How to Write a Custom Birthday Card Headline
A headline-style birthday card — a magazine cover, a billboard, a movie poster — lives or dies on a few punchy words, since there's no room for a full message the way a traditional card has.
Keep it to one idea
The strongest headlines say exactly one thing well — an age, a nickname, an inside joke — rather than trying to pack in a full sentiment. Save the longer message for elsewhere.
Match the format's tone
A movie-poster headline can be dramatic ('The Legend Turns 30'), while a billboard suits something bolder and shorter. Writing to the specific format's natural voice reads more convincing than a generic phrase dropped into any layout.
Say it like a real headline would
Real magazine and billboard headlines are punchy and declarative, not polite — 'Finally 30' works better in the format than 'Happy 30th Birthday to a wonderful friend.'
How long should a custom card headline be?
Usually under six or seven words — headline formats are built for a quick read, and a long phrase tends to lose the punchy effect that makes the format work.
