If you would like to make yourself practically immune to "writer's block" when trying to come up with a headline for your ads, then this article will show you how.

Believe it or not, whenever you're stuck for headline ideas for your promotions, it is sometimes useful to look at "gag" headlines.

What's a "gag" headline?

A gag headline is a completely ridiculous headline that makes little or no sense, and often contradicts itself. Sometimes they are funny. Sometimes they are gross. Sometimes they are just plain dorky (even freaky).

Whatever the case, they are usually so "off the wall", they make even tabloid headlines -- like on "The National Enquirer" -- look tame.

And just like the good ol' National Enquirer headlines, sometimes you can get some great "idea-generators" (or at least a good laugh) by reading a few gag headlines when you're stuck for ideas or just want to get your creative "juices" flowing.

Here are some examples of gag headlines:

* GERMAN SHEPHERD. 85 lbs. NEUTERED. SPEAKS GERMAN. FREE.

* NORDIC TRACK $300 -- HARDLY USED -- CALL CHUBBIE at 237-2317

* BILL'S SEPTIC CLEANING -- "WE HAUL AMERICAN MADE PRODUCTS"

* HUMMELS -- LARGEST SELECTION EVER -- "IF IT'S IN STOCK, WE HAVE IT!"

* GEORGIA PEACHES -- CALIFORNIA GROWN -- 89 cents lb.

* FREE: FARM KITTENS. READY TO EAT.

* '83 TOYOTA HUNCHBACK -- $2000

Okay, you get the idea. If you'd like to see a whole list of gag headlines like these, one of my favorite sources is at: http://laughbreak.com/lists/newspaper_ads.html

You can also check around online by putting words like "funny headlines" or "silly headlines" into the search engines.

Ben Settle is an expert copywriter and direct marketer. If you liked this article then check out Ben's website at http://bensettle.com -- where you'll find over 500 pages of advertising ideas, strategies and tactics just like this one -- as well as rare swipe file ads and hot marketing information not easily found anywhere else.