5 Headline Tips from Claude Hopkins That Will Boost Your Clicks!

Claude Hopkins was a master of advertising, one of the greatest minds to ever work in the field! He’s the reason we use things like money-back guarantees, market research, and free samples or trials in ads.

Back in his day, he even created promo codes for his ads so he could track their success. Those codes let him know which ads were working and which weren’t, helping him fine-tune his strategy to get better results. Pretty cool, right?

But Hopkins didn’t just stop there; he actually wrote a book called Scientific Advertising, which is still a treasure trove of advertising wisdom.

One of his main points? Your headline matters more than you might think.

It’s what grabs attention and gives people a taste of the value they’ll find inside.

Let’s break down some key tips from Hopkins that can help you create headlines that really work.

Tip #1 - Make Your Headlines A Filter

Imagine you’re at a busy concert, trying to get your friend’s attention.

If you just yell, “HEY!” a few people might glance over, but most will keep on dancing. But if you shout, “Hey, Sarah!” your friend Sarah will look over right away.

That’s the idea with headlines!

It’s tempting to try and write for everyone, but here’s the thing: you don’t need everyone. You need the right people—the ones who care about what you’re saying.

Hopkins did this brilliantly.

He wrote headlines that spoke to a specific group, like “To Housewives” or “To Open-Minded Women.”

But he didn’t just call out to them; he tapped into what they cared about.

For example, his headline “Amazing New Formula” worked because it reached older women who wanted to look younger.

That headline didn’t try to catch everyone’s eye—just the people who would love the product.

Tip #2 - Show People The Value Right Away

People are busy.

Hopkins knew this, even way back then.

If a headline didn’t quickly show what an article was about, readers would just move on.

So, your headline should make it crystal clear what readers will get.

Got helpful tips? Make sure they know.

For example, instead of a title like “Climbing the Mountain,” try something more direct, like “How to Climb the Career Ladder Faster.”

This way, readers know what’s inside, and if it’s what they’re looking for, they’re much more likely to click.

Tip #3 - Spend Time Crafting Your Headlines

Believe it or not, a great headline can take time to get right.

Claude Hopkins often spent more time on his headlines than on the entire ad!

He knew that the headline was like the key to getting people to read.

Why? Because the headline is your first impression!

It can mean the difference between 10 readers and 1,000.

So, try writing a few options, then look them over after finishing your article to see which one feels like the best fit.

Tip #4 - Add Credibility With Specifics

Hopkins also understood the power of specifics.

Instead of saying “Best in the World,” which can sound like empty bragging, he’d add something clear like, “This 10-Day Test Has Shown Millions the Way to White Teeth.”

Details like numbers and timelines make a headline feel real and trustworthy.

Plus, details spark curiosity! A specific headline feels more like an invitation to learn something concrete.

Tip #5 - Know What Your Readers Want

After a while, you start to get a sense of what your readers enjoy most.

Imagine you’re making a menu for an Italian restaurant; you wouldn’t add sushi because that’s not what your diners are there for.

Instead, you’d keep serving the Italian dishes they came to enjoy.

In the same way, tailor your headlines and topics to the things your readers already enjoy.

Hopkins would tell us to give readers what they expect and love, like serving up their favorite meal.

Final Thought

Your headline is the key to grabbing the right readers, showing them value, and building trust. Hopkins’ principles may be over a century old, but they’re still helping writers and advertisers capture attention today.

Next time you’re working on a headline, try out these classic tips from the original ad wizard himself and see how it helps you reach the people who really want to hear what you’ve got to say!

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