Get Noticed with Better Headlines

The battle for visitors who read your copy, buy your products, use your services, and refer their friends is fierce.

You need for your blog, article, and webpage to be noticed by your target audience. How do you get them to read what you write?

How does the proverb go? A word written in the forest but not read was never really written at all…or something like that.

Put your best foot forward

Let’s start with your headline. It may be the first and only impression you make on your visitors.

In today’s world of instant gratification and immense strains on time, your headlines need to grab your readers and compel them to read on.

Get them where you want them

Here are 3 key components to making your headlines more eye-catching and effective:

• Keyword(s) – Place your visitor’s search term or phrase in the headline to draw a reader’s eye and reassure them that they are going to get the information they’re looking for. Of course, your copy must then touch on those keyword(s) to justify having them in the headline.
•  A “Hook” –Headlines that grab your readers attention and won’t let go until they read your piece.

 Start analyzing book titles, the cover of People Magazine or Sports Illustrated, song titles, movie titles, and episode titles of TV shows. Which ones grab your interest? Analyze them and incorporate what you learn into your headlines.

Here are some examples of the hook in action:

•  “The 10 best books of 2011” From the New York Times Book review – helping your readers narrow their choices by providing your expert opinion.
• “The Secrets of Closing the Sale” by Zig Ziglar – promise them new, special, unique information that they can’t get elsewhere
• “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” by Stieg Larsson – Peak their interest – provides a sense of mystery – adventure – drama with your title – somehow you just know this is going to be a good book.
• A “Tease” – With a thumbnail picture and a headline screaming “Kardashian Engaged” or “Obama’s Misstep,” for example, you gain readers based upon curiosity alone.

 Follow up and cover the subject matter from the headline so you keep your readers engaged. By touching on the tease further in the piece, you hook the reader for a longer period.

Competition for your reader’s attention is everywhere. To win, you need to break through the noise and grab their attention with a great headline.

Contact us if you’d like some help writing conversion oriented copy for your website.