Comments on: Benefit Headlines Don’t Work http://bly.com/blog/general/benefit-headlines-dont-work/ bly.com direct marketing blog Mon, 21 May 2012 07:00:12 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: ProCopywritingTactics http://bly.com/blog/general/benefit-headlines-dont-work/#comment-682043 ProCopywritingTactics Tue, 07 Feb 2012 17:01:41 +0000 http://www.bly.com/blog/?p=164#comment-682043 Test, test, test. That's the only way to find out what works. Clayton made some really valid points in his argument and got me to take a second look at my benefit oriented headlines. Test, test, test. That’s the only way to find out what works. Clayton made some really valid points in his argument and got me to take a second look at my benefit oriented headlines.

]]> By: Lode M. Loyens http://bly.com/blog/general/benefit-headlines-dont-work/#comment-677990 Lode M. Loyens Tue, 06 Oct 2009 02:58:42 +0000 http://www.bly.com/blog/?p=164#comment-677990 I love what you wrote here. It's so true. All too many emails are too common, too sales like. I also learned that negative subject lines inspire people to open the emails as well. I gather it is because no one likes the sense of losing or missing out on something. Thanks. Lode I love what you wrote here. It’s so true. All too many emails are too common, too sales like. I also learned that negative subject lines inspire people to open the emails as well. I gather it is because no one likes the sense of losing or missing out on something.

Thanks.

Lode

]]> By: Liz Gray http://bly.com/blog/general/benefit-headlines-dont-work/#comment-676216 Liz Gray Tue, 14 Apr 2009 20:04:31 +0000 http://www.bly.com/blog/?p=164#comment-676216 I'm on the "SUCKER" list for weight loss products. I can tell you what makes me decide NOT to buy. Unrealistic claims... no definite product info such as ingrediants and ammounts. I want the facts, double-blind studies, exact ammount tested, when and where. Have the studies been replicated recently? Testimonials are of limited value. No weight loss pill will make a husband become passionate, or guarentee a big promotion to the front office. Keep it real. Truth sells. Good Luck, Liz Gray I’m on the “SUCKER” list for weight loss products. I can tell you what makes me decide NOT to buy. Unrealistic claims… no definite product info such as ingrediants and ammounts.

I want the facts, double-blind studies, exact ammount tested, when and where. Have the studies been replicated recently? Testimonials are of limited value.

No weight loss pill will make a husband become passionate, or guarentee a big promotion to the front office.

Keep it real. Truth sells. Good Luck, Liz Gray

]]> By: Mark E http://bly.com/blog/general/benefit-headlines-dont-work/#comment-676104 Mark E Mon, 30 Mar 2009 13:24:13 +0000 http://www.bly.com/blog/?p=164#comment-676104 I think subject lines that contain a brand name that the recipient knows and trusts generally get higher open rates. Why? Because that is what stands out from the junk email that litters the email box. Use email to reinforce your brand strengths. If the people who recieve your email have never heard of you then it probably won't get opened! You need to build the brand first. I think subject lines that contain a brand name that the recipient knows and trusts generally get higher open rates. Why? Because that is what stands out from the junk email that litters the email box. Use email to reinforce your brand strengths. If the people who recieve your email have never heard of you then it probably won’t get opened! You need to build the brand first.

]]> By: Write Good Headlines to Increase Traffic and Get Results http://bly.com/blog/general/benefit-headlines-dont-work/#comment-675587 Write Good Headlines to Increase Traffic and Get Results Mon, 02 Feb 2009 13:05:32 +0000 http://www.bly.com/blog/?p=164#comment-675587 [...] Lots of advice exists on this subject from marketers and news professionals, but no matter what type of content you are writing, whether it is a blog post, and e-mail newsletter, or an on-line article, there a few common rules to follow: [...] [...] Lots of advice exists on this subject from marketers and news professionals, but no matter what type of content you are writing, whether it is a blog post, and e-mail newsletter, or an on-line article, there a few common rules to follow: [...]

]]> By: Ian Brodie http://bly.com/blog/general/benefit-headlines-dont-work/#comment-675195 Ian Brodie Tue, 16 Dec 2008 01:23:51 +0000 http://www.bly.com/blog/?p=164#comment-675195 I've come to this debate very late (thanks to a link from Mailchimp) - but note that much of what has been said here about a jaded attitude to benefits statements in advertising applies equally to the use of benefits in my own field of face-to-face selling. We should bear in mind though that we in the sales or copywriting professions are probably rather more jaded than our target customers - after all, we've seen many times more ads than they have. So at the end of the day, it's only the raw had facts of testign that can guide us to the truth. Ian I’ve come to this debate very late (thanks to a link from Mailchimp) – but note that much of what has been said here about a jaded attitude to benefits statements in advertising applies equally to the use of benefits in my own field of face-to-face selling.

We should bear in mind though that we in the sales or copywriting professions are probably rather more jaded than our target customers – after all, we’ve seen many times more ads than they have. So at the end of the day, it’s only the raw had facts of testign that can guide us to the truth.

Ian

]]> By: David Grebowd http://bly.com/blog/general/benefit-headlines-dont-work/#comment-673564 David Grebowd Wed, 07 May 2008 21:36:16 +0000 http://www.bly.com/blog/?p=164#comment-673564 Clayton cleared up a lot about "Dominant Emotion" and "Benefit" driven headlines for your ads. I just wanted to add my list of FACT-BASED Headlines specifically for email subject lines. If you use email to get people TO your ads, if they don't open them, then emotion or benefit-driven becomes moot. Plus I find that using the FACT-BASED header as a third way to get your direct response emails opened, ads read, and help people enter the sales funnel works as well Note: ALL of the following have worked and generate the best attention-getters and open sesame commands I have found and tested. Try one and see how it works for your next email and corresponding direct response piece: 1. [COMPANYNAME] Sales & Marketing Newsletter 2. Eye on [COMPANYNAME] Update(May 31-June 13) 3. [COMPANYNAME] Customer Testimonials 4. [COMPANYNAME] May 2008 News Bulletin! 5. [COMPANYNAME] Newsletter - February 2008 6. [COMPANYNAME] Newsletter - January 2008 for [ *|FNAME|* *|LNAME|* ] 7. [COMPANYNAME] and [COMPANYNAME] Invites You! 8. Happy Holidays from [COMPANYNAME] 9. ATTENTION [COMPANYNAME] Members-Only! 10. ATTENTION [COMPANYNAME] Readers!! 11. Invitation from [COMPANYNAME] 12. [COMPANYNAME] May/June 2008 Newsletter 13. Website news - Issue 3 - [COMPANYNAME] 14. Upcoming Events at [COMPANYNAME] 15. [COMPANYNAME] Advisors: Letter of Interest 16. Coffee Xchange - [Company]-[Disaster]Update 17. We're Throwing a Party! 18. May 2008 Newsletter - Your Choice... 19. [COMPANYNAME]: 05.10.08 Company Newsletter Obviously many of these are opt-in and from a company. But ANY [COMPANYNAME] works, especially if it has an Inc. after it. These are meant to get you thinking about a third TEST after the dominant emotion or benefit-driven headline that Clayton Makepeace and Carline Anglade-Cole talk about. The SKEPTICAL ... but CURIOUS. Enjoy and Learn! David Grebow www. davidgrebow.com Clayton cleared up a lot about “Dominant Emotion” and “Benefit” driven headlines for your ads.

I just wanted to add my list of FACT-BASED Headlines specifically for email subject lines. If you use email to get people TO your ads, if they don’t open them, then emotion or benefit-driven becomes moot.

Plus I find that using the FACT-BASED header as a third way to get your direct response emails opened, ads read, and help people enter the sales funnel works as well

Note: ALL of the following have worked and generate the best attention-getters and open sesame commands I have found and tested. Try one and see how it works for your next email and corresponding direct response piece:

1. [COMPANYNAME] Sales & Marketing Newsletter
2. Eye on [COMPANYNAME] Update(May 31-June 13)
3. [COMPANYNAME] Customer Testimonials
4. [COMPANYNAME] May 2008 News Bulletin!
5. [COMPANYNAME] Newsletter – February 2008
6. [COMPANYNAME] Newsletter – January 2008
for [ *|FNAME|* *|LNAME|* ]
7. [COMPANYNAME] and [COMPANYNAME] Invites You!
8. Happy Holidays from [COMPANYNAME]
9. ATTENTION [COMPANYNAME] Members-Only!
10. ATTENTION [COMPANYNAME] Readers!!
11. Invitation from [COMPANYNAME]
12. [COMPANYNAME] May/June 2008 Newsletter
13. Website news – Issue 3 – [COMPANYNAME]
14. Upcoming Events at [COMPANYNAME]
15. [COMPANYNAME] Advisors: Letter of Interest
16. Coffee Xchange – [Company]-[Disaster]Update
17. We’re Throwing a Party!
18. May 2008 Newsletter – Your Choice…
19. [COMPANYNAME]: 05.10.08 Company Newsletter

Obviously many of these are opt-in and from a company. But ANY [COMPANYNAME] works, especially if it has an Inc. after it. These are meant to get you thinking about a third TEST after the dominant emotion or benefit-driven headline that Clayton Makepeace and Carline Anglade-Cole talk about. The SKEPTICAL … but CURIOUS.

Enjoy and Learn!
David Grebow
www. davidgrebow.com

]]> By: Helga http://bly.com/blog/general/benefit-headlines-dont-work/#comment-614096 Helga Sun, 18 Nov 2007 19:28:18 +0000 http://www.bly.com/blog/?p=164#comment-614096 huyak huyak

]]> By: mztzhknsvl http://bly.com/blog/general/benefit-headlines-dont-work/#comment-394847 mztzhknsvl Wed, 20 Jun 2007 18:49:50 +0000 http://www.bly.com/blog/?p=164#comment-394847 Hello! Good Site! Thanks you! waxiggyhef Hello! Good Site! Thanks you! waxiggyhef

]]> By: qprkunvuwq http://bly.com/blog/general/benefit-headlines-dont-work/#comment-393004 qprkunvuwq Tue, 19 Jun 2007 17:33:23 +0000 http://www.bly.com/blog/?p=164#comment-393004 Hello! Good Site! Thanks you! wnynyidgsz Hello! Good Site! Thanks you! wnynyidgsz

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