How to write – Quick Tips

How to improve your writing

Quick Tips 4 Writing headlines

Why write headlines? If you were going to a theatre or a museum or a cinema, how would you feel if on the outside of the building there was no indication of the events taking place?

The posters or the neon signs give you a quick reference to what is happening within the place.

That’s the function of a headline. It’s a shorthand indication of what the copy is about whether on a website or a sales brochure. You can then immediately decide if you want to read on. If it’s a product or service you’re looking for then you’ll know it might help. If not you can stop wasting your time and go elsewhere.

That’s why it’s important on websites that as soon as your visitor lands on the page they can find what they want.

Not including a headline means:

1. You’re making them work hard to find what they need.
2. You’re missing a chance to put across your unique offer.
3. You’re wasting valuable real estate at the top of your website page or brochure.

3 tips for writing headlines

• Offer a solution – how to attract more customers; how to save money with us; how to find a bargain
• Focus on the problem they want to solve – do you want to lose weight in time for your summer holiday; do you want to stop the weeds coming up on your drive; do you want to find a bargain holiday
• Create curiosity – what never to eat on an aeroplane; how doctors stay healthy; where to find that special outfit

Creating a headline also helps you to drill down into the real ‘USP’ of your product or service. The one thing that other companies can’t do or offer can provide you with your winning headline.