Some people just don't get it.

Building an online business is more than just creating or
finding a product to sell.  It is more than just creating a
power packed sales letter.  It is more than just being able to
accept different forms of payment.

Probably the single most important aspect of your entire online
business is the headlines that you use in your advertising.

Why?

Because if you have a poor headline, no one will read the rest
of your sales letter and when no one reads your sales letter
-- you don't get any orders. :(

Top copywriters claim that 80% of the success of your sales
letter depends on the headline.  This means that you should
actually be spending 400% more time on your headline than the
rest of your sales letter.

When writing a headline, there are some basic marketing tips
that should be followed:

1. Write To Your Target Audience

Try to identify the target audience that you want to reach in
your headline.  For example, if you are trying to target piano
players, you may create a headline that starts of, "Attention
Piano Players, Learn How To...."

Right away you have identified your target market and anyone who
does not fit into this audience will stop reading your sales
letter.  But who cares?  They are the ones who would never have
ordered anyway.

2. Capture The Reader's Attention

Well duh!.  Simple eh?  Not really.  Many people miss this point
and create the most boring headlines that should be used as
a cure for insomnia rather than for the opening of a sales
letter.

It is absolutely critical that your headline captures the
reader's attention because it is at that point the reader will
make that one millisecond decision as to whether they should
continue to read the rest of your sales letter.

Headlines that peak the curiosity of the reader do quite well
in enticing readers to continue reading the rest of the sales
letter.

3. Put Benefits In Your Headline

People are only interested in purchasing your product or service
if it provides them with a solution to their problem.  You must
state a benefit in your headline that will encourage the reader
to read the rest of your sales letter.

For example, a headline that reads, "... And Will Cure Your Back
Pain So That You Can Play The Sports That You Love!," clearly
shows a benefit to be received by the purchaser.

4. Headline Should Be Easy To Read

Be quick and straight to the point in your headline.  You only
have seconds to grab the reader's attention.  Don't use weird
fonts or poor colours.  Dark colours on light backgrounds work
best.

5. Take A Risk

Make claims that will peak the curiosity of the reader.  Now
that doesn't mean to be stupid and write a headline that reads,
"Make $5 Million A Year Sitting In Your Underwear Doing
Nothing."

Create a headline that is daring, but at the same time,
something that the product or service that your are selling can
live up to.

Here are some sample headlines:

* Direct Headline:

"Discover How To Become A Millionaire And Retire In..."

* Question Headline:

"Do Your Feet Stink?  Try Our New Foot Cleaning..."

* Problem solver:

"Never Worry About Cooking A Bad Meal Again!  With Our..."

* How-To Headline:

"How To Cure Insomnia!  Try Our New Amazing Formula..."

* Testimonial Headline:

"Dr. Jim's Orthopedic Mattress Is The Best Thing That Has Ever
Happened To Me..."

These are just a sample of the many types of headlines that you
can use.  It you truly want to succeed selling your products or
services, you will need to take the time out to create
headlines.

It may take hours or even days to create an attractive headline.
But it may be the difference between your success or your
failure.