If we polled fifty busy business people and asked if they remember the title of the last blog post they read or the content itself? Just about 60% will say they remember the content. But you ask, “Aren’t you writing today about headlines that get attention?”
Why, yes, I am, and what do you think got them to read the content? It was the headline that caught their attention and encouraged them to click to read more. Although they may not remember the blog headline, it did its job and inspired them to click.
80% of readers will never even make it past your headline. That’s right- 80%.
According to Melissa McGraw, SEO Wizard and owner of The Creative Potential,
“Writing great headlines is one of the best ways to make your content shareable, get found on search engines like Google, and grow your traffic. Clickable blog titles or headlines drive more website traffic, which in turn, signals to Google that an article or blog post is worth reading.
If you make your headline an afterthought, readers have a million options (and just as many distractions) to choose from. Your headline has to give them a reason to choose your blog post over every other option. In a nutshell, your headline has to work harder than ever.”
What is the headline?
The headline or blog title is the initial and most crucial part of your blog post. Its sole purpose is to engage the reader and encourage them to click through and read the blog’s content.
The headline is comparable to your front door. The headline needs to be welcoming and engaging and drive the reader to ring the doorbell. Your blog content is the equivalent of a plate of warm cookies on the table and the smell that entices them into your home.
An engaging and compelling headline for your blog posts is necessary for the blog to perform well.
What type of blog headline performs best?
There are reams of articles, blogs, and podcasts on creating engaging high-performance blog titles. We have read them and used them and tweaked them, but it comes down to four things you can do to write a headline that gets attention.
- Number headlines. In this post, we just did it: 4 things you can do to write a headline that gets attention. People like numbers and numbers possibly tip off the reader to the article’s length and time commitment to read it.
- The promise of inside scoop. As humans, we love information, and better yet, we love free information, and the promise of an ‘all exclusive’ or ‘ultimate guide’ gets us to click faster than an Alabama running back for a touchdown!
- How to headlines. Picture this: you are frustrated and planning a dinner party for eight people arriving in four hours. What do you do? You Google, “How to make simple appetizers for eight.” Done!
- Clear headlines. Please do not confuse the readers so that they need to decipher your intent before they click. I can assure you, they will bounce out, and you lost an opportunity—no need to be cheeky or cute. Just tell them what you are blogging about.
Think first, then create your headline
Take your time and think about what you want the reader to feel or experience when they see your blog post headline. When we write blogs, we also create the headings in advance to tie in with the headline, forming a smooth writing passageway in the post.
Writing a blog post headline is essential, and we can help. If you want to take a shot at writing your blog post and the headline, we offer copyediting services to make sure you knock it out of the park. If you want to have a Zoom or phone call to talk about the blog topic, we can do that and create the perfect heading and blog post for you.
Schedule a free consultation, and let’s chat about your goals and thoughts for unique and engaging blog posts.
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