There are basically eight types of headlines:

1. The Direct Headline

2. The Indirect Headline

3. The Command Headline

4. The How To Headline

5. The Reason Why Headline

6. The Testimonial Headline

7. The News Headline

8. The Question Headline

Here's a simple guide to creating effective headlines and bullets

There is a very specific process I go through when I create headlines, (sorry…but that’s my secret). To make it simple for you here’s what you should do.

First become thoroughly familiar with your product's features and benefits. Then scan the following list of templates, visualize how the templates apply to your product and then create an appropriate headline.

The list that follows is a partial list of Headline Templates. A template is a pattern, which can be used as a guide. They can be used as guides to creating or inspiring readers. If you are interested in having hundreds of headlines in electronic template format, available to you 24 hours a day at your fingertips, read the special section at the end of this page or visit my product page.

Headline Style #1: Begin With Numbers People Are Attracted To Specificity

• 3 Ways To Get Smarter Almost Instantly
• 12 Secrets For Increasing Your Income
• 21 New Ways To Motivate Any Employee
• 56 No-Fail Strategies For Achieving Success
• 7 S.E.C.R.E.T. Steps To Better Sex
• 9 Ways To Avoid The Most "Deadly" Advertising Mistakes
• 99 Sure Ways To Sharpen Your Golf Game
• 27 Questions You Must Ask Any Job Applicant And The One Question That Will Separate The Serious Applicant From The Rest
• 5 Of 54 Reasons Why You’ll Love Brother’s Bibs

In making up your own headlines, you should replace the underlined words and phrases with your own words and phrases. The underlining is suggestive of places where simple changes can be made. Don't hesitate to also vary the other words according to your own inspiration.

For example, the first headline on the list: "3 Ways To Get Smarter Almost Instantly" might become

"3 Ways To Lose 10 Pounds Almost Instantly"
Or
"6 Ways You Can Slim Down In The Next 30 Days."

Notice how in the first example I made changes to only the underlined parts of the headline. Also notice how in the second example I made changes to the non-underlined parts as well.

These bulleted templates are most useful for bullets and headlines. However, they may also be useful for inspiring book/report titles as well as captions for illustrations.

Let's move on and see some more examples...