Two very simple yet very important copywriting tools:
🟢 Headlines & Hooks
Headlines are essentially the title for your content. Placed at the top of your article, blog or post, this is how you grab their attention and it will also be used on Google for searches.
Hooks can be a word or phrase that sparks the reader’s interest or attention. It can also be used in the headline and the first few sentences.
🟢 Why are Headlines and Hooks so important?
One very good reason…
8 out of 10 people read a headline but only 2 out of 10 will read the rest. This means that 80% of headlines aren’t strong enough to engage readers!
So, with that in mind, here are my top tips to make your Headlines and Hooks work for you with your content:
🟢Headlines
1. The Secret of [blank]
This is a great attention-grabbing headline. This is where you can share your insider knowledge about a certain topic and translate that into a benefit for the reader.
Eg The Secret to using LinkedIn as an effective Social Selling Marketing tool is…
2. Here Is a Method That Is Helping [blank] to [blank]
To fill in the blanks here, you’ll want to have a clear understanding of your ideal client and the benefit your content can provide them.
Eg Here is a Method that is helping my clients to engage on LinkedIn
3. Are You [blank]?
Don’t be afraid to be bold with this one. This is a great format to catch attention and curiosity or provide a challenge to the reader.
Eg Are you looking to increase your Lead Gen using LinkedIn?
4. Build a [blank] You Can Be Proud Of
Appeal to the unfulfilled goals that your reader has, which you have the solution for.
Eg Build a website you can be proud of
5. What Everybody Ought to Know About [blank]
This type of headline format has a big curiosity draw and can act as almost a challenge to the reader to go ahead and see if they are missing out on some important piece of information.
Eg What everybody ought to know about UGC
6. See How Easily You Can [desirable result]
This headline format conveys to the reader that they are about to learn something new or gain some advantage.
Eg See how easily you can switch up your branding with a good graphic designer
7. You Don’t Have to Be [something challenging] to be [desired result]
Speaking to people’s preconceived notions about a topic in your headline can eliminate the barrier that stands between them and their desired result.
Eg You don’t have to post on LinkedIn every day to get results.
🟢Hooks
1. Speak directly to the reader
The best copy speaks to the reader, as it feels personalised and keeps their attention. Make the reader feel like it was written for them and avoid being me-centric. Replace words like “us” and “we” with “me” and “my.” Similarly, use “you” where possible.
80% of marketers believe that personalised content is more effective as well.
2. Mention an interesting or shocking statistic
Details are in the data. Incorporating this technique is one of the best methods for interesting readers and backing up points you make.
‘I like doing a simple Google search whenever I need a piece of data for…’
-keyword + stat
Eg if you go to Google and type in ‘blog stats’ it will bring up a bunch of stats about blogs which you could use to persuade your readers the importance of having blogs as part of your content marketing strategy.
3. Ask a question relevant to the audience
Leading with thought-provoking questions is an excellent way to get your audience engaged. A relevant question signals that people have found the right resource, which helps them absorb the content better. Some examples of questions to ask:
- Are you experiencing a problem with…
- Do you have the following…
- The solution to your problem is …
- Do you hold the following Values/beliefs…
- Do you need help with your LinkedIn Marketing?
4. Tell a personal story
Stories play a massive role in marketing. They generate emotion, activate important parts of the brain, and connect with others. And, what’s one of the best stories to tell? Your own. This is because stories also create vulnerability. You’re showing a personal side that many people don’t show in business. The good news is that it will make you stand out for the better!
5. Make an analogy or use a metaphor
A little creativity goes a long way! Analogies and metaphors help people to understand facts and information in a different way as they paint a picture in the reader’s mind
Still confused about how to write for your LinkedIn marketing and content marketing?
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