Headline Personality
As I write this I'm taken right back to being a little girl listening to my Daddy play his vinyls.
He just loved chorus of Lloyd Price's 1959 hit of "(YOU'VE GOT) PERSONALITY" Dad loved to sing and would take my hands and would twirl me around, and get on one knee when he sung "talk - personality" and I would sing back to him.
We had such fun...
Right now I am right back to this moment as if it is happening right now.
You may remember the song I'm talking about and are singing it as you read this.
If you don't, read the lyrics below.
'Cause you've got - (personality) Walk - (personality) talk - (personality) Smile - (personality) charm - (personality) Love - (personality)...
What was happening for you as you read this? Did you, perhaps related to this in any way? If you had a memory or a similar experience, think for a moment what senses did you use as you replayed that memory...
sight, smell, taste, hearing, touch? Maybe it evoked an emotion, feeling or thought...
It's like giving personality to your character or headline.
Who is your reader and what are they like, what do they think, feel and experience.
Then get into their character and add personality or flavour to it that is desirable to your reader.
If 90% of people don't read past YOUR headline...
The shocking truth is that 90% of your readers won't read past your headline! Actually in 2008 it is more like 100%, so it makes sense to spend your budget your headline and get it right.
YOU simply have to get it RIGHT.
Don't make the mistake of many who spend their time and money on pretty graphics and the body of the copy and lose their readers at the headline.
Grab your readers attention! I went to Alan Forrest Smith's Master Class in September and he really taught me how to create a personality headline...
which really mirrors the personality of your reader.
He came up with this great headline...
"If you're having the worst week of your life we are going to have you looking and feeling amazing" Alan was referring to a headline for a hair salon.
It sure grabbed me, If I'M having a bad week then this would definitely work for me! Instant solution to feeling better...
no feeling amazing would fade anyone's worst week into history, not only that the reader is instantly understood Give your reader eyes Make up your mind to give up on blind headlines forever...
they mean nothing, they don't work, they frustrate...
build curiosity on top of your headline by giving either the product or the solution in the headline.
The 3 B's Be Bold...
Be Curious...
Be Character building...
Your big promise goes at the top with your character, and then add Personality and flair and you will notice a whole new creativity flowing from you.
One thing I do now when I go to a cafe is get lots of magazines and newspapers and just read the headlines and discover which ones grab me and why and then I guess what they are about.
He just loved chorus of Lloyd Price's 1959 hit of "(YOU'VE GOT) PERSONALITY" Dad loved to sing and would take my hands and would twirl me around, and get on one knee when he sung "talk - personality" and I would sing back to him.
We had such fun...
Right now I am right back to this moment as if it is happening right now.
You may remember the song I'm talking about and are singing it as you read this.
If you don't, read the lyrics below.
'Cause you've got - (personality) Walk - (personality) talk - (personality) Smile - (personality) charm - (personality) Love - (personality)...
What was happening for you as you read this? Did you, perhaps related to this in any way? If you had a memory or a similar experience, think for a moment what senses did you use as you replayed that memory...
sight, smell, taste, hearing, touch? Maybe it evoked an emotion, feeling or thought...
It's like giving personality to your character or headline.
Who is your reader and what are they like, what do they think, feel and experience.
Then get into their character and add personality or flavour to it that is desirable to your reader.
If 90% of people don't read past YOUR headline...
The shocking truth is that 90% of your readers won't read past your headline! Actually in 2008 it is more like 100%, so it makes sense to spend your budget your headline and get it right.
YOU simply have to get it RIGHT.
Don't make the mistake of many who spend their time and money on pretty graphics and the body of the copy and lose their readers at the headline.
Grab your readers attention! I went to Alan Forrest Smith's Master Class in September and he really taught me how to create a personality headline...
which really mirrors the personality of your reader.
He came up with this great headline...
"If you're having the worst week of your life we are going to have you looking and feeling amazing" Alan was referring to a headline for a hair salon.
It sure grabbed me, If I'M having a bad week then this would definitely work for me! Instant solution to feeling better...
no feeling amazing would fade anyone's worst week into history, not only that the reader is instantly understood Give your reader eyes Make up your mind to give up on blind headlines forever...
they mean nothing, they don't work, they frustrate...
build curiosity on top of your headline by giving either the product or the solution in the headline.
The 3 B's Be Bold...
Be Curious...
Be Character building...
Your big promise goes at the top with your character, and then add Personality and flair and you will notice a whole new creativity flowing from you.
One thing I do now when I go to a cafe is get lots of magazines and newspapers and just read the headlines and discover which ones grab me and why and then I guess what they are about.
