The AIDA method of writing

So, I have searched around the Internet and found a cookie cutter marketing method that beginners can use.

It is called the AIDA method. Now I am no marketing expert but I am a beginner and a very good writer and researcher. This method seems awesome to me. In this post I am going to cover just the A in AIDA. AIDA stands for Attention, Interest, Desire and Action. Each step, when done effectively brings you closer to a sale.

I will reveal my research and findings of each letter in a different post. I hope that you enjoy this content.

Okay, so let’s get started. The first step is to grab the attention of your audience. Some suggest that you do this with imagery. Far too often this boils down to using sexual imagery to get attention.

This doesn’t work for all products. Are there other methods to get your audience’s attention? Absolutely!!! According to Copyblogger.com there are approximately 17 different formulas that you can use to grab the attention of your audience.

All of these headlines have been used successfully in the past in both mainstream and internet marketing avenues. What that means is that they have already been tested and should still be effective.

I personally like these formulas and templates because they take the guesswork out of creating an attention grabbing headline. They are also flexible enough to allow a person to understand how to create an effective headline.


1. Who Else Wants [blank]?
Starting a headline with “Who Else Wants…” is a classic social proof strategy that implies an already existing consensus desire. While over used in the Internet marketing arena, it still works like gangbusters for other subject matter.

• Who Else Wants a Great WordPress Theme?
• Who Else Wants a Higher Paying Job?
• Who Else Wants More Fun and Less Stress When on Vacation?

2. The Secret of [blank]
This one is used quite a bit, but that’s because it works. Share insider knowledge and translate it into a benefit for the reader.

• The Secret of Successful Podcasting
• The Secret of Protecting Your Assets in Litigation
• The Secret of Getting Your Home Loan Approved

3. Here is a Method That is Helping [blank] to [blank]
Simply identify your target audience and the benefit you can provide them, and fill in the blanks.

• Here is a Method That is Helping Homeowners Save Hundreds on Insurance
• Here is a Method That is Helping Children Learn to Read Sooner
• Here is a Method That is Helping Bloggers Write Better Post Titles

4. Little Known Ways to [blank]
A more intriguing (and less common) way of accomplishing the same thing as “The Secret of…” headline.

• Little Known Ways to Save on Your Heating Bill
• Little Known Ways to Hack Google’s Gmail
• Little Known Ways to Lose Weight Quickly and Safely

5. Get Rid of [problem] Once and For All
A classic formula that identifies either a painful problem or an unfulfilled desire that the reader wants to remedy.

• Get Rid of Your Unproductive Work Habits Once and For All
• Get Rid of That Carpet Stain Once and For All
• Get Rid of That Lame Mullet Hairdo Once and For All

6. Here’s a Quick Way to [solve a problem]
People love quick and easy when it comes to solving a nagging problem.

• Here’s a Quick Way to Get Over a Cold
• Here’s a Quick Way to Potty Train Junior
• Here’s a Quick Way to Backup Your Hard Drive

7. Now You Can Have [something desirable] [great circumstance]
The is the classic “have your cake and eat it too” headline — and who doesn’t like that?

• Now You Can Quit Your Job and Make Even More Money
• Now You Can Meet Sexy Singles Online Without Spending a Dime
• Now You Can Own a Cool Mac and Still Run Windows

8. [Do something] like [world-class example]
Gatorade milked this one fully with the “Be Like Mike” campaign featuring Michael Jordan in the early 1990s.

• Speak Spanish Like a Diplomat
• Party Like Paris Hilton
• Blog Like an A-Lister

9. Have a [or] Build a [blank] You Can Be Proud Of
Appeal to vanity, dissatisfaction, or shame. Enough said.

• Build a Body You Can Be Proud Of
• Have a Smile You Can Be Proud Of
• Build a Blog Network You Can Be Proud Of

10. What Everybody Ought to Know About [blank]
Big curiosity draw with this type of headline, and it acts almost as a challenge to the reader to go ahead and see if they are missing something.

• What Everybody Ought to Know About ASP
• What Everybody Ought to Know About Adjustable Rate Mortgages
• What Everybody Ought to Know About Writing Great Headlines7
• More Sure-Fire Headline Templates That Work

11. Give Me [short time period] and I’ll Give You [blank].
This headline promises a strong benefit to the reader, like all good headlines do. But this one is especially effective because it promises to deliver in a very short time period.

• Give Me Five Days – And I’ll Give You the Secret of Learning any Subject!
• Give Me Three Minutes a Day – and I’ll Give You a Better Complexion.
• Give Me 3 Minutes and I’ll Make You a Better Blogger!

12. If You Don’t [blank] Now, You’ll Hate Yourself Later.
We love to belong, but feeling excluded is a real bummer. Whether it be a financial opportunity or the social event of the year, we simply hate it when we get left out.

• If You’re Out of the Market Now, You’ll Hate Yourself Later.
• If You’re Not at SXSW 2007, You’ll Hate Yourself Later.
• If You Don’t Edit Your .htaccess Now, Google Will Hate You Later.

13. The Lazy [blank’s] Way to [blank].
This headline has always worked well with time-pressured people, and that’s certainly true for most people today. No one likes to think of themselves as lazy, but everyone likes to save time and effort.

• The Lazy Man’s Way to Riches.
• The Lazy Dad’s Way to Quickly Getting Dinner on the Table.
• The Lazy Blogger’s Way to Write Great Post Titles.

14. Do You Recognize the [number] Early Warning Signs of [blank]?
OK, technically this is still a list, but it’s wrapped up in a much more compelling structure than your typical “Top 10” article. People want to avoid problems, and this headline promises the critical tips before it’s too late.

• Do You Recognize the 7 Early Warning Signs of High Blood Pressure?
• Do You Recognize the 7 Early Warning Signs of an Employee Meltdown?
• Do You Recognize the 7 Early Warning Signs of Digg Addiction?

15. See How Easily You Can [desirable result].
We love quick and easy when it comes to learning something new or gaining some advantage.

• See How Easily You Can Learn to Dance This New Way.
• See How Easily You Can Own a Lamborghini Miura.
• See How Easily You Can Increase Traffic With Social Media.

16. You Don’t Have to Be [something challenging] to be [desired result].
People almost always have preconceived notions about things, and this can be a barrier to taking action. Remove the barrier that stands between them and the desired result with your headline, and people will flock to read what you have to say.

• You Don’t Have to Be Rich to Retire on a Guaranteed Income for Life.
• You Don’t Have to Be a Geek to Make Money Online.
• You Don’t Have to Be an A-Lister to Be a Kick-Ass Blogger.

17. Do You Make These Mistakes?
This is always a powerful attention grabber, since no one likes to make mistakes. If you’ve targeted your content well for your intended audience, helping people avoid common mistakes is a sure-fire winner with this type of headline.


A member of copy blogger also gave this as a way to create great headlines:

Testimonial: Heart Surgery May Be A Thing of the Past

Skeptical: That’s Why I Told My Wife Brokerages Are a Waste of Money

Suspicion: I Wonder If Scientists Really Can Control The Weather?

Story: As They Got Closer We All Thought They Would Kiss

A shocking fact: In the U.S. 9 out of 10 traditional businesses fail!

A thought provoking question: How do you know if you have a business plan for success or a business plan for failure?


The formulas and templates presented in this article is from an article written by:
Brian Clark
www.copyblogger.com


So, hopefully this will help you create those mouth watering headlines that will have your audience coming back for more.