4 U’s: Copywriting Tips for Great Headlines

Mariia Gurkina
3 min readDec 28, 2022

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What is a 4U headline and why does it capture the reader’s attention?

4U headlines are so-named as they are based on four elements:

  • Usefulness;
  • Ultra specificity (extreme specificity of an offer);
  • Uniqueness;
  • Urgency.

The order of the components can be changed as they are not attached to each other.

What’s the benefit? — You can use the 4 U’s rule anywhere.

This method is advantageous for businesses from any niche, whether they want to present a product or service in the most profitable manner, attract the audience’s attention, or increase conversions on landing pages. With it, you can sell everything!

The 4 U’s formula

Usefulness

It conveys to the visitor of the page the benefits of your offer. It also highlights its benefits and the result that a potential client can get with the help of a product or service.

The client will buy exactly the advantages. 4U headlines suggest that verbs best express usefulness and benefit in the imperative mood + verbs such as “get”, “learn”, “find out”, “save”, etc.

Ultra specificity

The best way to illustrate benefits would be to use concrete data or by comparing them to the products of your competitors. As a result, the offer will gain credibility and appeal to the user’s emotions, which will allow them to justify purchasing a digital course or something else even smaller.

Uniqueness

The customer will understand why they need exactly your product, why your offer is the best on the market. That will secure the potential customer’s interest and encourage them to buy.

Urgency

Urgency is about a specific time slot in which the potential customer will receive the promised benefit. But to entice more customers, it’s better to show the exact period of time you are ready to provide your customer with a service: 24-hour delivery, in just 4 hours or free test period for one month.

Working headlines created using the 4U system:

  • Increase your product sales by three times a month with the help of X App
  • Earn $3,500 per month, working from anywhere in the world! Learn how to create a landing page and reach new levels of income in just one month
  • Renovate your dream flat in three days — no up-front costs, a five-year warranty and a free kitchen design
  • Create an effective landing page in just three hours with a conversion rate of 30% and more. Don’t like the course? We’ll give you a refund
  • Free test period of the service for one month. Works on any website builder

I hope these headlines will inspire you find your an eye-catching headline to generate more sales.

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Mariia Gurkina

Hi, there! I am a Content Writer who is passionate about design & video games