You
can write the greatest blog post, but it won’t even get read if the headline
doesn’t lure people in. So what kind of
headline will get readers to click?
·
The
short one
·
An
intelligent one
·
One
that plays on words
·
A
headline that seems timely and relevant
·
One
that is understandable and clear
·
A
headline that evokes controversy
Here
are some types of headlines that tend to work:
* How-to-do-something: tips, strategies, keys, ways, pro-cons, steps
* Ask a question
* Ask a question
* Challenge
the wisdom of the day
* Assert
a wild claim
* Make a newsy revelation or expose a secret
* Alert
people to a threat
* Promise
of a better, happier, successful life
* Response
to a crisis
* Making
something under the radar an issue
* Predicting
or projecting the future
* Advocating
or lobbying for action
* Claim
to solve a problem
* Jack
the news of the day
* Ride
the fame of celebrities or major brands by highlighting them
* Use
humor
* Be
contrarian
* Reference
something so unusual that they must read on
* Make
a comparison of A with B that makes people think
* Lodge
a complaint
* Call
someone a liar
* Reference
sex, money, politics, religion, sports, or entertainment
* Vow
to change your ways – or to help others change theirs
* Show
how to do something in a short amount of time
With
headlines, it helps to put a number on things:
·
Lose
weight in 12 days
But
be specific
·
Lose
five pounds in 12 days
Where
possible, use drama:
·
7
Ways to save your sexless marriage before he strays
Headlines
that repeat the same letter can be memorable (alliteration):
·
Communication
challenges cut careers
Tap
into emotions:
·
How
you can parent your teen without tears
Explore
one's curiosity:
·
Do
sluts have better sex than you?
Remember,
the headline’s only goal is to get someone to open an email or click on a
post. The headline doesn’t have to be a
summary of the post nor does it have to reflect something that’s in the
post. For instance, if your post is
about why we love dogs and it doesn’t reference Snoopy, you can still use a
headline like this: 7 reasons to bark for dogs that are more charming than
Snoopy.
The
litmus test of a headline is this: Does it provoke a response? Does it say something that moves one to
action? If not, try again. Keep switching out words or the order of them. Toss in a number, a question or an
exclamation mark, and use an economy of words.
Test for clarity, ambiguity, or double meanings. Make it sing.
No, make it scream. The louder
the better.
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Brian Feinblum’s views, opinions, and ideas expressed in this blog
are his alone and not that of his employer. You can follow him on Twitter
@theprexpert and email him at brianfeinblum@gmail.com. He feels more
important when discussed in the third-person. This is copyrighted by
BookMarketingBuzzBlog © 2015
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