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 SUBHEADLINES
Once you’ve settled on a catchy headline that makes a promise and appeals to your audience, focus on strong subheadlines 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.
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