How Do I Create a Killer Headline?

Today I read a statistic that said that of all the places millennials receive their information, they’re preferred place is on a company’s website.

However, how many companies are taking the time and energy to make their websites as great as possible–as the best face forward within their industry?

Because creating useful content takes time before one can verify a decent return on investment, it is seen as the “last resort” of marketing.

Why?

Today, we’re here to assure you that online content can be one of your top marketing ROIs. How? By creating fabulous copy–and a killer headline.

So, what exactly goes into a killer headline?

1) Urgent

Allowing your reader to feel a sense of urgency will ensure that they’re not taking your information and putting it on the back burner. Instead, by adding in “in three days” or “now,” they’re more inclined to take action on the information and see the results you’re explaining.

And, of course, gains proof of you as an authoritative figure within your industry.

(However, if you’re unable to add all four of these factors into your headline, dismissing urgency is the best to dismiss as the others are crucial.)

2) Unique

Your writing style and benefits of your service, information, product, etc (keeping in mind that unless this is a sales piece, you are not selling) should be unique. Everyone is or has written something similar to your copy, but no one can say it like you.

Use your voice as leverage within your marketplace–or find a voice that closely matches your brand to be unique.

3) Useful

If you aren’t giving value to the reader, the reader probably isn’t reading.

Why?

Because that’s what audiences do–they look for the information they’re looking for, which is why it’s so important for you to give your audience what they want and need.

Be useful.

4) Ultra-specific

This final step is so important.

To have content that gets through to the reader, you must know who you’re talking to.

Just as you don’t speak to an 85 year old grandmother the same as a college frat boy, no group of people should be spoken to the same way.

Know who your audience is and what they’re there to gain. Then make your headline unique and urgent to gain all four pillars of a great headline.

Content may feel like you’re throwing stuff into a dark hole where no one will see it. But truth be told, it doesn’t have to be. Having consistently great content and headlines mean that soon, something is going to stick.

And all it cost you was the time to write it.

What do you think? What other tips do you recommend for a fantastic headline? Leave them in the comments below!