You can write the most informative and dynamic article, but no one will read it if there is nothing to draw them in. So, how do you get them interested enough to continue reading the information you are offering? You entice your readers with headlines. Learn how to craft a headline that will get your visitors to read the first line. Once you’ve done that you’ll hook them and the chances of them finishing to the end increase dramatically.
Have you seen movies with kids standing on the street corner wearing news boards? They were called, oddly enough, “newsies.” Their job was to wear the board that had a copy of the front page of the paper on it and shout to all comers, “Read all about it!”
We may not have newsies today, but your article headlines can serve the same purpose. They scream to online viewers that they will benefit from the information contained within your articles.
The truth is online readers don’t read like web pages like you would read a book. They skim. You want them to skim your website and decide to settle in and read.
When using email marketing in your business, great headlines are a must. People are reluctant to open emails where the subject (or headline) doesn’t interest them. Having a good headline in the subject line is like caller ID for your phone – it determines if you will “answer” or not.
There are certain things that headlines have to do to be useful to you and your readers.
1. Be optimized. In order for your articles to be ranked high on Google, Yahoo or any of the other search engines, choose keywords that will be used. If you are writing about planting zinnias, a headline that says, “5 Steps to Planting Zinnias” is better than “Planting Zinnias in your Garden.”
2. Be truthful. Readers are hip to the headlines that promise the moon in one article and don’t even get you off the ground. Promising that readers will become the world’s next millionaire is misleading and irresponsible. Besides, most people won’t take the time to read that article. If you have something great to say, taking the time to create an eye-catching headline that reflects it is worth the effort.
3. Be simple. Using fifty cent words when five cent words will do will send your readers scurrying to other websites. Short words that sum up your content are worth their weight in gold.
How do you find great headlines? Check out the headlines on other websites and in newspapers and magazines. What type of headlines catch your eye? Use what entices you as a guideline. Other headlines are a way to draw inspiration to change existing content and blog post titles into better ones.
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