May 19, 2009
Compelling Headlines and Title Tags for Your Website
One marketing technique that will never die is the use of catchy headlines. Catchy headlines grab people’s attention and compel them to read your content. In the online world, headlines also serve as title tags for each page of your website so they also have SEO value when they include your target keyword terms.
In this digital age, people’s attention spans are severely limited. We are bombarded with marketing messages on a constant basis so for us to pay attention to any piece of content online, it must feature an enticing headline that grabs our attention and makes us want to know more about what the content contains.
The 3 Types of Headlines
Successful headlines generally fall under three categories: news, teaser, and benefits-oriented headlines. News headlines work because humans constantly want to learn about what is new and different. An example of a news headline is: “New Software Program Cuts Paper Usage by 60%.” Teaser headlines are designed to captivate readers and “tease” them into reading an article. Teaser headlines are a gamble to use because they give no information about what the article contains so it’s possible that they’ll fail to entice readers. An example of a teaser headline is: “Give It a Boost.” Does this headline give you any clue as to what the article contains? - Probably not. It might make people want to read your article but then again it might not.
Benefits-oriented headlines tend to be the most successful because they express a benefit to the reader and give readers a gist of the main message of the content. An example of a benefits-oriented headline is: “How to Get Rid of Acne in 3 Easy Steps.” This type of headline stands a better chance of getting your readers’ attention because it clearly expresses what they will get out of reading your content.
Headlines for SEO
Since headlines for your site’s content are likely to become your title tags, it’s necessary to include your target keyword terms in them. Moreover, research has shown that title tags that contain target keyword terms are more likely to get clicked among search results. If your site is in the first three search engine rankings for a particular term, you’re probably good to go but otherwise headlines will play a big role in attracting more clicks and visitors. Make sure to include the headline at the top of your page so visitors are certain that they clicked on the right link.
Tips for Coming Up with Great Headlines on the Spot
There are some easy techniques you can use to come up with compelling headlines for your web content in a short amount of time. Some of these include providing helpful advice (Tips for Preventing Migraines), using the “how to” headline (How to Lose 30 Pounds in 30 Days), and using numbered headlines (10 Tips for Taking a Frugal Family Vacation). Use these formulas to quickly generate headline ideas for your content.
Headlines are a powerful tool for bringing more traffic to your site and getting more social media attention. Give your website an edge with headlines that compel, attract, and entertain. Studies in online advertising show that readers respond to headlines more than any other element, including design. Make sure to give your headlines the oomph they need to grab attention and encourage more people to click!
In this digital age, people’s attention spans are severely limited. We are bombarded with marketing messages on a constant basis so for us to pay attention to any piece of content online, it must feature an enticing headline that grabs our attention and makes us want to know more about what the content contains.
The 3 Types of Headlines
Successful headlines generally fall under three categories: news, teaser, and benefits-oriented headlines. News headlines work because humans constantly want to learn about what is new and different. An example of a news headline is: “New Software Program Cuts Paper Usage by 60%.” Teaser headlines are designed to captivate readers and “tease” them into reading an article. Teaser headlines are a gamble to use because they give no information about what the article contains so it’s possible that they’ll fail to entice readers. An example of a teaser headline is: “Give It a Boost.” Does this headline give you any clue as to what the article contains? - Probably not. It might make people want to read your article but then again it might not.
Benefits-oriented headlines tend to be the most successful because they express a benefit to the reader and give readers a gist of the main message of the content. An example of a benefits-oriented headline is: “How to Get Rid of Acne in 3 Easy Steps.” This type of headline stands a better chance of getting your readers’ attention because it clearly expresses what they will get out of reading your content.
Headlines for SEO
Since headlines for your site’s content are likely to become your title tags, it’s necessary to include your target keyword terms in them. Moreover, research has shown that title tags that contain target keyword terms are more likely to get clicked among search results. If your site is in the first three search engine rankings for a particular term, you’re probably good to go but otherwise headlines will play a big role in attracting more clicks and visitors. Make sure to include the headline at the top of your page so visitors are certain that they clicked on the right link.
Tips for Coming Up with Great Headlines on the Spot
There are some easy techniques you can use to come up with compelling headlines for your web content in a short amount of time. Some of these include providing helpful advice (Tips for Preventing Migraines), using the “how to” headline (How to Lose 30 Pounds in 30 Days), and using numbered headlines (10 Tips for Taking a Frugal Family Vacation). Use these formulas to quickly generate headline ideas for your content.
Headlines are a powerful tool for bringing more traffic to your site and getting more social media attention. Give your website an edge with headlines that compel, attract, and entertain. Studies in online advertising show that readers respond to headlines more than any other element, including design. Make sure to give your headlines the oomph they need to grab attention and encourage more people to click!
Labels: blogging, website_development
