Catchy headlines and concise subheading is one way to allure your audiences into reading your content. Writing informative, well-researched, clean, and concise content is good and even admirable. But if you do not use your headlines consciously then you might be losing audiences or potential leads. The first thing that anyone can notice about your content is the headlines so make sure to make this headline as magnificent and concise as possible. A good headline can make your readers stay and read your content while a poorly formed headline can drive them away altogether.
Now the question arises what are the parameters or rules that anyone needs to follow when creating a headline for their content. A good quality headline is always SEO friendly, easy to read and understand, and gives a glimpse or idea about what the content is going to be. If your headlines say all this then well and good but if it does not, then we have some tips to share. Below are a few dos and don’ts that you can use to create a quality and catchy headline for your content.
DOs for writing catchy headlines
- Always try to incorporate numbers
Using a number for writing your headline will make you shine and unique from all those headlines which have only letters. Using a number would also give the reader an idea about what he is going to get when reading the content. If it is possible, always try to use statistics and numbers in your content. The use of numbers in the content will speak volumes about how much research you have done in writing that content. It will also add more value to your content.
A few of the popular examples of this can be 5 simple ways to use WordPress, 10 popular native dishes all across India, 15 reasons to believe that WordPress is the future, 10 movies of Bollywood that made history. Always try to write short concise and clear headlines. Never forget to add a number in the headline if possible.
2.Make audiences think with your headline
Asking questions to your audience will make your audience believe that you may have the solutions to those questions. This can also be incorporated into your content writing strategy. So if you ask a question about the most commonly faced problems then you can probably engage your audience longer. Always try to start simple and small like giving solutions to the most common question.
Some of the examples are: Never ask “is it paleo” ever again! by Nerd Fitness, 5 Reasons why your SEO strategy isn’t working from storiyaan.
3.Always be original
Even if the content has been written previously, your headlines should be unique and clear. A catchy headline is unique and should never have been used before. A catchy headline can create the required edge over your competitors so make sure to write catchy and unique headlines when writing content.
Some examples are The End of the Boost Post Button, Free Download: A One-Page Complete Guide to Real Food, The Beginner’s Guide to SEO, etc…
- Use active language and consider your audience.
Try to give focus to your audience like use you, yours, you are more often in the sentence. It will make them feel valued and also more connected to the content. It is advisable to not use I or we in headlines. The use of active verbs is also advisable as they make the audience feel they can do it. Some of the examples of active verbs would be: boost, propel, and motivate.
Some examples are Fast and Easy Way to Increase Your Investment Returns, 3 Tips to Win in Salary Negotiations .etc…
Don’t for writing catchy headlines
1.Don’t try to use a vague or boring headline
Although it is quite evident but still worth a mention, do not write boring headlines or vague headlines. Always try to write cheerful, creative, innovative, concise, clear, and inspiring headlines. Your headline should be written in such a way that your audience is not able to scroll past it before reading your content
Some of the examples of a quality headline: 10 tips to improve procrastination, 5 powerful yoga asanas, and 4 ways to make simple healthy weight loss drinks.
2.The headline should be short and clear
A quality headline has clear and concise text talking about the content. Having too many words will either make you confused or make them bored and not read any further. There are also chances of mis-delivering the entire message your content is going on about. So always try to be clear and have a consciousness about the clarity of your headline.
Some of the examples can be: Beginners guide to social media marketing, How to learn the art of making outstanding videos, etc
3.Always write related headlines
Never try to be too intriguing or artsy when creating a headline. Always write a headline on which your content is going to deliver. Having an unrelated headline can make the quality of your website low or make your audience count decrease. As no one likes disappointments. Always write a headline that is informational, well researched as well as related to your content.
Some of the examples are: Why I Love Bathing Baby Elephants, can you sell your house in a day,10 tricks to overcome writer’s block, etc…
4.Sometimes you may need to write again
It is not always possible to get the correct heading on the first attempt. Sometimes you have to try multiple times before you can settle on any suitable heading for your content. Do not be afraid of the process, always try to be patient and enthusiastic when searching for clear and catchy headlines. Remember “Rome was not built in a day”. Practice till you find the headline that suits the most for your content.
Always keep in mind that your headline should be about your targeted audience and not about you. A good headline can increase the SEO rank of your content and make it more visible.
To know more about a good heading and understanding of quality SEO, here is a piece about Twinkle Chandan an SEO expert who is the proud owner of “The SEO punch”.