Headlines: What You Need To Know in 2012

What You Need to Know About Headlines 

Have you ever wondered why some marketing tactics just don’t seem to work for your business? You sit and watch a competitor’s website grow and business soar and you’re just not quite sure how they do it. After all, aren’t all marketing tactics pretty much the same? The answer is a resounding “NO”! Marketing tactics that work are not about rocket science. They are often very simple concepts but many online marketers fail to recognize them for the value they can bring to a business. Focusing on a business that brings high conversion rates and plenty of sales is a marketer’s dream. But it will only materialize when marketing tactics are successfully deployed. First of all, people want to find a solution to a problem. That’s why they’re searching for a particular product or benefit to begin with. So what do you have to offer? Headlines say it all

 Let’s be clear. Headlines are not just for print anymore. In the online world, when we use the term “headline” it can take many forms. Such as: A blog post title, an article title, an e-mail subject line, a Twitter or Facebook share or others. Anytime you need to get a reader’s attention to be able to persuade them to take the next step, the principals of a good headline come in to play When we are online, we are, by definition, task oriented. We are there to do something and anything that gets in the way of that will be ignored. We also tend to have a short attention span. We are there to do something. We want to find the most relevant answer to my reason for searching. So, don’t wait to tell them what’s in it for them. Tell them right away with your headline. 

Headlines can be one of the most effective marketing tactics you have to offer. The headline should always include a valuable benefit for the customer. Recent studies indicate that users decide whether or not to stay or leave a site within 5 seconds or less. Well-written headlines are critical. Using a headline to grab attention is one of the simplest, yet most effective marketing tactics available. People have a chance to quickly understand why they need to read further than the headline. Instead of clicking away from your site, (or discarding your e-mail, etc) they’ll be clicking through your information to find out more.

 Always follow-up a headline with some other compelling fact or value-added benefit of the product or service. Keep website visitors moving through your content by including one bit of important information after another in every sentence. Don’t use teasers that make them feel they have to keep searching for what’s important but be up-front and direct about the product’s value and benefits with each sentence. 

Market the benefits and value 

The headline is the best place to start marketing the benefits of the product. It’s also the best way to attract search engines that are seeking websites based on keywords used by online users. 

When the headline includes the words that potential customers are most likely to search for, the search engines will reward you by bringing more visitors to your website. Search engine optimized writing has many benefits Facts, statistics, and data that substantiate your claims of value are also important ways to increase the effectiveness of headlines. “48% reduction in costs with X product….” can be a real attention grabber. Don’t hesitate to use data to support your benefit claims. 

Advanced marketing tactics 

Headlines are just the beginning with marketing tactics. There are many more advanced marketing tactics that can make a substantial difference in conversion rates and sales. Knowing and integrating advanced marketing tactics into the overall marketing plan for your website and business can make a huge difference in your profits. Evaluate your current marketing tactics and make necessary adjustments by utilizing advanced tactics to support and grow your business. Time spent preparing effective marketing goals and strategies, supported with effective tactics, is time that will result in higher profits and a thriving business. And always remember – success starts with your headline!