Article Headlines – Ways To Get Ahead March 6th, 2009
The headline has always been one of the most important parts of writing an article. Prior to the internet, when articles were only a part of magazines and newspapers, it was the headline that would often make or break an article. A great article with a bad headline would often go unnoticed. On the other hand, a bad article with a good headline would always catch the reader’s eye. This scenario has basically stayed the same in the world of virtual reality. However, the rules have been modified tweaked a bit here and the headline has become more important than ever.
The Art Of Seduction
The art of crafting a good article headline is a little bit like the art of seduction. The writer needs to haveforge a line that will draw readers in, piquing their interest and making them want to read on. But this isn’t as easy as it might seem. For one thing, the average reader’s attention span isn’t very long. If they are leafing through a magazine or newspaper, chances are that they aren’t devoting more than a split-second to each headline. This time span has lessened considerably on the internet. A busy net surfer often has a number of different open windows open and is scanning each page with a practiced eye.- tThis means that in many cases, they won’t even look at areas that don’t pull at their interest them. Statistics have shown that while 8-10 people might read your headline, only about 2 of them will read the rest of the article.
So with these kinds of odds stacked against the writer, how do you write a headline that is compelling enough to hook draw the reader in? How can you catch the attention of the net surfer who hops from page to page rapidly? The best way to tackle this issue is with a mixture of common sense and some helpful hints.
Let’s take a look at the common sense aspect first. Always put yourself in the reader’s place of the reader- this is something a lot of writers forget to do. Would you stop to read a headline that is long and filled with complicated words? Chances are that your readers won’t either. A good, compelling headline should be short and to the point. Having Using something that rhymes or is mildly alliterative is always a good idea, since these tend to stick in the reader’s mind as well.
Tricks Of The Trade
Most of the hints or tricks of writing a good headline are based ion really knowing what your reader is after. This is why some headlines work like a charm and others don’t. For instance, headlines that mention secrets, hints or tips are always a reader favourite. This is because those extra tips and hints are exactly what we look for whenile doing anything,- from cleaning a computer keyboard to finding a good health drink. Mentioning lists in your headline too is also a good option- phrases like ‘top 5′, ‘ten best’ or ‘7 most effective’ immediately draw the readers like a magnet. On one level, listing establishes a sense of confidence in the reader- they feel that the writer is knowledgeable about what they areis writing about. Secondly, listing gives assures the reader the assurance that the article will get rightbe to the point.
When tapping into what the readers are looking for, there are some general tips that you can always keep in mind. People like to read about methods- whether it’s a way to keep vegetables fresh or wax your car, offering a method in your headline never fails. Ask difficult questions- headlines that openly ask if people are looking for ways to get rid of stretch marks or unwanted house guests always work. They immediately tap into a need, which is one of the most effective hooks.
One of the biggest issues that has emerged on the internet in connection with writing headlines is keywords. Some writers feel that you need to have keywords in the headline so that your article will beis picked up by the search engines. Others feel that human readability is more important. The truth is that both are important- your headline should include keywords but in a way that a reader can relate to. Having a keyword-enriched headline might get you picked up by the search engines but if a person doesn’t understand it, chances are that they wouldn’t bother with your article.
It’s always a good idea to shortlist a few article headlines, then ask yourself these following questions about them. Does it convey what the article is all about? Does it stand out? Does it hold your attention or make you shrug and say ’so what’? Remember that your headline should be like a good shop window display- it should engage the attention of the reader and entice them into stepping inside.