Do you use images for your headline?

13 replies
Hey guys,

Recently, I noticed more and more marketers using images for their headlines. What I mean by that is that they use some kind of a editor, possibly photoshop, to write out the headline and do some pretty cool effects such as shadow, italics, glow, etc.

Then they save that as a jpeg and upload it to their sales letter.

My question is? Do you use that strategy? If so, how does it compare in conversions to the regular H1 text headline? I imagine it doesn't help much with SEO but it might help with conversions.

What are your thoughts on that? And if you do use that strategy, maybe you could share with us the font and effects you use on your headline.


Peter
#headline #images
  • Profile picture of the author Shana_Adam
    So they have a custom header made I'm assuming.

    You can find loads of videos on youtube on how to create headers etc but In all honesty it does take a long time to create them un less you know photoshop well.

    Good design is always important for a polished feel. Colours and layout is important to.

    Seeing that the header is what hits most people first it is important to have it absolutely right. Not only that you want to make sure you have great words in the title itself
    Signature

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1041048].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author abo28
      No, I don't. I prefer text headlines.

      Why? The headline is a CRITICAL part of any sales letter. Experts say that they account for 80-90% of the effectiveness of your site. So I cannot assume the risk that some my visitors don't see my headline simply because the image did not load in their browser.

      IMO, you can create "good looking" headlines even with plain text.
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1041064].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author Peter Helps
        Thanks Abo.

        I see your point. Better yet, if someone has images turned off on their computer, then you are really in trouble.

        If you don't mind me asking, what are your headline parameters that you use? Font, type, height, etc.?

        Peter

        Originally Posted by abo28 View Post

        No, I don't. I prefer text headlines.

        Why? The headline is a CRITICAL part of any sales letter. Experts say that they account for 80-90% of the effectiveness of your site. So I cannot assume the risk that some my visitors don't see my headline simply because the image did not load in their browser.

        IMO, you can create "good looking" headlines even with plain text.
        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1041074].message }}
        • Profile picture of the author abo28
          Originally Posted by pk80356 View Post

          Thanks Abo.

          If you don't mind me asking, what are your headline parameters that you use? Font, type, height, etc.?

          Peter
          Generally, Arial or Verdana. Sometimes Georgia. Never Times New Roman - it doesn't look good on the screen.

          Height - 6 or 7.

          Sometimes I use two colors in the headline:a basic color (generally black) and a secondary one (e.g. red), meant to highlight an important word.
          {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1041111].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Peter Helps
    I hear you Shana. Thank you for responding.

    I was planning on testing it myself. I was just going to use my existing headline, convert it to an image and split test it against my original header.

    I never thought of looking on youtube. Thanks,

    Peter
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1041062].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Peter Helps
    Cool...

    Thanks for sharing.

    Does anyone else have any input on using image headlines?

    Peter
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1041175].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author BrianMcLeod
    I like and use headline graphics regularly because of the design
    and typographic control it gives you compared to the extreme
    limitations inherent in HTML/CSS.

    I really don't factor users with images turned off in their browsers
    to be a statistically relevant percentage of overall traffic to the offer.
    Certainly not enough so to alter how I want to present the copy to
    everyone else.

    Attractive, easily readable type is always of the utmost importance.
    Anything you can do to draw the reader into the copy is a GOOD thing,
    which nice looking headlines and subheads tend to do.

    That said, I am perfectly comfortable with formatting text in HTML
    as well.

    For illustration, let's look at two of Michel Fortin's sites which
    demonstrate great looking type, with and without graphics for
    the headline:

    Graphic Headline:

    Copywriting And Copy Critiques By A Top Copywriter

    The graphic headline (well, more than the headline... but still)
    is extremely appealing visually and pulls you right into the
    otherwise naked page.

    Text Headline:

    Internet Marketing Sins: An Open Letter to All Internet Marketers

    Huge "WARNING" in Impact (and the Impact subhead under it)
    looks great and it's simple formatted text. Loads instantly and
    works beautfully with DGR's truly outstanding header graphic.

    NOTE: It's a good idea to carefully optimize the images you use
    for smallest file size while maintaing the best look possible.
    It's easy to dump out a jpeg that's 120K+ if you're not careful.

    Tahoma Bold at 24-30 pt is hard to go wrong with for a nice
    looking headline. I often use Georgia Bold for serif headlines.

    Hope this helps,

    Brian
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1041328].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Paul Hancox
    Hi Peter

    Originally Posted by pk80356 View Post

    My question is? Do you use that strategy? If so, how does it compare in conversions to the regular H1 text headline? I imagine it doesn't help much with SEO but it might help with conversions.

    What are your thoughts on that? And if you do use that strategy, maybe you could share with us the font and effects you use on your headline.
    My thoughts are... Your Mileage May Vary.

    I'm wary of using graphical headlines in case the browser hangs and it takes a little while to load... yes, it's 2009 but some people still don't yet have broadband... so even 2 seconds may be crucial, because I only have SECONDS to grab and hold their attention.

    On the other hand, as Brian said, you can do some pretty cool stuff with graphical headlines.

    There is no "one size fits all" answer to your question, because it ultimately depends on other factors as well.. such as what the graphical headline actually says!

    A "sucky" headline is still a sucky headline, even if it flashes and has blood dripping down the letters

    The only possible way of getting an answer to your question that is relevant to YOU in your own niche... is to... <drum roll> split test.
    Signature
    PresellContent.com - How to sell without "selling"
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1041392].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Peter Helps
    Woow Brian,

    Thanks man. That's a great analysis. I looked at your website and have couple of question about what you are providing. I'll pm you.

    Peter
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1041394].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Peter Helps
    Thansk Paul. That's what I was thinking about doing but I wasn't entirely sure on how to create a graphical headline. So far, you guys have been a great help.

    peter
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1041398].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Peter Helps
    Look at Brian's post few comments above. He gives you a great example using Micheal Fortin's site.


    Peter


    Originally Posted by F27 View Post

    What's this in relation too ? Can you show us a demo or an example ?
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1041417].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author BrianMcLeod
    Originally Posted by F27 View Post

    What's this in relation too ? Can you show us a demo or an example ?
    Sure, read this:

    Slash7 with Amy Hoy - Pages - Help Vampires: A Spotter's Guide
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1041419].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author ToddK
    Peter,

    I am partial to a graphical headline myself...or a combination of the two. Here's my reasoning and a little of what I have learned....when you look through a magazine what catches your eye's first? Generally some intersting or cool looking graphic will "pull" your eyes to the ad which most people will then scan the wording.

    You generally don't look at the words and then say wow, cool graphical headline.

    Now, on the flip side, as people are reading through the Sunday newspaper, large captions or head lines will generally grab a readers attention....but here's the catch. If the headline doesn't interest them 95% of the people won't read the article.

    The same is true with web or miniSites. When someone visits a site and the headline doesn't immediatly interest or grab them they tend to click off and move on. But since most people are drawn to exciting and interesting images they will tend to browse the site and stick around.

    Now, all this being said, I don't have any scientific proof of this however, I have been designing website for a few years and my experience is that a nice graphical header....in most cases....will grab the visitors. Obviously the graphics have to be appealing and have to load fairly fast or a visitor will click off.

    Anyway, just my 2 cents......
    Signature
    New - High-Quality MiniSites and eCovers at unbelievably low prices!!
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1041494].message }}

Trending Topics