The headline that makes me cringe every time (and yes, it's EVERYWHERE)

If there’s ONE headline I’d be thrilled to never see again in my life, it’s the good ‘ol…

“Are you ready to…?” 😵‍💫

Are you ready to 10x your leads?
Are you ready to grow your email list on autopilot?
Are you ready for website copy that actually converts? (Side note: I spotted this on a fellow copywriter’s site recently and shed a single tear)
And perhaps the worst offender of all: Are you ready to get started?!?

Here’s the deal: as ubiquitous as “Are you ready?” headlines are, they put your reader in a weird spot.

Because your reader might want what you’re offering… but do they feel ready for the result you’re offering? That’s a whole other (vaguely existential) question.

(I mean, do any of us *really* ever feel ready for anything at any point ever?? Or maybe that’s just a Nicole-the-classic-overthinker issue, TBD.)

But beyond that, it’s just… not a great headline. Whether it’s at the top of your page, at the end, or anywhere in between.

Here’s why.

👀 It’s a yes/no question – and it’s far too easy for your readers to say “no.”

And that’s a risk you don’t want to take in your copy.

👀 It plants doubt instead of action.

Not only is this the type of question your readers can easily say “no” to, it’s also type of question that can make them pause and second-guess themselves.

They might think, “Yeah, that sounds good… but maybe I’m not actually ready for all that?”

👀 It’s just… kind of boring.

Business owners & copywriters of the world: we can do better!

When we’re blessed with an abundance of more compelling, active, and personality-packed ways to say the same thing, why settle for a tired “Are you ready?” headline.

👀 And not to call anyone out… but it’s often used as "placeholder" copy when the writer runs out of steam.

I mostly see “Are you ready?” show up at the end of pages.

And that’s when I know: the writer got tired (relatable, to be fair), wanted to be done, and just dropped in a quick “are you ready?” to tie things up.

But the bottom of your page is prime real estate for driving action. It’s the moment on the page where you really need to finish strong, not coast to the end.

So while I know the temptation is real… don’t do it folks!

And luckily, there’s an easy fix.

You don’t need to ask people if they’re ready. (Seriously, if you ask someone like me, the answer is a “oh gosh, I don’t know…maybe??” like 99% of the time.)

Just tell them what’s possible. Then invite them to take the next step.

So instead of:

Are you ready to grow your list even when you’re off the clock?

Try:

→ Grow your list when you’re off the clock.

Or instead of:

Are you ready to beat burnout?

Try:

→ *Finally* kick burnout to the curb. And keep it there for good.

~~~

And with that, I have to ask: are you ready to stop using “are you ready?” in your headlines??

If so…

Just hit "reply" and send me your before & afters!

I’d love to see how you’re updating your “Are you ready?” headlines – and I’ll happily send back a quick critique (perhaps with an additional expert suggestion or two ;-) if you’d like a second set of eyes on it.

-Nicole

P.S. Want copy support that goes beyond these “Are you ready” tweaks?

Well luckily, I do ~all~ the things. From: