Most visitors decide in seconds whether to stay on your landing page or click away. Your headline makes that decision for them. If it’s clear, relevant, and engaging, they’ll keep reading. If it’s vague or dull, they’ll leave.
That’s where landing page headline formulas come in. These proven patterns remove the guesswork so you can write attention-grabbing headlines that instantly connect with your audience and boost conversions.
In this guide, I’ll show you step-by-step how to use these formulas, share real-world examples, and give you a copy-and-paste cheat sheet you can test on your own site today.
Headline Cheat Sheet (Copy + Paste)
- How-To: How to [Get Desired Outcome] in [Timeframe]
- Promise: Get [Primary Benefit] Without [Common Objection]
- CTA: [Action] [Outcome] Today
- Numbered: [Number] Ways to [Outcome] for [Audience]
- Testimonial-Style: “We [Achieved Result] in [Timeframe]”
- Offer: Save [X%] on [Product] Until [Deadline]
- Problem→Solution: Tired of [Pain]? Try [Solution] That [Benefit]
- Cliffhanger: These [Number] [Things] Could Help You [Outcome]
- Question: Ready to [Outcome] Without [Objection]?
- Social Proof: Join [Number]+ [Peers] Who [Outcome] with [Brand]
What Are Landing Page Headline Formulas?
Landing page headline formulas are shortcuts for creating great headlines. Instead of guessing about what might work, you can use tried and tested formulas to make headlines for your landing page that are proven to work.
For example, Nathan Barry uses an ‘objection preemptive’ headline formula on his sales page subheading to catch potential customer’s attention:
Here’s the formula: [No/Yes], You [Pre-Empt Objection] to [Achieve Desired Result]
What Makes an Effective Landing Page Headline?
A strong landing page headline shares three traits:
- Clarity – Say what you offer in plain words. No jargon, no guessing.
- Relevance – Match your ad, email, or search keyword so visitors know they’re in the right place.
- Empathy – Show you understand the reader’s pain or goal. Promise the benefit fast.
Tip: Keep headlines short and simple. Studies show readers engage more with clear, everyday language than with clever wordplay.
Why Are Landing Page Headlines Important?
The headline is the first thing people see. In a split second, it shapes whether they trust you and keep reading—or bounce away.
As David Ogilvy put it: “On average, five times as many people read the headline as read the body copy.”
A clear headline forms a strong first impression, encourages visitors to stay, and sets up the rest of your page to convert.
Proven Landing Page Headline Formulas (with Examples)
Once you know what a great headline should include, you’re ready to use our proven landing page headline formulas to make yours stand out and boost conversion rates.
Let’s dive in.
- 1. The How-to Headline Formula
- 2. The Value Proposition
- 3. The Cliffhanger Formula
- 4. The Number Headline
- 5. The Call to Action Formula
- 6. Special Offer Headline Formula
- 7. Testimonial Headline
- 8. The “Without” Formula
- 9. The Mistakes Formula
- 10. The Secrets Formula
- 11. The Case Study Formula
- 12. The Pattern Break Formula
1. The How-to Headline Formula
“How-to” headlines are timeless because they promise a clear solution. Visitors instantly know what they’ll learn or achieve if they keep reading.
Formula: How to [Achieve Desired Outcome]
For example, CityCliq changed their vague headline, “Businesses Grow Faster Online,” to “Create a Webpage for Your Business.”
That small tweak boosted conversions by 90%. Why? Because the headline spelled out the exact outcome in plain language—no guesswork needed.
Try adding urgency (“in 10 Minutes”) or reassurance (“Even If You’re Not a Designer”) to make this formula even stronger.
2. The Value Proposition
Instead of focusing on pain points, the value proposition headline highlights your product’s biggest promise. It tells visitors why your offer is worth their attention.
Formula: Unlock [Promise] for [Benefit]
Cameo uses this approach with the headline: “Unlock the power of celebrity for high-performing creative solutions.”
The unique selling point is “the power of celebrity.” The benefit is “high-performing creative solutions.” Together, it’s a promise that’s both clear and compelling.
3. The Cliffhanger Formula
Cliffhanger headlines tease something exciting but hold back just enough detail to spark curiosity. They’re great for ads, email subject lines, and social posts that lead to your page.
Formula: These [Number] [Things] Could Help You [Desired Outcome]
Moz once tested this by changing “Improve your traffic and rankings with a SEOMoz Pro Membership” to a curiosity-driven headline. The result? They boosted annual revenue by over $1 million.
This works best when you back up the tease with numbers (“These 5 Tricks…”) or a bold claim that makes people want to click through.
4. The Number Headline
Numbers instantly add clarity and authority. Lists and stats make your headline easy to scan and feel more trustworthy.
Formula: [Number] Ways to [Achieve Desired Outcome]
For example, KlientBoost uses a simple numbered headline to promote a free guide. The numbers don’t just highlight the content—they also show how quick it is to consume.
Try lists (“10 Proven Tactics”), statistics (“Join 50,000+ Users”), or time-based numbers (“Get Results in 7 Days”). All three formats give readers an instant sense of value.
5. The Call to Action Formula
A headline can act as your call to action. Instead of passively describing benefits, you tell visitors exactly what to do and what they’ll get.
Formula: [Action] [Outcome]
Here’s a great example from Noah Kagan. His headline invites visitors to “Get My Best Updates” (the action) and promises “Delivered to Your Inbox” (the outcome).
This formula works well when paired with an optin form or free bonus. The more specific the action and reward, the more likely users will respond.
6. Special Offer Headline Formula
When your goal is sales or signups, lead with the deal. A clear discount or offer in the headline sets expectations and gives users an immediate reason to act.
Formula: Save [Discount] on [Product/Service]
At SeedProd we used this approach for seasonal promos like Black Friday. The savings are front and center so users know they’re in the right place.
Pairing urgency (“Today Only”) or a deadline with this formula can lift conversions even higher.
7. Testimonial Headline
Social proof builds trust fast. Instead of telling visitors how great your product is, let your customers do it for you.
There’s no set formula—you can often just use the testimonial itself as your headline. For example, Zoho CRM highlights a real customer quote right at the top of their page.
You can also adapt this into a case study headline: “How [Company] Achieved [Result] in [Timeframe].” Both styles reduce risk for new visitors by showing proof from people like them.
8. The “Without” Formula
This formula is all about removing objections. It shows readers they can get the result they want without the hassle they dread.
Formula: How to [Achieve Outcome] Without [Pain Point]
Example: How to Build a High-Converting Landing Page Without Hiring a Developer
Use this when you know your audience’s biggest barrier—like cost, time, or skill level—and flip it into reassurance right in the headline.
9. The Mistakes Formula
Pointing out mistakes is an easy way to spark curiosity. Readers want to check if they’re guilty of them, and if so, how to fix them.
Formula: [Number] Mistakes People Make When [Task]
Example: 7 Mistakes People Make When Writing Landing Page Headlines
This approach works best for educational content. Just be sure to pair each “mistake” with a clear fix so your page is more helpful than critical.
10. The Secrets Formula
People love insider knowledge. Positioning your tips as “secrets” makes them feel exclusive, even if the advice is simple and practical.
Formula: [Number] Secrets to [Desired Outcome]
Example: 10 Secrets to Crafting Landing Page Headlines That Convert
Pair this with specific, actionable insights so readers walk away feeling like they truly learned something they can’t get elsewhere.
11. The Case Study Formula
Case study headlines work because they highlight real-world proof. Instead of vague promises, they show how someone else achieved measurable results.
Formula: How [Company] Got [Result] in [Timeframe]
Example: How Shopify Increased Landing Page Conversions by 35% in 30 Days
Use this when you have strong data or customer stories to back you up. It builds trust instantly and encourages readers to imagine achieving the same outcome.
12. The Pattern Break Formula
Sometimes the best way to grab attention is to go against expectations. A counterintuitive or surprising claim makes readers pause and think, “Wait, really?”
Formula: Why [Counterintuitive Claim]
Example: Why Short, Simple Headlines Outperform Clever Ones
This formula works especially well for thought leadership content. Just be sure the claim is backed by data or examples so it feels credible, not clickbait.
How to Create a Landing Page on WordPress
After planning your landing page headline and content, you’ll likely be looking to create it in the easiest and quickest way possible. Luckily we have the ideal solution for creating a landing page easily on your WordPress website.
SeedProd is the best WordPress website builder with drag-and-drop functionality. Not only can it help you create complete WordPress sites without hiring a developer, but it also lets you create high-converting landing pages without code.
You can start with a responsive landing page template, then customize your design visually with drag and drop. It also includes powerful blocks and sections designed to help you achieve the best results for your marketing campaign, including:
- Optin forms to grow your email list
- Contact forms with minimal form fields
- Countdown timers to increase urgency
- Full-screen lightbox popups to engage users
- Dynamic headlines to match your campaign to different audiences
- Testimonials to improve trust
- And much more
SeedProd works seamlessly with popular WordPress plugins and integrates directly with the best email marketing providers, making it super easy to use the tools you love simultaneously. It’s also lightweight and bloat-free, ensuring your page load times are always as fast as possible.
FAQs About Landing Page Headline Formulas
You can use SeedProd, a drag-and-drop WordPress website builder, to create a landing page easily. It offers templates, customization options, and integrates with email marketing tools, all without needing to code.
Sure! An example is ‘Create a Webpage for Your Business,’ which clearly states the outcome visitors will achieve by engaging with the page’s content.
Some popular formulas include the how-to headline, the value proposition, cliffhanger, numbered headlines, call to action, special offer, testimonial, the without formula, mistakes, secrets, case study, and pattern break formulas.
An effective landing page headline should be clear, relevant, and empathetic. It should clearly explain what you offer, match your visitors’ search intent or ad, and show that you understand their pain or goal, while being short and simple.
I hope this guide has helped you find the best landing page headline formulas and examples for your business.
You might also like this guide on split testing your landing page for even more conversions.
Thanks for reading! We’d love to hear your thoughts, so please feel free to leave a comment with any questions and feedback.
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