1. Headline: 5 times more people read the headline than will read body copy. If the reader likes the Headline they will read the rest of the ad. The Headline is what sparks their curiosity. It should be simple and clearly why the product interests the consumer.
2. News and headlines: Readers buy consumer magazines and newspapers to read the articles. If you have real news such as updates to your product or service or recent innovations make sure you put them in the headline.
3. How many words in a headline? In headline tests conducted with cooperation from a big department store, it was found that headlines of 10 words or longer sold more goods than short headlines. In terms of recall, headlines between 8-and-10 words are most effective. In mail order advertising, headlines between 6-and-12 words get the must coupon returns. On the average, long headlines sell more merchandise than short ones
4. Talk to Your Prospects: When a specific group consumes your product; Speak to them in your headline - Travelers, Seniors, business owners?
5. If the Reader is Interested THey Will Read Long Copy: Readership declines rapidly after fifty words, but continues steadily between 50 and 500 words. Potential buyers will read further into an ad. Spark their interest with the headline, Give them a reason to buy in the copy. We have included many articles from John E. Kennedy and Claude Hopkins on Writing Headlines
6. Before and AfterAds: Before and after ads are above average in grabbing the readers attention. Contrast seems to work well. If then seems to be well understood by the consumer.
7. Photographs vs. drawings: Photographs work better than Art almost all the time. People like to feel thins are "real." The photograph should help pull readers in. Plus it must be pertinent to the product you are selling. The photograph must have story appeal.
8. Captions: Twice as many people read the captions under photographs as read the body copies. Never place a photo without a caption. Because Associated Press Style calls for captions under photos people expect it.
9. News layout vs. Art Style Layout The more the ad looks like the news in the publication generally the higher the readership. Though people do tend to look for the ads in trade publications. The arty layout is much easier to get approved by the client A good ad agency will take the time to explain to the client that the ad must have long copy to make sure the consumer buys the product.
10. Test and Retest Readership has been known to increase with repetition. Continually test new ads against the old ones and run the winner.
About the Author:
Dennis Gartland can help you increase the response rates on your magazine advertisements.
No comments:
Post a Comment