Why Your First Draft Headlines Are Secretly Genius (And How ‘IDGAF Energy’ Landed Me 2x Clients)
I used to write 15 headlines before letting clients see one. Now I send the first draft with 🎵 IDGAF energy.
1:47 AM.
My Notes app is a graveyard of abandoned headlines.
“10 Ways to…” (Too basic.)
“The Dark Truth About…” (Too clickbaity.)
“Why No One Tells You…” (Who even AM I?!)
Sound familiar?
I used to obsess over headlines like they were Pulitzer entries.
15 drafts. 3 existential crises. 0 client approvals.
Then one day, I snapped.
I sent a headline I wrote mid-sneeze to a Fortune 500 client.
No edits. No disclaimers. Just 🎵 IDGAF energy 🎵
Their reply?
“Finally! A human, not a thesaurus. Approved.”
Turns out, my “rough” drafts were gold all along.
The Psychology of Why “Unfinished” Work Wins
1. The Pratfall Effect
Social psychologists found people trust you more when you’re imperfect.
Clients don’t want “flawless” — they want real.
2. The Illusion of Speed
Sending polished drafts screams “I overthink everything.”
Sending rough ones whispers “I’m confident and busy.”
3. The Collaboration Trigger
A messy draft invites clients to “fix” it.
Suddenly, they’re invested — and approvals happen faster.
How I Stopped Over-Cooking Headlines (And 2x’d My Income)
Step 1: Write headlines while distracted
Waiting for coffee?
Half-listening to a podcast?
Texting your mom about her cat’s birthday?
Why it works: Your brain filters out “shoulds” and taps into raw instinct.
Step 2: Add a “disclaimer” that’s not a disclaimer
Instead of “Let me know if you want options!” try:
“Option 1 is my favorite. Option 2 is for the rebels. Option 3 is here if you’re feeling spicy 🌶️”
Clients pick Option 1: 83% of the time.
Step 3: Never say “just”
Kill these phrases:
“Just a rough idea!”
“Just let me know!”
“Just throwing this out there!”
Replace with:
“This headline slaps.”
“Let’s run this and see what happens.”
“Trust me.”
The Results? Brutal Honesty Pays
After sending 1st drafts with zero apologies:
40% faster approvals (Clients mirror your confidence)
2x returning clients (“You’re the only writer who doesn’t make me feel dumb”)
20% fewer revisions (They stop nitpick-ing commas and focus on big wins)
The secret?
Clients don’t hire you to write.
They hire you to decide.
Your Homework
Next headline you write:
Set a 3-minute timer
Type whatever comes to mind (emoji included)
Hit send without rereading
Track reactions:
“Wow, that was fast!” = They trust you more
“Let’s tweak this” = They’re engaged, not annoyed
“Can we make it… fancier?” = Fire them (kidding… mostly)