5 Surefire Tips for Writing Attention-Grabbing Headlines

5 Surefire Tips for Writing Attention-Grabbing Headlines:

If you’re reading this article, chances are that the headline got your attention, and how I wrote it wasn’t by accident. I tried my best to implement most the five tips I’ve listed in this article because crafting good headlines is so important on so many different levels.

As your blog or online magazine is one of tens of thousands demanding attention of social media channels, the good news is that eight out of 10 people will read it on their Facebook or Twitter feeds. The bad news is that you only have half of a second to grab someone’s attention and two out of 10 people will click on the link and read your story.

So how do you improve those odds?

Use SEO Keywords Don’t just think of using keywords to improve your story’s Google ranking. Words that lead people to search for information on search engines are the same that are going to attract readers on a Facebook or Twitter feed. For example, How to Add a Logo to a QR Code is pretty straightforward. The 6 Beers of Christmas gives instant authority to someone looking for ideas what to serve during the holidays or give as a gift, plus it plays on the 12 Days of Christmas and the natural association with beer and six-packs.

Generate Curiosity Ask questions like NBA Commissioner David Stern – Time to Go? Definitely! Headlines like these are bound to attract the curiosity of those who both agree and disagree. They’re also guaranteed to generate discussion on your page and in your social media feeds.

Be Provocative and Shocking Did we run a risk of running the headline Camel Toes Aren’t Pretty. Not Even on Camels. in The Urbane Life? For the few people we offended, we had hundreds more that clicked on the link and read the story. Do we write headlines like this all the time? No. We like to have some sense of respectability with our target market, but we also know we can push the boundaries with them sometimes.

Words and Numbers Count While doing a little digging on this topic, the general consensus seems to be that eight words and no more than 53 characters seem to be the magic numbers for writing social media-friendly headlines. Think of it as writing half a tweet. And if you have to explain your story or headline in a tweet, it’s a good sign that you need a different headline. Plus, numbers in headlines ensure your readers are going to get a quick and concise read, as in 5 Cool Ideas for Efficient E-Mail.

Play with Words I’m a big fan of word play. Headlines like The Black Keys See Green (You Know, Cash) always get my attention. Even though I had no idea who the Black Keys were, I was also curious about musicians who were actually making money. Alliteration and rhymes are also creative attention-grabbers.

Reprinted with permission from Urbane Media.