Numbers have always been great at arousing curiosity. Especially in headlines.
When people see numbers, like “top 10 bread-baking shortcuts for non-bakers,” those who fall within that target market will wonder, “what are they?”
Other examples include: “10 fears people are afraid to talk about.” “Turn your marriage around in 24 hours or less!” “How to lose inches off your gut in just 30 days.” “Join 10,000 satisfied clients today.”
But here's a mini-tip.
A powerful tool is specificity. The more specific you are, the more credible your copy will be. Often, really obscure numbers, like 17 or 23, can catch people's attention. But they also connote greater believability as they seem harder to make up.
So instead, use: “9 fears people are afraid to talk about.” “Turn your marriage around in 18 hours or less!” “How to lose 2.5 inches off your gut in just 27 days.” “Join 9,973 satisfied clients today” (or “become our 9,974th satisfied client today”).
Michel Fortin is a strategic marketing consultant and certified digital marketing expert who specializes in helping professionals, experts, and skill-based entrepreneurs build their practices or businesses. With his unique combination of copywriting, SEO, and CRO, he can help improve traffic, leads, and revenue for his clients. For the better part of 30 years, he's produced countless wins, generating in excess of $300 million in sales and results that have broken many industry records. He's the author of two top-selling books and often speaks at industry events. Visit his LinkedIn profile where he is most active.