Headlines Bring Your Promotional Newsletter to Life
Headlines Bring Your Promotional Newsletter to Life - 7th December 2009
Good headlines give your newsletter an edge over completing publications. In fact, more than five times as many people read headlines as read the article. So, make sure to write each line for maximum impact.
All headlines should focus on your readers- telling them the article has some benefit to them. You can even use a direct mail trick offer a benefit in the headline: “17 Ways to Improve Your Business,” or “save 50% by Using New Packaging.”
A headline can contain a benefit, an unusual statement or twisted cliché, set up a problem/solution format or call out to only one segment of your readers. A feature’s headline can also be a quote from one of the interviewees.
The following checklist is helpful when writing Newsletter headlines.
Headlines need verbs. Verbless headlines are called standing heads, label heads or, my favourite, deadheads. These are fine for use as kickers but headlined need more.
Activate your voice. The dynamic active voice saves words. Acme Helps Customers versus Customer is helped by Acme.
Write in present. Write Acme Announces rather than Acme Announced.
Use short, pithy words. Use short synonyms for long words. Panel or group will fit better into a headline than committee.
Try numbers. The One Minute Manager is the title of a book that was remarkably successful.
Include benefit. Quick Tips to Reduce Your Chances of Cancer includes the benefit words quick and tips. These words tell reader they’ll get fast, condensed information.
Avoid “to be” verbs. Headline writers delete helping verbs such as is and are. This omission saves space and punches up the headline. Physicians Asked to Staff Clinic omits the verb are.
Avoid confusing the line division. Don’t divide hyphenated words or words that go together from one line to the next.
Omit articles. Generally, the articles, a, an and the are omitted to improve action and to save space.
Avoid exclamation points! Replace exclamation points with strong, accurate verbs.
Limit punctuation. Avoid periods (they bring the eye to a stop). Use commas sparingly, although you can use commas in place of the word and.
Watch for overuse of your name. If every headline begins with your company or product name, the headline won’t tell readers that you offer benefits to reading the article. Instead they say, “These articles are written from our point of view.” That’s not the message you want to convey in your promotional newsletter.
Only 9 working days now to get your Christmas Cards in time to send by 2nd class post (18th December). Corporate Christmas Cards and New Year Promotional Print – promote your business or charity with our offers on Wall Calendars, Desk Calendars, Xmas Cards, Promotional Wall Calendars and CD Calendars. We’ve recently redesigned all of our Print Buying Direct website and cut our prices on all promotional print.
We shut down for Xmas on the 23rd December and re-open for business on the 5th January.
For more information on printing and graphic design please see some of our recent blog articles;
- Start With the Desired Response from your Promotional Newsletter
- Writing Newsletter Copy that Sings
- Let Your Subconscious Do the Writing – Newsletter Printing
- Sifting With a Promotional Screen – Newsletter Printing
- Gather Newsletter Content – Preparing for an Interview – Newsletter Printing
- Secrets to Successful Interviews – gathering content for your newsletter
- The Idea File Saves Back-Tracking – Franchising Your Own Newsletter
- Where to Find Great Content Fast for your Newsletter Printing – Franchising Your Own Newsletter
- Where to Find Great Content Fast for your Newsletter Printing
- Where to Find Great Content Fast for your Newsletter Printing – Researching online
Print Buying Direct is the online division and a Trading Name of The Printing House Ltd. One of the UK’s leading quality printing companies for short run, long run and wide format colour printing. Based in Crewe, Cheshire, in the North West of England – delivering to customers across the UK and Ireland.
Also see our other websites
Main Site: www.theprintinghouseltd.co.uk
Buy Print Online: www.printbuyingdirect.co.uk –
Leaflet Printing, Brochure printing, Postcards printed, Appointment cards, graphic design etc
Prospectus Print: www.schoolprospectus.info
Sports Book Print: www.golfclubcentenarybooks.co.uk
April 8th, 2010 at 9:11 am
So pleased to enjoy such a interesting post that does not depend on base posturing to get the idea covered. Thank you for an entertaining read.