A good blog post headline may be catchy or compelling, funny or fascinating, interesting or irresistible. No matter which, the goal stays the same: To get people to read it.
According to Copyblogger, 80% of people will read headlines, but only 20% will read further. This sucks! How can you get your immortal words to go viral if people don't read it? Remember, the title is the gateway to your content. The purpose of a blog post is to get people to read it. But they must get past the headline barrier.
First impressions become very important, even critical. People generally find your blog post via the title and not the content. They are mainly exposed to headlines. Therefore your headlines must be compelling. Your content may be great, the information excellent, but if the headline don't catch their attention...
Your blog stays in the online desert.
Some things to take into consideration.
Where to start? Some bloggers write the headline first. Others write it last. No clear answer. The same goes for the length. What I do know is this: It's more difficult to write compelling short copy.
Active tense is better. Compare these two headlines. �Writing great headlines� and, �How to write a great headline�. The second one uses active verbs.
Write as if you are talking to a specific person and don't forget to do a bit of keyword research.
The 'list' type' �10 Tips To Get Viral Traffic�. �15 Things You Didn't Know About Google Plus�, or �The 5 List building Rules You Should Break�, or �10 Things You Should Not Share On Social Media.�
The 'best and worst' type of headline, a variation on the 'list'. �The 10 Biggest Mistakes By Bloggers�, �Top 5 Blogging Mistakes You Must Avoid�. �The 3 Must Haves For Social Media Marketing.�
The 'how to' type. �How To Write Great Headlines�, and �How To Get More 'Likes' On Your Facebook Page�, �How To Blog Like A Pro.�
The 'positive outcome' headline � to get what you want.�The Secret To A Large List.�
The 'future' type of headline. �5 Predictions On The Future Of Google Plus.�
The 'fears and problems' headline. �Get Rid Of Your Shyness Once And For All�, and �10 Deadly List Building Mistakes� and �Don't Even Think About Marketing On Pinterest Until You Watch This Video.�
The 'curiosity' type of headline. �Google Plus Is Better For Marketing Than Facebook.�
The 'fact or fiction' title. �5 Social Media Myths�, or �Little Known Traffic Methods�, or �10 Amazing Facts About Facebook.�
The 'question and why' headline. 'Are You Making The Most Of Your List�? or �Are You Doing ____ The Right Way?� or �Why Blogs Fail.�
The 'brackets' headline. �The Truth (And Myths) About Facebook Marketing.�
The 'fact and hype' title. �Facebook Marketing: How I Build A List Of 5000 In 2 Days.�
The 'superlative' type of headline. �The Complete Guide To Solo Ads�, or �The Ultimate Recipe For Twitter Marketing�, 'The All Time Best Way To Write A Solo Ad.�
The 'controversy' title. �Is Facebook Ads A Waste Of Money? (This Source Says Yes)�
Some great titles are a combination of styles. Finally, is it an art or a craft to write good blog post headlines? I don't know - maybe both. Like most things, the more you practice, the better you get at it.
Life should be fun - enjoy it!
Henning Viljoen.
P.S. Looking for FREE Internet Marketing tools? Get it here.