Advertising Information

80% of All Advertising Is Wasted Due To This Common Mistake


You're flipping through this publication as you wait for your latte, when suddenly you decide to stop and read an ad. What made you stop? I'll bet it was an attention grabbing headline.

It is a scientifically proven fact that 5 times as many people read headlines as read the body copy of an ad. So with the headline, an advertiser has spent about 80% of their advertising dollar. It doesn't take a genius to realize then the headline is the most important part of any ad.

Yet, most small business advertising is wasted for lack of an effective headline or, worse yet, no headline at all. Don't make this same mistake.

The headline is the first thing that your reader or prospect sees when they open your letter, browse a magazine, or flip your postcard. In that moment, (about 3 seconds) your reader decides whether or not to read any farther.

So first and foremost, any advertisement you produce must have a headline and your headline must grab your reader's attention immediately. If you don't grab them by the throat and hold them right away, you never will.

Writing powerful headlines takes some hard work but it can be done if you follow some simple guidelines.

1. Your headline should give the reader a reason to stop and read now instead of later - a carefully chosen word or two can create urgency

2. Your headline should communicate something the reader considers valuable - they need to be able to justify the time spent reader your ad

3. Your headline should scream how you might offer something that is unique or at least interesting

4. Your headline should point to something very specific for the reader - use facts and how to's

Using these points as a guide to create your headlines allows you to create headlines that hook your reader quickly, offers them a benefit they want, and gives them a reason to read on.

Never use boring, conventional or overused statements and never use a headline to trick your reader into looking on.

Attention Getting Power Words for Your Headlines

Look at powerful headlines and you will see that many contain one or more of the following words that sell. Discover Easy Free New Proven Save Results Introducing

At Last Guarantee Bargain Easy Quick Sale Why How To

Just Arrived Now Announcing

Start of by writing some headlines that clearly communicate your promise, benefit or USP. Then look for ways to make them even more powerful by adding a power word or two and checking if they contain at least 3 of the guidelines provided above.

Copyright 2004 John Jantsch

About The Author

John Jantsch is a marketing coach and creator of the Duct Tape Marketing System. You can get more information about the Duct Tape System and download your free copy of "How To Create the Ultimate Small Business Marketing System in 7 Simple Steps" by visiting http://www.DuctTapeMarketing.com


MORE RESOURCES:
Google

BBC News

Google, Zen Master of the Market
New York Times, United States - 56 minutes ago
That helps explain why Microsoft has struggled to catch up with Google in the rich new market for Internet search advertising. Google?s huge, widening lead ...
Cloud Computing Expo - Microsoft, Google & Virtualization SYS-CON Media
Why Microsoft will win Yahoo CNNMoney.com
The Case Against Google-Yahoo BusinessWeek
VNUNet.com - San Jose Mercury News
all 242 news articles


On advertising All things bright and 'bootiful'?
guardian.co.uk, UK - 45 minutes ago
But actually, sometimes advertising is the last thing a dying brand needs - it can do little to help, unless the brand has already begun to help itself. ...


Claire Beale on Advertising
Independent, UK - 51 minutes ago
They know advertising is about persuasion, about a commercial transaction where the information/entertainment/stimulation provided by an ad is (hopefully) ...


Telecoms operators raise the stakes in advertising market
Business Daily Africa, Kenya - 8 hours ago
Celtel?s advertising budget is expected to cross the one billion shilling mark this year from Sh660 million last year. July 7, 2008: The battle for ...


Press the panic button
guardian.co.uk, UK - 45 minutes ago
Chris Tryhorn and Mark Sweney report Advertising is often described as the canary in the economic coal mine, an early warning of bleak times ahead. ...


Niue: An Advertising Free Country
Scoop.co.nz, New Zealand - 3 hours ago
By Jeremy Rose The small Pacific nation's one television and one radio station are both ad free and advertising billboards are conspicuous by their absence. ...


Stephen Glover on The Press
Independent, UK - 51 minutes ago
Then there is a new wave of panic as national newspaper advertising, often a lead indicator for an economic recession, begins to contract quite sharply. ...
Raymond Snoddy on Broadcasting Independent
all 2 news articles


Barrett Richards Advertising is Pleased to Announce the Addition ...
PR-CANADA.net (press release), Montenegro - 9 hours ago
For more information about Colorado Case Company, visit www.ColoradoCaseCompany.com. For more information about Barrett Richards Advertising, visit www. ...


TV companies work hard at targeting their audiences
The Australian, Australia - 9 hours ago
So like Project Canoe, MCN is also investigating numerous forms of addressable advertising. Globally, targeted advertising is being driven by subscription ...


Advertising in race works best if you take your time
Augusta Chronicle, GA - 18 hours ago
By Bill Kirby | Columnist Another great Atlanta Peachtree Road Race is over, and once again I have spread the news for a local cause, proudly displaying my ...

Advertising - Google News

home | site map
© 2007