Writing headlines for your blog that could hook those readers in an
instant is a monumental task. It will determine whether or not you'll
make a good impression to your target audience. Thus, creating an
appealing one is essential for the sake of your blog's success. Of
course, knowing that you need to create a compelling headline and
actually doing it are two different things. These seven tips will help
you do the latter and hopefully, be able to put them to good use.
1. Be as specific as you can be
Confusing
headlines (in the hopes of sounding creative and deep) will not attract
a huge number of readers. This is due to the fact that people have
limited attention spans, especially when on the Internet. As negative as
it might sound, web readers love being spoon fed. If they can't
understand the whole point of your article by reading the headline, then
you can rest assured that they won't even bother viewing the body of
your copy.
Your headline needs to be crystal clear about the
topic that you're going to discuss. Squeeze in as much detail as you can
on the head. Make use of your keywords and try to ready you're readers
for what's about to come.
2. The "What's in it for me?" technique
Most
web readers today are benefit-driven. Use this to your advantage by
offering something of use to your target audience. For example,
tutorials and tips (like this one right here) is a surefire way of
hooking eyes online. Starting off with "Ways to" or "How to" will
certainly increase your article's flair and readability.
Furthermore,
you need to remember that offering something unique and fresh is a must
when you're writing for the Internet. The same goes for headline
writing. Experiment with different terminologies and word phrasing from
time to time and see which works best.
3. Numbers does wonders
People
are generally obsessed with numbers. In fact, most writers nowadays
promise some sort of list about certain topics and are further improving
the hook of their headlines. Go along with the trend and incorporate
some math on your head. Just don't forget to deliver when all has been
said and done. Otherwise, be prepared to face the ire of your readers.
4. Be a myth buster every now and then
Though
it requires a lot of skill to pull off, headlines that promises to
debunk a certain belief or ideology can help your blog earn some much
needed hits. Make your readers feel that they are being mistaken about
something by creating a contradiction on the head of your article.
5. Make your audience panic
One
of the most common mistakes that newbie writers do nowadays is creating
a headline that feels "laid back". They fail to understand the power
and importance of urgency and thus, miss out on people who simply
dismisses what they're offering. Veer away from this practice and try to
go for a "panic-inducing" headline.
Suggesting to your readers
that they're going to create a certain mistake by not reading your post
is a surefire way of keeping their interest. Just keep in mind not to
scare your readers too much.
6. Adjectives make it all pop-out
Words
like unbelievable, stellar and excellent can help your headlines stand
out on the Internet. Don't take adjectives for granted because they
exist for a very special reason in the world of writing. They make
everything appear more exciting, fresh and on action without changing
the meaning of the headline.
Making use of adjectives on your
headline requires a somewhat personal approach. No one is going to
complain about it because what might be unimpressive to you could be out
of this world for another person. In short, different strokes work for
different folks.
7. Take cues from your daily newspaper
This
is a very good technique if you're just starting out as a
writer/blogger. Newspaper writers and editors have long perfected the
art of creating shocking and beautiful headlines. No one does it better
than them! Learn from the masters and you will surely improve your
headline writing skills in no time.
As cliché as it might sound
by now, headlines really does make or break your article. Your copy
isn't going to amount to anything if people didn't give a damn about the
title of your topic.