You might hear this term a lot…

“Engagement.”

It has nothing to do with marriage proposals, of course.

In marketing, to ‘engage’ means to connect with a potential customer in such a way that they notice you and respond to your message with an action.

It could be that they like your social media post, open your email, click on the link you provide, download a report, or visit your website.

It’s a bit like entering a crowded party at someone’s house and fixing your eyes on a stranger…

If they return your gaze and smile, then you might ‘engage’ them in conversation.

You’ll ask them something and they’ll speak in return.

In real life, it’s usually a case of physically approaching someone in a room and having the nerve to speak.

But when you are trying to romance your potential customers online, all you have are the words and images you use in your emails, social media posts and blog posts.

What’s more, the space you are in is HUGE…

You’re among thousands of Facebookers, Instagrammers, emailers and bloggers in a limitlessly expanding cyberspace.

There is so much noise and chatter…

So many calls for your customer’s attention…

How can you get your message noticed and read?

More importantly, how can you get your message responded to?

After all, you’re trying to grow a following and sell your course or other products and services you may have.

So being noticed is pointless unless something actually HAPPENS next!

Well, one of the key tools at your disposal is ‘the headline’.

This is the short piece of copy at the top of your email, blog post or social media post.

If you do it right, a good headline can reach out and grab someone’s attention… make them irresistibly compelled to look at your message… and much more likely to respond with a like, share, click or query.

When this happens, it means you have ‘engaged’ with someone.

Whether it’s your Instagram post… your reel… your eLetter… your Facebook ad… or your blog post… the principle is the same.

If you want to grab someone’s attention you need to grab them with a great headline.

To give you a shortcut, I thought I’d share 5 of my favourite headlines for ‘engagement’.

These formulas have been around for years, and that’s because they work time and time again.

In my view, when you’re starting out as a course creator, it’s best to try NOT to reinvent the wheel.

So instead, use tried and tested methods that other marketers have invented for you!

With these 5 templates, you can simply fill in the blanks, then use them on your next post or email, and see what happens!

Your 5 headline formulas…

1. X Valuable Lessons I Have Learned About [subject/goal]

This is a great one to try if you already have some followers on social media, or email subscribers. They will know who you are, so when you suggest that you have learned something important, they will be intrigued to know what it is.

An example might be ‘3 Valuable Lessons I Have Learned About Facebook Advertising’.

2. How to (x) Without (y)

This is a classic. You offer them the secret of achieving a goal, or solving a problem WITHOUT a common obstacle. An example might be:

‘How to Grow £50 Worth of Food Every Month Without Having a Garden.’

3. How to Get [x] in Just [y] hours/days/weeks

This one is a variant on number 2 but instead of focussing on the removal of an obstacle, you emphasise the speed, ease or cost.
An example is: ‘How to Create Your Own Profitable Webshop in 60 Minutes’.

If you want to also include another element, for instance, the cost, you might try something like ‘How to Create Your Own Profitable Webshop In 60 Minutes for Less than 99p’.

4. Are You Making This Mistake With Your [subject/goal]?

This one works well because it’s so urgent. It’s something you would want to find out before you suffered any further embarrassment or failure.

The classic example of this is: ‘Are You Making This Mistake With Your English?’

5. Revealed, the Number 1 Reason You’re Not [getting x result]

The word ‘revealed’ is a nice one to use to grab attention, as it suggests new or previously concealed knowledge.

An example of this might be: ‘Revealed, the Number 1 Reason You’re not Getting Enough Instagram followers’.

There are, of course, plenty more formats and formulas that I share in my Course Creation Academy (just email me at [email protected] to find out how to join) but see how you get on with these.

If they work for you – please le me know! I love to see how you’re doing!