I like to visit with a pad of paper and just wander up and down corridors, just looking at things. Ideas pop into my head and I write them down. Quite a few of these become articles (and a few stories). Magazines - I skim over a dozen magazines every single day, looking for anything interesting. Sometimes I'll stop and read and article, but mostly I am looking for ideas for articles of my own.

I must stop here for a moment and discuss copyrights for a moment. The concept I present in these articles is how to find ideas for articles, not to copy or paraphrase other people's works. Anyone can do that, and by way, it is illegal to "borrow" another person's work.

It is perfectly fine, however, to read an article and get an idea or two for your own. What I like to do is read an article or book and jot down a few ideas. I then let it lie for a few days, come back to it and write my own, completely original article.

For example, I read an article about raising children, and for some reason thought about how to protect plants from small kids. What a great idea for a story. So I wrote it down, and one day I'll write an article about it. So that's secret. Just wander around looking at things. It doesn't matter where and it doesn't matter what you look at. Your mind will start working, and before long an idea will percolate to surface. This may be followed by another and another.

A short disclaimer. If you are not used to this kind of creative process, please understand that it can be pretty frightening. Especially to some of students produced by our modern education system, who have been conditioned to not have original thoughts anymore. Don't worry, that strange feeling you get when you visit a museum or a library is just your brain cells waking up from long hibernation that began when you entered Kindergarten. It's not dangerous and once you get used to feelings they can be quite intoxicating. Just sit back and enjoy ride.

2) Testimonials in Headlines:

"I was down to my last cent, but now I'm making $1000 a week" "This is how I became a successful in Direct Marketing" "I needed extra money, now I'm making more than I ever expected"

3) "Testing Your Reader"

Vanity and Superiority are strong marketing and sales tools. Testing is but one use of these universal qualities:

"Pass this test to qualify" "Can you pass this Small Business Survival Test?" "If you pass this test, your dreams can come true"

4) "One and Two Word Headlines are Attention Grabbers!"

Examples of one-worders:

MONEY FREE CASH OPPORTUNITIES HOMEWORKERS EARN SUCCESS PROFITS

Examples of two-worders:

MONEY MAKERS FREE SAMPLE INSTANT CASH UNLIMITED OPPORTUNITIES HOME WORKERS WANTED EARN MORE SUCCEED NOW INSTANT PROFITS

5) The "Don't Buy" Technique

This headline is effective because you are telling reader something their eyes don't expect to see. Don't Buy?

"Don't waste your money, Read This Report First" "Don't buy ......, until you have seen our prices" "Don't spend money needlessly. Get The Facts First"

6) Speak to Reader, not at Reader

"I'll train you to be a success" "If you follow my program, I'll help you to success" "They thought I was crazy, after reading this, will you"

7) Specific Targeting

"Attention: Stay at home mothers" "To Part-Time workers who want to supplement their income" "Bread winners, coming up short lately? We can help you"

What I have shown you here are top Headline Writing Techniques, all of which have worked for me in past. I didn't give this word it's due credit above. Do you know all time, unbeatable, never-ending winner of headline grabbers? I'll bet you do. Of course it's Super Power Word "FREE". This one Power Word is rightly known as most powerful headline word past, present and future.