With digital information becoming more and more accessible, it can be really daunting to figure out how to grab attention. Since blogs are a great way to draw visitors to your website, which will increase your click-through rate and eventually increase your sales, getting attention with a good headline is critical.
The amount of information available at our fingertips these days is overwhelming. There are a lot of stories that cross your reader’s path each day. It’s difficult for them to determine the good from all the bad, and many people are hesitant to actually read something as a result. This is why your blogs must have a catchy headline.
Focus on creating great content with a ‘unique’ spin on the industry. Let your blog title be the way it stands out from others. After all, you are the expert in your niche—let your readers know this. Your headline is more than just eye-catching; it’s what sells your content!
At okwrite, we have a few helpful tips for creating catchy headlines. As more people turn to blogs for marketing, they will benefit from increased search engine ranking. The increase in rankings will result in more traffic and increased revenue for your business.
How to Write Headlines That Attract More Readers
Headlines are the first thing people see when they open a magazine, newspaper, or website. They grab attention and make you want to read more.
Headlines are one of the most critical parts of your content. They are what will get your readers to take action and engage with your content.
The 8-Step Process for Writing Headlines that Attract More Attention
Headlines should be catchy, eye-catching, and informative. The following steps are a great way to format a headline that will draw in readers and get them excited for what is to come.
Use a Working Title
When brainstorming some headline ideas for your article, ask yourself a simple question “What would draw me in and make me want to read more?” If you feel like you know the answer and can write a headline that checks those boxes, go ahead and carry on writing. Otherwise, don’t hesitate to do more research to determine what problem people need to solve with your product or service.
To find out what people are searching for now and what they find engaging, search for relevant keywords that pop up in titles when you search your blog topic. Three platforms can help you stay up to date on what’s trending. Google Trends is a way to keep an eye on what people are searching for, and Ahrefs offers tools you can use to see what other people have been reading online.
Compare the popular links with your draft titles and make adjustments accordingly. There are a variety of ways to make plumbing articles more interesting, for example:
- 5 Reasons Why You Need to Know How Your Home’s Plumbing Works
- 3 Simple Steps to Add to Your Daily Routine to Use Less Water
- How to Spot Leaks Before They Become Catastrophic
- 3 Tricks Every Home Owner Should Know About Plumbing
Simplicity Rules
Titles serve a vital function within any website, especially on a blog. Your reader should easily understand them, they should be easy to navigate and provide a clear idea of what the reader will find inside. Using tongue-in-cheek language can sometimes be effective, but you may also risk not reaching your audience.
Writing your content can show your well-rounded personality and your expertise, but always keep it simple for your readers. Don’t go overboard with sarcasm or other casual language, or you’ll risk overwhelming some of your audience.
Keep your headlines to a few words and focus on what people will want the most. You only have a few seconds to grab their attention. A succinct headline will give your reader a good idea of what they’re getting into, which will entice them to read.
Aim for Authority
It’s essential to set goals for your posts and headlines. Doing so will help maintain and grow your readership, success, and brand. Some key ways to tackle this are being clear about your article, creating a concise and compelling opening paragraph, and stressing hard benefits (practical benefits) to create scarcity value.
One way to make your title attract readership is to make it catchy and informative. Eliminating unnecessary words in a title can spare more clicks and help your readers get to the content faster. If the blog title and content match well, your visitors will trust you on other matters. Many will start looking for more blogs with your written content as you become known for quality blogging and as a trusted voice in your industry.
Lists, Numbers, and Guides
Ultimately, marketing with numbers attracts audiences and this is why this headline technique has taken off in the online world. People love checking things off lists, which is why they are great for content. Making your content structured into a list of steps or tricks provides the reader with what they need to keep track of.
Referring to our plumbing blog examples, what would you be more curious to read or check out?
‘6 Things You Need to Know to Stop Plumbing Leaks’
or
‘Stop Plumbing Leaks’
In addition to the above examples, if you offer a guide for readers, it gives the impression that reading your article will give the reader some insight into your industry, service, or product. Brand authority and trust are being developed with this these methods.
Entice the Reader
Promising your readers something changes your content’s tone and makes them feel more fulfilled. It helps keep their attention, which is good if they need to commit to that promise to complete a purchase.
Whether it’s a time-limited offer or an incentive to take action, the value you provide guides your readers into action. That’s the whole point of content marketing! Do you want your reader to buy into what you’re offering? Give them something valuable. If you can offer an incentive to take action, such as ‘5 Tips for Becoming More Energy Efficient by Next Month’, you are giving a sense of urgency and providing a solution.
Use Emotional Keywords
Focus on what your audience will respond well to. There are tons of keyword lists on the web that have been tested, researched, and proven to work for content marketing. Your website content should elicit strong emotions from your readers and solve a pain point for them.
You can use emotional adjectives to describe your reader’s problem. Here are just a few examples of the adjectives you might want to consider using:
- Free
- Essential
- Effortless
- Fun
Describe the Content With Distinctive Logic
Your reader has landed on your article or blog post because they have a problem that needs solving. However, you likely have many competitors looking to solve that same problem, so you need your headline to convince the reader to choose you. Instead of using a generic word like ‘things’ in your title, give the reader an idea of what they will get out of your blog post.
That’s why being original is necessary for list posts. The use of the following can grab a reader’s attention and draw them in to read:
- Facts
- Reasons
- Tricks
- Ideas
- Secrets
Be Accurate
Readers want and value content that seems captivating. Write engagingly and creatively, and avoid distorting facts or manipulating people to get their attention with your headline. Doing so will make them question your business’s intention, and it will deter them from returning to read any more (which takes away potential sales).
Consider taking the time to choose a headline that speaks to who you’re writing for. Future readers won’t be disappointed, and neither will past readers.
Once you have chosen something that sounds good, bounce your headline off a coworker. We often brainstorm blog post titles for our clients, and it helps to get some good ideas from other people.
Blogging takes time but can provide excellent marketing content for your business. The creative process behind writing the perfect headline also has hidden benefits. For instance, you can find inspiration for additional content if a title doesn’t quite describe your blog. Making headlines is sometimes challenging and can grow tedious, but learning will be easier as you do it more often.
At okwrite, we spend a lot of time figuring out the right headline for our clients. We craft your content with not only the search engines in mind but also your reader. We produce high-quality, compelling content for your business and make sure it adheres to best practices to help you rank on your top keyword phrases, all with a catchy headline on top!
How do you come up with catchy titles? Drop us a line below.
