical at first, but this simple guide exceeded my expectations. The techniques are practical and effective, and the examples are diverse, relatable, and easy to knock-off! Since reading this book, the opens on my emails have jumped 15% to 20% Sean, Sales.
That's why I created this
short guide--to give you the essential elements you need to increase your opens, sales, and conversions.
REMEMBER:
If your readers are not opening your emails, reading your landing pages, or watching your video sales letters, they are not buying from you.
By simply following these time-tested techniques, you too can see an exponential increase in your opens, click, and--most important--SALES.
As part of a special offer, you'll also receive a FREE copy of one of my favorite examples of my combo benefit/intrigue/controversial promotions.
Over the years, this formula sold hundreds of thousands of dollars of subscriptions to investment newsletters that were priced at $995 to $5,000!
Normally, I sell my swipes for $199.
However, as part of a special offer, you'll receive a FREE copy of this winner with the purchase of this exciting new copywriting
guide:
In it, you'll see how I use the same kinds of curiosity and urgency subheadlines to walk the reader to the order form--AND BUY!
Remember, your
copy is only as good as your headlines and hooks.
When you consider that my million-dollar copywriting formula has sold over $100 million, you would think I would charge an arm and a leg for this information --along with one of my favorite swipes.
Not in this case.
My ultimate goal is to leave behind a legacy of copywriting knowledge that proves that anyone can use my time-proven formula as the most effective copywriting method on the planet.
Offering you this guide at a
special launch discount of $99 is my way of doing just that. You save $100.
Remember, included in that $99 price is a copy of one of my favorite examples of my combo benefit/intrigue/controversial promotions. regularly $199--yours free.
There's just one catch.
TODAY ONLY
The copywriter who serves their clients best is the one that can move readers to take action: to purchase the products we are selling instead of just reading about them.
A winning copywriting methodology with a proven track record that has sold over $100 million in subscriptions.
When you follow it, all you need to do is switch out the
samples that I offer you with your own products, and you could get the kind of results that have made me one of the top copywriters in the world.
BOTTOM LINE:
If you can’t take the action required to accept my $100 savings offer or benefit from one of my favorite swipes to learn about and profit from my
system, chances are you wouldn't use my million-dollar copywriting formula, and I would be remiss to sell you a copy.
My formula is for copywriters who want to write the most powerful headlines and hooks and are willing to follow my time-proven formulas.
If you are willing to study and emulate my formula, you will enjoy the benefits that my
Million-Dollar Copywriting Formula has brought others, and you may never write headlines any other way again.
But you’ll have to make your decision today. I won’t promise that I’ll offer you this special price again.
If you want to use my approach to ramp up the selling power of your copy, then you must
accept my savings offer today without hesitation.
The action or inaction you take today will determine your sales.
P.S. If you've read this far and decided not to grab a copy of The Ultimate Guide to Writing Powerful Headlines and Hooks, remember this:
Your copy is fighting for attention in a marketplace filled with thousands of other messages.
If you are looking for new ways to break through the clutter, I suggest you grab a copy of this guide and my favorite swipes and steal every idea out of them you can.
As a seasoned direct response copywriter, Doug has created hundreds of profitable
direct mail packages, emails, and video sales letters for the world's largest specialized information
publishers—generating over $100 million in direct sales.
