BuzzFeed does this really well. The publication recently published headlines like these:
Choose your favorite breakfast foods and we'll find out if you're a Jedi or a Sith
This Man Was Completely Scammed By Online Photos Of The Hotel He Booked And People Can't Stop Laughing
Can you understand the deep meaning behind this comic about social media?
Headlines work because they create curiosity. The content itself may not change your life, but the headline grabs attention.
The same can be done with more serious works by asking a challenging question:
What type of runner are you?
Which of these mistakes are you making in preparing for a marathon?
We trained for the marathon for 3 weeks. This is what happened.
9. Create humor by playing with words
Have you ever watched the HBO series True Blood? When vampire Bill Compton tells Sookie the name of the vampire bar in Shreveport, Fangtasia , she rolls her eyes.
Compton replies, "You have to remember that most vampires are very old. Puns were the highest form of humor."
Far be it from me to disagree with the fictional vampire, but the puns are still funny. And they still work in headlines.
If you can write headlines that include wordplay, you will immediately arouse curiosity.
10. Include a hyphen or colon in your blog post title.
Yes, punctuation matters! It sounds silly, but it can really pique the reader's interest. It can also help with SEO.
You'll notice that the title of this article uses a colon. You can also replace it with a hyphen or dash to get the same effect.
Let's look at three headings:
Preparing for Your First Marathon: The Complete Guide
Preparing for Your First Marathon - The Complete Guide
The Complete Guide to Preparing for Your First Marathon
There's nothing inherently wrong with the last headline. However, it won't grab the reader's attention as quickly.
We focus on the first part of the title. This is what search engines like Google do too. If you can get your main keyword at the beginning of the title, you have a better chance of getting clicks and better rankings.
Essentially, hyphens and colons allow you to break your headline into two parts. This way, you can convey more information and organize your headline for both reader interest and SEO.
11. Use a rationale - a compelling reason to click
The justification is simply the incentive to click. It gives the reader a reason to see what the article has to offer.
You will find rational words in many worksheets and textbooks. Some of the most usa whatsapp numbers common include the following:
Tips : 17 Tips to Improve Your Marathon Results
Strategies : 17 Strategies to Help You Improve Your Marathon Time
Lessons : 17 Lessons You Can Learn From Famous Runners
ways : 17 ways to improve your running time
Type : 17 Running Exercises You Should Try
times : 17 Times Famous Runners Surprised Us
12. Make the title simple and clear
While puns and adjectives can make headlines more clickable, you don’t want to overdo it. When in doubt, follow one of the best headline writing tips: keep it short, sweet, and simple.
In other words, tell the reader the benefit and the reason why you are writing the article. That's it. If it takes 10 words, that's fine. If it takes only four words, that's fine too.
Take a look at the headline on the HelpGuide.org blog. It's incredibly simple, yet effectively conveys the topic of the article.
HelpGuide.org
Image via HelpGuide.org
This clarity not only eliminates confusion, but also enhances engagement.