Boost Headline Believability With Specifics

Don't use vague generalities in your headlines. Be as specific as possible. For example, you may want to put a date into your headline, or a profit increase of some specific percentage, etc. When you use something specific, like a date, an exact dollar amount, or an exact quantity in a headline, it suddenly becomes more believable.

Using specific numbers makes the reader believe that you really know what you are talking about, you have researched the information, and that you can document what you are saying. Hopefully, that is all true. You never want to lie, it will ruin your credibility and eventually destroy your business.

But, having said the above, you may sometimes want to understate your claim. The truth may seem like hype, so you may want to tone it down.

Which headline is more believable?

"Using This Long Lost Secret, Our Business Grew By Leaps and Bounds!"

"Using This Long Lost Secret, Our Business Really Sky-Rocketed!"

"Using This Long Lost Secret, Our Business Grew by 973% in 65 days!"

The last one is the most believable, isn't it? Why? Because it appears to have been measured and it is very specific. An exact percentage in a very specific number of days.

"Using This Long Lost Secret, Our Business Grew over 900% in a little over two months!" while better than the first two, still is not as believable as the one that is more precise.

Or how about these sub headlines...

Special Price to End Soon, Buy Now!

Special Price Ends at Midnight, 1 April, Get Your Copy Now While It Is On Your Mind!

Only 37 Copies Left, At This Rate We Expect To Be Sold Out In 43 Hours, Get Your Copy Now! Don't Lose Out, When They Are Gone, They Are Gone.

Aren't the last two more believable that the first?

Here is what Brian Keith Voiles, a master copywriter, has to say about being specific in your headlines:

"Using specifics in a headline make it almost irresistible to your prospect to not continue reading. You need to use exact numbers: hours, minutes, # of days, evenings, dollars, ways, types of something.

Specifics always out-pull generalities. They mean more to our prospect, and they create intrigue about what you're going to tell them in your ad or letter. They draw the reader in."

Let's take a look at a couple more comparison examples. The first example is targeted toward marketers who want to grow their mailing list.

"Over 30 Quick and Easy Ways You Can Grow Your List In One Month or Less... Guaranteed!"

"33 Quick and Easy Ways You Can Double Your List In 30 Days, Guaranteed!"

Which one attracts you more? The second one I'll bet.

Now let's look at a comparison that focuses on people who want to lose weight.

"Over 20 Quick and Easy Ways To Lose Weight In Less Than A Month...Guaranteed!"

"21 Quick and Easy Ways To Lose 10 Pounds In 25 Days... Guaranteed!"

Do you see the difference? Specifics create believability.

So, be as specific as possible in your headlines to increase your believability from the very start of your sales letter or ad and draw your readers further into your sales copy.

George Dodge is owner of the http://www.Headline-Creator-Pro.com website where you can download software to save you time and effort required to quickly create powerful headlines with push button ease.

---

The Forgotten Advertising Tip

I'm sure while you have seen many tips on advertising,... Read More

Not Another Calendar! - Choose Advertising Specialties That Sell

As I was searching through a kitchen drawer the other... Read More

LED Moving Message Displays

LED's are becoming more and more popular in all kinds... Read More

How to Write Great Headlines

According to experts, just changing the headline of an ad... Read More

If You Invest Money on Advertising, then You could Save Thousands through this Simple Little Secret

A few years ago, I analysed the statistics of where... Read More

Does Your Brochure Pass the Test - Or is It Headed for the Trash? Part One

The decision on whether or not someone will read your... Read More

Create Your Own Business Cards, Part 1

In this lesson, we will create a business card, using... Read More

Is Your Yellow Pages Ad Putting Cash in Your Pocket... or Sucking Cash Out?

Any idea? It's a question that more than a few... Read More

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

You're flipping through this publication as you wait for your... Read More

I Dont Want to be Different

To succeed in today's crowded marketplace where most of the... Read More

Should Your Small Business Hire an Advertising Agency?

So, you own a small business, sales are down and... Read More

The Benefits of Specific Advertising

The great Claude Hopkins (Author of Scientific Advertising) once said,... Read More

Why Your Ads Aren?t Working

The president of a manufacturing company recently asked me, "Why... Read More

How To Use Pictures To Immediately Start Increasing The Response Rates Of Your Marketing

There should only be one, over-riding reason why you're doing... Read More

Constructing Business Advertisements

What many may consider the most important part of advertising... Read More

Pros and Cons of Establishing an In-House Ad Agency

There have been several ads promoting books and reports on... Read More

The Secrets To Successful Radio Advertising

Ask some businesses about radio advertising and they'll tell you... Read More

Business Plan Appeal ? Five Rules For Writing Attention Grabbing Headlines

The success of a business plan stands or falls on... Read More

Go Ahead Im Listening

In today's fast paced environment, interaction with family and friends... Read More

Online vs. Offline Advertising

Let's face it. Email marketing and publishing have became very... Read More

The Art Of Fear Free Advertising

Is fear of failure an issue when you commit valuable... Read More

How To Create A Better Brochure

Having a quality brochure makes a positive impression on a... Read More

Developing a Formal Brand Messaging Document

Ensure everyone in your company sings from the same sheet... Read More

Worn Out Brochure Design Is Keeping Small Business Owners Down

I got another one of those calls the other day...Can... Read More

Choosing a Print Mail Dealer

"Print & Mail is a type of service that... Read More

Latino Television Programs Fill a Void in Hispanic Advertising; While Advertisers Look to Attract

Advertisers that are beginning to focus on the young Hispanic... Read More

10 Tips to Use Giveaways Effectively

Walk around any trade or consumer show and you will... Read More

How Can All the Radio Stations Be #1?

Are you confused by all the information you receive from... Read More

What Makes A Winning Online Ad?

Most people who have been involved with sales & marketing... Read More

How to Write Ads that Pull Orders

If your ads aren't paying off then you need this... Read More

Add More Pizzazz To Your Ad For More Profits

I recently completed a Marketing Makeover for an Ad that... Read More

Increase Business By Being Nice

I have been reading articles on increasing sales using search... Read More

Tips On Writing a Successful Ad

When knowledge is based on truth it is powerful!When it... Read More