People seemed to have a lot of fun with the Cosmo headline challenge for content inspiration, so let’s do it again. In the interest of balance, this time we’ll pick on metrosexual men’s magazine Details and see what we can come up with from the headlines on the cover.
As with last time, I’ll hand out headline assignments to various bloggers to see if they can produce the corresponding post. Also as with last time, everyone else is free to join in. Simply drop the link to your post that uses a modified version of one of the original Details headlines, and I’ll do a link roundup of everyone who plays along.
So, let’s get started writing some headlines that will make even David Beckham look away from the mirror. Well, maybe that’s a stretch… but you get the idea.
Details Headline – “27 Secrets to Dressing Like a Leading Man”
Mike Sigers aspires to be the king of the audio interview, or as I call him, the Larry King of the South. Can you knock this one out, Mike?
27 Secrets to Interviewing Like Larry King
You don’t have to come up with 27 if, you know, you need to wimp out. No pressure. 🙂
Details Headline – “It’s Time to Break Up With Your Boss”
Hmmm… this is a headline that’s adaptable to almost any situation involving discontent.
Steven Bradley, how about this one?
It’s Time to Break Up With Your Web Host
This is like the Pepsi Challenge of web hosting. And if you’re too young to remember the Pepsi Challenge, catch Pulp Fiction for the reference.
Details Headline – “The Jeans No Man Should Ever Own”
Skellie has her head together when it comes to smart blogging, so I’d like to see this one from her:
The Five Posts No Blogger Should Ever Write
As for the jeans, I’m positive my vintage Marty Mcfly Guess? ensemble will be back in style this year. Seriously.
Details Headline – “Worry Nation: Is Anxiety Taking Over Your Life?”
Jon Morrow knows that even troubled economic times present opportunities to make money for those who pay attention. Jon, how about this one?
Recession Nation: Are Money Worries Causing You to Miss Out?
I can’t think of anything witty to say here, so at least I’m consistent.
Details Headline – “Make Going Gray Sexy”
Let’s leave this one open for the taking. The whole key to this headline is the contrast between the subject and the ending adjective. It can be a bit tough to work with a four-word structure, but sometimes the constraint will lead to headline gold.
Some ideas:
- Make Geeking Out Cool
- Make Family Reunions Fun
- Make Insurance Seminars Interesting
Um, I’m quite sure someone out there can do better than that. Have fun, and don’t forget to drop your link in the comment section in the next week or so.
Reader Comments (61)
Brian,
I put a Wal-Mart twist on the Anxiety headline. Hope you enjoy it.
Ha, fun! I just dropped a comment in the Cosmo post about using “The Most Satisfying Marketing Position” the other day.
Think I’ll wander off and start posting something along the lines of “Make Compassion Competitive.” Or maybe “Make Competition Compassionate.”
It looks like I’ve been challenged to write a post worthy of a headline. Good timing as I was just about to generate some ideas for a post tomorrow. I guess I now have a topic.
Mark I like it. Good advice.
Sonia, this is totally true: I was going to assign the last one to you and offer this angle:
Make Bald Your Brand: The Seth Godin Story
But then I thought, don’t we talk about that guy enough? 🙂
Steven, sorry for the “ph” instead of “v” in your first name. Fixed.
Can’t wait! Ideas are churning already.
Here’s five things no resume should ever say. Thanks for the inspiration to write such a fun post!
Great post on the benefits of writing tantalizing headlines.
Loved what I’ve seen so far….many of them captured my attention, brought a magical smile to my face, and made me want to Click.
Uuf, sooo many ideas… Make sitting in traffic fun! Make eating chocolate painless! Make public speaking pleasurable!
I march on… great post as usual…
Thanks Brian!
Pam 🙂
Here’s a take on the gray being sexy headline… Could the Wii Make Chronic Pain Sexy?
Fun challenge, Brian. Thanks.
Whew! Here’s my 27 Secrets to Linking Like a Master Networker.
I thought it would be a real challenge, but it was actually great, writing a post with so many points, because it really helped me think creatively and add beyond where I might normally go.
I had a lot of fun with this last time, so I’m glad to see you’re doing it again, Brian. The combined challenge/open-house aspect rocks, too – because I get to act pretentious and play the game 😉 I’m writin’!
Brian,
Here are 27 Secrets to Thinking Like a Freelance Copywriter
Oh God. Details aka “27 ways to be a bigger douchbag that you already are” magazine. I abhor Details, yet I get it in the mail because some guy a year ago came to the house selling them (Office Space style) and I wanted to help him out.
So now because I wanted to get some guy off crack, I dry heave when I open my mailbox once a month.
Eh, at least it’s useful for headlines.
27 positions… details included! i hope i manged to follow the gist of this challenge correctly?
DunCAN
The Cosmo headline challenge was great. Here’s my effort for Details:
http://tuneupyoureq.com/2008/02/05/make-emotions/
Hi brian,
I wrote on microsoft takeover bid here
http://hubpages.com/hub/yahoo-bid
Headline – My 2 Cents on Microsoft’s hostile bid for Yahoo
Any clues on spicing up such a topic ??
Vineet
Well Brian, you got me thinking…
…so I put something together for the “open section.”
“Make Your Inexperience Sell” (link is on my name)
@ Vineet – How about “Hostile Microsoft Bid worth 2 cents!”
5 Secrets To Analyzing Your Target Market
and The Five Things E-Mails Should Never Say
Concealer Cover-up: Men and Makeup
Coming up with the headlines I think is an amazing opportunity for students who want to get into copy writing. Great thing to put on your resume!
“It’s time to cheat on your publisher”
http://drewkime.blogspot.com/2008/02/its-time-to-cheat-on-your-publisher.html
I figure, why break up when you can just cheat and get both.
Having some trouble posting this, so my apologies if it shows up twice.
In honor of Valentine’s Day: It’s Time to Break Up with Your Brick and Mortar
I thought I’d let you know my post is ready.
It’s Time To Break Up With Your Web Host
I forgot how difficult it is for me to write about anything hosting related, but I took it as a challenge and hopefully lived up to a great title.
Brian,
Awesome! Loved the Cosmo idea and I’m cooking up a post now for this new shin-dig…
“One Email No Video Client Should Ever Write”
Coming soon…
Another one for your list:
Make Routine Activities Surprising
Thanks for the great inspiration!
Brian, that made me laugh, thanks. 🙂
@ james. kindda cachy. that changes the meaning of the topic. Isnt it supposed to mean the same ?
re u pulling my leg ??
My effort is here – it’s about software writing tools and various alternatives to Word, called ‘It’s time to break up with your word processor’: http://writemindset.com/writing/89/break-up-with-your-word-processor.html
@ Vineet – I wasn’t joking. If your thoughts are worth two cents (according to you,) and you had a thought about the Microsoft bid, then… 🙂
Thanks. These are great examples and your headline ideas are brilliant.
People have come up with some great posts. I especially enjoyed Tiffany’s 27 Secrets to Linking Like a Master Networker at Personal PR.
Here’s my headline remix:
Make Small Appear Big
Wow. Just wanted to post an update on what an effective strategy this has been.
To date, since I posted my article for this activity, it’s become my site’s most popular content (now accounting for about 20% of the lifetime traffic to my two-month-old blog), hit StumbleUpon top business content pages, and added some great members to my community.
Thanks for the inspiration!
Voila, mon ami.
Here are 27 Secrets to Avoid Internet Burnout.
That was fun one – but a long one, considering each tip wasn’t just a sentence. Ouch.
This exercise always brings out the most interesting posts for me. Maybe because it pushes me a little outside of what I was already thinking about.
Anyway, here is Make Compassion a Competitive Advantage
We had a lot of fun with these at GlobalGiving! Here’s one so far.
Is Your Relationship with Your Charity Going Nowhere Fast?
I’ve come up with the following ideas, some of which I like more than others:
27 Secrets to Working Out Like a Fitness Pro
It’s Time to Break Up With Your Trainer (or Gym)
The Five Exercises Nobody Should Ever Do
Obese Nation: Is Your Weight Causing You to Miss Out?
Make Exercise Sexy
Thanks for the ideas! 🙂
Thanks, again, Brian for creating another great challenge! These are a blast 🙂
“One Email No Video Client Should Ever Write”
http://www.directortom.com/director-tom/2008/2/9/one-email-no-video-client-should-ever-write.html
Brian–
This is a WONDERFUL site. Great work–excellent mix of helpful, inspiring, and funny. I am afraid to quit my day job and launch a freelance writing career, but you have some good posts here that I am chewing thoroughly…thanks!
BTW, see if you can guess what my day job is from my entry in the headline challenge:
Five Things You Should Never Say to a Pet Owner in the Exam Room
5 – Sure, I remember your cat, Fluffy. She tried to claw my face off last time she was here.
4 – The surgery went very well, and we found the cause of the intestinal obstruction–evidently he ate something from your underwear drawer.
3 – Phew! What stinks in here?
2 – Thanks for bringing in the stool specimen. Do you want your Tupperware back?
1 – This is the ugliest puppy I have ever seen.
Forgot the website link in my comment earlier.
7 Secrets to Maximizing your Medical Practice
http://www.afterthelaunch.com/2008/02/10/7-secrets-to-maximizing-your-medical-practice/
Brian,
I appreciate all of your practical advice here, especially the common sense tips on good grammar. If you ever get tired of blogging, we need a few good English teachers in our country.
Here’s my piece that was inspired by your challenge. It’s called “Five Things You Learned From Mom About Customer Service.”
http://www.customerservicesizzle.com/five-things-mom-taught/
Hi Brian, thanks for another great challenge.
Here’s mine: 27 Secrets To Writing Like Hemingway
Yes, you might just recognise another bit of Copyblogger advice in there too 🙂
Joanna
Hi Brian,
I wrote about The 5 mistakes that no blog should ever make in a blog contest.
Thanks for the great opportunity of this writing exercise.
Hi Brian,
Your Magazine Headline Remix Challenge worked perfectly for my foot massage “how to” post:
27 Secrets to Giving the Ultimate Valentine’s Day Foot Massage
I love your blog. Thanks for the wonderful tips!
The Best Forum Mp3
http://transfer-land.integradesign.org
Hey, Brian. That was so much fun to write and so effective the first time around, I decided to play again! Check out
Five Comments No Serious Blogger Should Ever Post. Thanks again for the challenge.
Thanks Brian:
My article went down well with readers and the Cosmo headline challenge produced my most popular article so far. It’s still #1 on Google 🙂
I’m about 2 years late reading this post but I will challenge myself to write an article about the above headlines to give me the opportunity to improve them.
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