Copywriting Tips: How to Write Headlines Like a Pro
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What is the secret to doing anything like a pro? Emulate someone who is a master at what they do and eventually your skills will improve with practice. Copywriting is a learned skill that takes years and practice to do effectively. If you want to excel as a copywriter you've got to learn from the best.
One of the secrets of copywriting is the fact that so many copywriters borrow from one another. Called, "swiping," in the industry, many elements of good copywriting are borrowed from master copywriters. If you want to learn how to write effective headlines, you can study and learn from the best by starting your own collection of effective headlines to use as your own 'swipe' file.
But we're getting a bit ahead of ourselves here. Let's take a step back and look at what a headline is and the purpose it serves in online copywriting. The title or headline of any piece of writing is the most important part of that piece of writing because the headline is what grabs the reader's attention, and if it's effective holds the reader's attention long enough to get them to read the first sentence or paragraph of the article or advertisement. If the headline fails, then the rest of the copy never gets read.
An effective headline makes a promise about the copy that follows. There are varying schools of thought when it comes to whether you should write the headline first or last. Writing the headline first helps to guide your thoughts and intentions as you write the piece of copy, but when you write it last you can make sure that the headline captures what the piece contains. Take the time to craft a good headline. Some writers come up with several different headlines and test them until they land on just the right one.
In his book, Hypnotic Writing: How to Seduce and Persuade Customers with Only Your Words, by Joe Vitale, he writes this about testing the effectiveness of a headline:
"Ask yourself: "Can this headline be used for any competitor's ad, letter or website?" Imagine placing your ad on a competitor's copy. Will the headline still work? If so, change yours."
Whether or not you get too deep into copywriting, knowing how to write a compelling headline is a valuable skill. It's worth reading through some copywriting text books such as the timeless classic, Scientific Advertising, to learn about the art and science of writing good headlines.
Start your own swipe file and save those headlines that have moved you to action, caught your eye and made you think, or inspired you to make a purchase. Find ways to incorporate the effective elements into your own headlines.
Here are a few headline writing tips from Derek Franklin's, No Fluff Guide to Copywriting:
· Ask a question
· Use a testimonial
· Tie it to a current news item
· Enter the conversation in their head
· Tell a story
Keep writing and testing your headlines and before you know it you will start cranking out headlines like a pro.
Copywriting is just one of many important things that Internet marketers need to know to run a successful online business. For more tips and strategies for marketing your website, visit, http://www.mcreasite.com/blog today.
One of the secrets of copywriting is the fact that so many copywriters borrow from one another. Called, "swiping," in the industry, many elements of good copywriting are borrowed from master copywriters. If you want to learn how to write effective headlines, you can study and learn from the best by starting your own collection of effective headlines to use as your own 'swipe' file.
But we're getting a bit ahead of ourselves here. Let's take a step back and look at what a headline is and the purpose it serves in online copywriting. The title or headline of any piece of writing is the most important part of that piece of writing because the headline is what grabs the reader's attention, and if it's effective holds the reader's attention long enough to get them to read the first sentence or paragraph of the article or advertisement. If the headline fails, then the rest of the copy never gets read.
An effective headline makes a promise about the copy that follows. There are varying schools of thought when it comes to whether you should write the headline first or last. Writing the headline first helps to guide your thoughts and intentions as you write the piece of copy, but when you write it last you can make sure that the headline captures what the piece contains. Take the time to craft a good headline. Some writers come up with several different headlines and test them until they land on just the right one.
In his book, Hypnotic Writing: How to Seduce and Persuade Customers with Only Your Words, by Joe Vitale, he writes this about testing the effectiveness of a headline:
"Ask yourself: "Can this headline be used for any competitor's ad, letter or website?" Imagine placing your ad on a competitor's copy. Will the headline still work? If so, change yours."
Whether or not you get too deep into copywriting, knowing how to write a compelling headline is a valuable skill. It's worth reading through some copywriting text books such as the timeless classic, Scientific Advertising, to learn about the art and science of writing good headlines.
Start your own swipe file and save those headlines that have moved you to action, caught your eye and made you think, or inspired you to make a purchase. Find ways to incorporate the effective elements into your own headlines.
Here are a few headline writing tips from Derek Franklin's, No Fluff Guide to Copywriting:
· Ask a question
· Use a testimonial
· Tie it to a current news item
· Enter the conversation in their head
· Tell a story
Keep writing and testing your headlines and before you know it you will start cranking out headlines like a pro.
Copywriting is just one of many important things that Internet marketers need to know to run a successful online business. For more tips and strategies for marketing your website, visit, http://www.mcreasite.com/blog today.