Improving Poster Headlines

Your headline is what will make or break your poster campaign. The fact is that only 20-30% of your audience will read the body of your poster, so the importance of the perfect headline is immeasurable. If your headline is poor, then your poster will not be noticed. Or, of it is noticed, it will not be remembered. On the other hand, a great headline will be noticed, remembered, and talked about. There is no point in poster printing at all if your headline is inadequate. Here are some specifics for creating an effective headline for your posters.

• What are you trying to say and how are you saying it? Your headline should be brief and to the point. Consider how your headline reads and how it sounds spoken.
• The phrase should be instantly understood. The exception would be a headline meant to promote an active thought process, a riddle. Unless you are intentionally ambiguous, your headline should be clear.
• Use the least amount of words necessary to convey your message. Phrases work well. Avoid complete sentences as they take too much time to read.
  

• Where is the best place for your headline? There is not a single right answer to this question. The location of your headline will be relative to the other design elements.
• There are many different options for headline placement. For the most part, people read posters like they read everything else, left to right, top to bottom. If the headline is the first thing you want your readers to see, near the top left portion of the poster would be a good choice.
• Graphics will help determine where your headline goes. If your graphics lead into your headline, then it should first. If the graphics compliment the headline, then they should follow the headline.
  

• Headlines that are too big are as bad as headlines that are too small. Poster printing is a balance of elements. The size of your graphics should match the size of your headline and other text.
• Your message may determine the size of your headline. If your message is bold and aggressive, then a large font will emphasize it. 
  

Headline design for poster printing is too often underestimated. Do not let your message get lost by a headline that is not fit for the task. Make a memorable poster with a memorable headline for a message that viewers remember long after they've moved on from the location of your poster.