10 headline formulas that work like magic

Bob Stone, one of the world’s best known copywriters said “Your first 15 words count more than the 15,000 words that follow!”

Any serious copywriter (and most successful bloggers out there) agree with the statement and actually put the advice to use every day. Why?

Because it’s the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. Those first few words that you start with (your headline) are often written in haste. Yet, they count for 50% of the success of your entire copywriting project.

Unfortunately, in today’s rush, it’s hard to spend 90% of your time coming up with a winning headline. This is especially true if you’re mass-producing content on a day-to-day basis (like bloggers and article writers).

The good news is that formulae exist that you can use to speed up your headline writing process… But before I give the formulas to you, let me say this: If you really want your copy to generate maximum response, you MUST spend a considerable amount of time writing, fine-tuning and testing your headlines.

How to use these headline formulas.

The way to use these formulas for maximum effectiveness is to take the time to write at least 5 different headline versions using each formula. This will force your creative juices to flow and give you enough headlines to split-test in your marketing campaign.

1. The direct statement headline.
Examples:
a) The best chocolate cake you ever ate. (Ladies Home Journal)
b) 5 cents a minute anytime, night and day, to anywhere in America!

2. The question headline.
Examples:
a) Who else wants to know how to drive massive traffic to their website?
b) “Do you make these mistakes in English?” (Maxwell Sackheims)

3. The how-to headline.
Examples:
a) How to promote your website for maximum response.
b) How to grow big, ripe tomatoes quickly and easily.

4. The command headline.
Examples:
a) This is your window of opportunity. Open it.
b) Enroll now and learn how to play the piano in just 90 days.

5. The implicit benefit headline.
Examples:
a) 7 sure-fire ways to sell your products on eBay.
b) Sexy legs in 5 minutes a day.

6. The guarantee headline.
Examples:
a) “Triple your website hits in one month or I’ll pay you $500 cash!”
b) The “Art Of Negotiating” Guarantees To Make You A Better Negotiator.

7. The deep discount headline.
Examples:
a) “Buy 100,000 web visitors today and receive an extra 100,000 FREE!”
b) Get 12 DVD’s for just $4 (Plus S&H).

8. The personalized headline.
Examples:
a) “George, act fast… your special offer link expires on December 23”
b) Finally, here’s how you, Bob Delano, can become an expert chef in 15 days.

9. The “reasons why” headline.
Examples:
a) Here are 7 hard-hitting reasons to visit our website this week.
b) 3 Invigorating Reasons Why Using ‘PermaSoft’ Will Make Your Life Easy!

10. The short, punchy headline.
Examples:
a) “What if…”
b) “Oh My God!”

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31 comments so far ↓

Comment #:1 by Build Business Credit

As always, you’ve delivered practical strategies that we can begin using tonight. Your blog is a great find!

DaJuan Tircuit
Comment #:2 by Jeff.Wang

Inspiring as always.
I am copywriting.com’s big fan now!
Look forward to hear from you.

Jeff Wang
Comment #:3 by 7 Compelling Reasons Why Your Headlines Need To LEAP Off The Page

[...] 10 Headline Formulas That Work Like Magic at Copywriting.com [...]
Comment #:4 by Word Links of Value | Word Sell, Inc.

[...] know about the volumes of solid advice coming from Copyblogger, but here’s a fine post on headline formulas you may not have seen from [...]
Comment #:5 by Constance

Thanks. Those tips are helpful.
Comment #:6 by Saleem Rana

I’m glad I found this page. Awesome tips!
Comment #:7 by Ntsike

Solid ideas to get your juices flowing! You need to practice daily to internalize the underlying fundamentals of copywriting. Copywriting is a lot like music. You can use these concepts as your musical scales, but you need to practice them daily to develop a good tone and get into a groove.
Comment #:8 by Ange Pozzo di Borgo

Hello ! Thank you very much for this great article. I’m a french copywriter, not really fluent in English (sorry ), but i understand your tips. And i find it wonderful. So… thanks.
Comment #:9 by Arie Satria

I’m smiling .
I’m happy with this articles. Now I have new IDEAS with my Article’s headline. Thanks
Comment #:10 by Learn How to Write Titles to Get Traffic and Links « make money online

[...] 10 headline formulas that work like magic [...]
Comment #:11 by IM for charity

Awesome!, Thanks now I know how to name my articles much better. Hopefully this will work and I’ll get more attention online as well for my site.
Comment #:12 by Learn How to Write Titles to Get Traffic and Links: The Ultimate Guide | Just Simple Marketing Works

[...] 10 headline formulas that work like magic [...]
Comment #:13 by Dhane Diesil

What a wonderful resource! I will definitely get good use out of this article.
Comment #:14 by Kris

Very Inspiring! Oddly enough, I feel like a young dog learning an old trick, and this post has really helped me to grasp the fundamentals of copy writing. Thank you for the insight.
Comment #:15 by Y la Receta Mágica para Convertir tus Artículos en un Imán de Atención es…

[...] 10 headlines that work like magic [...]
Comment #:16 by Marcus

The training works! It makes you think more about the words and the strategi.
Comment #:17 by Albert

Really useful tips, will derive more conversion.
Comment #:18 by Great stag do ideas

Hi Bob,

That was exactly what I’ve been looking for…simple rules even I can understand! Great list that’s added to my bookmarks.
Many thanks for sharing.
Comment #:19 by Harris Fellman

Where’s the “Who Else…” headline?

Who Else Wants to Create Unlimited Energy with Just One Simple Exercise?

Who Else Wants to Lose 23 Pounds in Just 30 Days…
Comment #:20 by Martha

Congratulations Miguel! Your Website is really helpful for other copywriters (like me) who are avid to learn from the best!
Comment #:21 by Ajit Kumar

Copy writing attracts 35% traffic. 25% traffic can be patronized by the matter in the article. If that traffic could be opted-in rightly then online incomes could squeeze full time jobs into few hours’ labor each week.
Proper publicity and follow-up helps in achieving more business.
Miguell, you have excelled in copy writing. It is a valuable guidance.
Comment #:22 by Debbie Evran

Help! My client thinks I’m a copywriter but I’m not!

Well at least until I read your blog… now I think I’m getting the hang of it – thanks to your great tips.

Many thanks.

PS thanks for the twitter follow
Comment #:23 by THOM.NG

Hi, thanks a lot! It’s very useful for me. However, I wonder that how can I apply these headlines in particular cases? I’m just a graduate in marketing major and want to become a copywriter. Thanks again!
Comment #:24 by Tatiane

awesome!
Comment #:25 by James

Racking my brains on a headline. Glad i found your site.

Thanks
Comment #:26 by Wirksame Titel für Blog-Artikel finden - WordWeb-Blog

[...] 10 headline formulas that work like magic [...]
Comment #:27 by Joey Carrera

Thats a great list of headline strategies. So much of copywriting and selling is about influencing. I write on my blog about “Sales” in particular and many of the skill we use to sell product or services can apply to life as well.

Good headlines generally do one of 3 things; create a sense or urgency, excitement, or mystery.

I will certainly be back to read more. Thanks
Comment #:28 by James - Website advice

Awesome list! This has just given me so much guidance for my own blog. I love the simple, punchy approach you’ve taken – no rambling explanation. Perfect online copy IMHO
Comment #:29 by Steve

Excellent article. This really shows how people should think about their headlines. Headlines are without a doubt one of the most important aspects of a sales letter.

Know the different types is vitally important for all copywriters.
Comment #:30 by James Abugah

That’s a great post. Great guidance. To write better headlines almost automatically requires a lot of practice. It is normally said that one requires about 10,000 hours to gain expert status.

So no giving up till I can write headlines that are irresistable. May I need to write 10,000 haedlines this year!
Comment #:31 by Richard Clunan

Some good pointers there to get the ideas flowing.

It might also be useful also to talk about what types of headline tend to get better responses.

And testing (as well as, perhaps, plain old-fashioned common-sense) suggests that including a Benefit in the headline is often the best thing to do.

Benefit headlines can be written to fit with many of the items in this blog post of course — and that focus — benefits — might help people’s idea-generating process.

Another thing that can bring a good response is News in the headline.

Richard Clunan