Your headline may not be
the first thing you consider when you sit down to write for your blog, but
creating a catchy title is one of the most important aspects of each blog post.
Did you know that 8 out of 10 people will
read your headline, but only 2 out of 10
will actually read your entire post? Your headline is the gateway to your
content; it convinces people to walk through the gate or pass right by. Here
are some pointers for drawing in potential readers.
WRITE YOUR HEADLINE FIRST
It’s helpful to have a
goal in mind as you’re writing your post. Creating your headline first helps
you set that goal and maintain your focus; it gives you a reference point and a
purpose to work toward.
MAKE A PROMISE
Think of headlines as
promises; they’re meant to draw in prospective readers so that they can access
information that is of some benefit to them, whether it’s entertaining,
instructional, helpful, or insightful. Catchy headlines allow you to deliver on
a promise and impress your readers. If your content delivers on a promise in
your headline, you’ll create loyal readers out of casual browsers.
KEEP YOUR AUDIENCE IN
MIND
Always consider who
you’re writing for and who you’re trying to appeal to when you’re coming up
with a catchy headline. Which keywords and phrases will jump out at them? What
are they looking for? What are they interested in? This goes hand-in-hand with
the content that you’re creating, but think of topics that will benefit your
audience and draw them in.
USE UNEXPECTED WORDS
Catchy headlines jump out
at readers because they often use unexpected words. Looking up synonyms for
common words can be the best way to come up with eye-catching words. For
example, “effortless” is more appealing than “easy.”
CREATE SUB HEADLINES
Once you’ve settled on a
catchy headline that makes a promise and appeals to your audience, focus on
strong sub headlines to outline your post and break it up into smaller
sections. Readers often scan blog posts, so subheadlines allow them to easily
follow along and access the information that they’re most interested in. This
keeps readers engaged and on your site longer, which increases the probability
that they’ll continue to follow along or purchase your products and/or
services.
6 SIMPLE HEADLINE IDEAS
In an ideal world, every
headline idea would be completely original and amazing. But in reality,
everyone experiences creative droughts from time to time. Here are 6 consistently popular headline templates that can easily be
altered to suit your posts and appeal to your audience.
HOW TO DESIRED RESULT
Guide posts are
consistently popular because people desire instant gratification; they want to
learn something valuable in a short amount of time. These headlines appeal to
those who want a quick fix.
How to Make Millions
Rupees
How to Boost Your
Productivity
How to Create a Fortune 500 Company
NUMBER REASONS
Readers love a good list,
and the longer the list is, the better. If you’re willing to put in the time to
create a longer list that your readers can benefit from, it will pay dividends.
50 No-Fluff Bog Post Ideas continues to be an Ellie &
Company reader favorite!
50 Reasons You Should Quit Your Job
10 Reasons to Buy a House
75 Reasons Why Driving a ’94 Honda
Accord is Awesome
WHAT EVERY SHOULD KNOW ABOUT
This catchy headline
identifies a specific group of people and draws their attention to a topic
that’s relevant to them.
What Every Entrepreneur
Should Know About Adobe Illustrator
What Every Body Builder
Should Know About Chocolate
What Every Bachelor
Should Know About Cleanliness
WHY IS ?
Readers also love an
explanation and a different perspective, and this type of headline gives them
just that.
Why Blogging is Great for
Business
Why My Dad is Cooler than
Yours
Why Your Car isn’t as
Awesome as My ’94 Accord
NUMBER WAYS TO AVOID
This headline is a
negative spin on . And although no one likes a negative Nancy, especially on a
blog, many psychological studies have proved that negativity can be a powerful
tool. In fact, most people remember negative things more than positive – it’s
called negativity bias, and you can appeal to it by helping people avoid
something negative.
5 Ways to Avoid Credit Card Debt
25 Ways to Avoid Getting the Stomach Flu
7 Ways to Avoid Looking Like an Idiot on Your First Date
MY ADJECTIVE METHOD FOR
If you’ve discovered
something helpful, people will want to hear about it; we all love learning how
others have achieved success, lost 50 pounds, or have
become debt-free. Think about your accomplishments and form them into blog
posts that give away your secrets.
My Simple Method for
Gaining Blog Traffic
My Secret Method for
Building a Successful Business
My Strange Method for
Marathon Training