Are your headlines actually capturing the attention of your readers? A great headline has the ability to make your audience stop in their tracks and read what you’ve written.
Face it, your readers are as busy as ever and they don’t have time to read something that doesn’t instantly grab their attention. This is the job of your headline.
In this post we’re going to explore the power of a good title, what it means for your business, and how to craft one for yourself.
The Power Of A Good Headline
The only way to get readers to actually read your content is by captivating them with your headline. Also, people are more likely to share content with a great headline, and sometimes people will share the content based upon the quality of the title alone.
A good headline will make your readers open what you’ve written, read what you’ve wrote and hopefully share with the world. Your headline is the key to start this process in motion.
1. Consider Using Numbers
Numbers are a powerful way to give your readers what they’re looking for. A study published by Moz illustrated that the most popular headlines with the highest click-through rates were those that were based around numbers. Something like the ever-popular list post.
However, make sure you don’t use just any numbers, because giving away too much information will actually turn-off your readers.
2. Go For Emotional Impact
People will click on things they have some sort of emotional resonance towards. By using emotional trigger words you can generate a very predictable response. For instance, if you create positive headlines that encourage readers or at least promise entertainment, there’s a higher chance they’ll get shared.
People love to share things that show them in a positive light, so headlines that invoke good feelings are more likely to spread.
3. Find Resources for Inspiration and Study What Works
When you’re first starting to write great headlines it can be difficult to know where to start. It can be helpful to look for inspiration from other sources. For instance, there’s a great source from Jon Morrow that’s a literal cheat sheet for developing great headlines.
The more you immerse yourself in creating great headlines the quicker you’ll improve. If your headlines aren’t great at first, don’t worry they will be one day! Just make sure you keep with it.
4. Answer Your Customer’s Biggest Questions
One good way to continue to provide good content and great headlines to your readers is by answering the questions they already have. Usually, you’ll receive a series of questions in your email inbox that tend to touch on the same points over and over.
You can take the most commonly asked questions and bundle them into a very useful blog post with a powerful title.
I hope you’re now on your way towards writing more effective and impactful headlines. If you’re looking for a professional content strategy get in touch with our content strategy team today.
by Calvin Bryant
Digital Marketing Geek
