In this article, you’ll learn how to use The Treasure Trove of Headline Inspiration, so you can write better headlines and write them faster. What’s more, you can also “steal” ideas for future training narratives.
What is a treasure trove?
A treasure trove of headlines is usually called a swipe file. It is a collection of inspirational examples to inspire your own writing and help you learn what works with headlining your modlettes.
Stealing headline ideas is not plagiarising. You simply use proven formulas to create your own headlines. You’re inspired by others, but you can create your own version. This works best if you use headlines from a different niche.
I talk about stealing headlines here, but remember, this is like an apprenticeship. You learn from master craftsmen, and you learn best by imitating their work.
Let’s see how this works …
How to steal with plagiarising
Imagine you work as a business coach. You could steal your headlines from different websites like this:
Example 1:
Headline from Marc & Angel: 15-quotes-that-will-change-the-way-you-treat-people
New Headline: 15 Quotes That Will Transform Your Freelance Business Shorter Headline: 15 Quotes That Will Transform Your Freelance Life
The original headline promises you inspiration to change the way you treat people. While not stated explicitly, it implies that this will help you have smooth or more beneficial relationships and move through life with more ease. This could very well apply to a business, too. So you could rewrite this headline as : 15 Quotes That Will Change the Way You Run Your Freelance Business. This might feel a little long, so you can shorten it to: 15 Quotes that Will Transform Your Freelance Business, or you can change business into life.
Example 2:
Headline from Parents: How to Retire Early Even If You Have Kids
New Headline: How to Sell Training Programmes as a Home Business If You Have Kids.
How to Start a Home Business Even if You’re no Entrepreneur.
The key to stealing good headlines is applying the formula to the needs of your audience. What do they wish to do? What’s stopping them? How can you help them achieve what they want? In the case of this last example, you want to know the strongest stumbling block that stops your audience from starting their business, and that’s what you add after “even if”.
Playing with headlines can inspire a lot of ideas for new training initiatives. Moreover, by studying headlines that have gone viral, you can sharpen your understanding what works in the blogsphere and translate this interest into small training programmes.
Have fun with headlines.