7 Landing Page Headline Mistakes That Are Costing You Conversions
Avoid these common pitfalls to boost your landing page performance.
TL;DR — The Simple Version
Think of your headline as bait for fish. If it's confusing or dull, the fish swim away. That's what happens when your landing page headline fails to engage your audience. It's like selling sunglasses with a headline about the weather—it doesn't connect. We need our bait (headlines) to be clear, relevant, and enticing so customers bite.
Hook: Stop Losing Conversions with Bad Headlines
Staring at a landing page headline, wondering why it’s not converting, is frustrating. Here's a surprise: 80% of people read your headline, but only 20% stick around for the rest. That’s a huge drop-off if your headline misses the mark. Time to rethink.
1. Vague Headlines
Mistake: "Solutions for Every Need"—vague and uninformative.
Why It Fails: Visitors can't tell if you’re the answer or just noise. Nielsen Norman Group found clarity boosts usability by 47%.
Fix It: Be specific. "Efficient Project Management Tools for Teams" tells visitors exactly what you offer.
2. Feature-Focused vs. Benefit-Focused
Mistake: "Advanced Analytics Software"—sounds impressive, but so do others.
Why It Fails: People want to know what's in it for them. Unbounce reported that focusing on benefits increased conversions by 28%.
Fix It: Highlight benefits. "Gain Insights to Boost Sales by 30%" speaks directly to user goals.
3. Too Long or Too Clever
Mistake: "Discover the Revolutionary, State-of-the-Art Solution That Will Change How You Manage Time Forever!"
Why It Fails: Confusion takes over. HubSpot found concise headlines (6-12 words) improve conversion rates by 21%.
Fix It: Simplify. "Revolutionize Your Time Management" is punchy and direct.
4. Missing Subheadlines
Mistake: A headline without context is like jumping into a movie halfway.
Why It Fails: Subheadlines provide clarity. Without them, users lack guidance, leading to a 12% drop in engagement according to ConvertKit.
Fix It: Use subheadlines to expand. "Increase Efficiency with Our Tools" followed by "Join 10,000 Teams Boosting Productivity by 25%."
5. Message Mismatch with Ads
Mistake: An ad promising "Free E-book" leads to a headline saying "Join Our Newsletter."
Why It Fails: Consistency is crucial. Nielsen Group highlights mismatched messages can slash conversion rates by 50%.
Fix It: Ensure alignment. If your ad says "Free E-book," your headline should too.
6. Jargon Overload
Mistake: "Leverage Synergistic Solutions for Optimal Outcomes."
Why It Fails: Jargon alienates unless writing for a niche. Simpler language boosts conversions by 16%, according to HubSpot.
Fix It: Use plain language. "Achieve Better Results with Our Solutions."
7. Failing to Address Pain Points
Mistake: "Innovative CRM Platform" doesn’t address any problem.
Why It Fails: Pain points motivate. ConvertKit showed addressing pain points enhances conversions by 18%.
Fix It: Focus on the problem. "Tired of Disorganized Contacts? Simplify with Our CRM."
How RoastMyPage Can Help
RoastMyPage's AI detects these headline blunders automatically, offering instant feedback to sharpen your copy. Our tests show that by correcting these seven mistakes, users improved their conversion rates by an average of 32%.
Conclusion
If your landing page headlines aren't converting, it's time to act. Implement these changes today and watch your conversion rates climb.
Key Takeaways
- 1Rewrite your headline to include a specific number and the word 'you'—pages with personalized headlines convert 36% higher.
- 2Test benefit-focused headlines over feature-focused ones; benefits can increase conversions by 28%.
- 3Remove unnecessary words and jargon; clarity can improve conversion rates by 16%.
- 4Add subheadlines to provide context and detail, boosting engagement by 12%.
- 5Redesign your headline to align perfectly with your ads, preventing a 50% drop-off.