How to Attract More Readers by Writing Great Headlines
Written by Adam J. Barkafski Added: 01 March 2008
You may have heard that people’s attention spans get smaller and smaller everyday. On the web, they’re even smaller! People surfing the web take mere seconds to determine if they will stay on your website. You have a lot working against you, so you’ll need to pull out the stops to get viewers to stay.
One of the best things you can do is write amazing headlines. Excellent headlines can be read in a matter of seconds, and if yours captivate and engage, you’ve reeled in the surfers to stop and stay a while. Needless to say, headlines are some of the most important things you will write for your website.
Writing great headlines doesn’t have to be difficult. In fact, there are many formulas around that have worked time and time again to attract attention. Here’s a small list of five easy ones that wave a flag to your average web surfer.
How to
Example: How to Win More Readers to Your Blog in Less Time
The “How-to” headline is a great way to bring in readers who are looking for useful information to solve a challenge or problem. To really maximize the impact, look to play up the benefit or advantage that readers will gain by taking your advice. Remember, it’s always about the benefits!
Numbered Lists
Example: Four Easy Ways to Double Your Website Traffic
People love numbers in headlines. They make it clear to the reader the number of benefits, strategies, tips, or tricks someone is about to learn. You’ll attract attention with these numbers because people will be willing to invest more in your articles since they have a better idea of what they’ll get out of it.
Secrets
Example: The Secret to Higher Search Engine Rankings
Perhaps even more than numbers, people love secrets. It’s that part of ourselves that wants to be better, the part that loves to know what others don’t. These headlines tap into that need. Any headline that emphasizes little known facts or secrets is sure to get some clicks.
Questions
Example: Do You Have What It Takes to Be a Millionaire?
Ask a good question, get a good reader. Entice your readers with a question that they just need an answer to.
The Twist
Example: Shoppers Abandoning Their Carts Will Mean Increased Sales
Provide the unexpected. Capitalize on a twist. Turn a problem into a solution. Anytime there’s an unexpected turn of events, people enjoy the tension or unexpected outcome. That’s why these headlines will naturally attract readers, particularly if you address a challenge of theirs and make it a simple solution.
As with most things in life, it’s good to use each type of headline in moderation. Certainly, you might raise a skeptical eyebrow or two if every headline on your site started with “The Secret to…” However, with a little practice and a little patience, you’ll soon be writing attention-grabbing headlines like a pro!
Category: Writing Tips
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