4 Tips to Make Your Headlines Clickable
Modern marketing is endlessly intricate, with a wide range of different services and platforms that all require attention with a clear and trackable strategy. However, even when trying to navigate a maze of social media posts, digital ad channels, and email marketing lists, it is vital to remember that the best content marketing strategies still hinge on written communication and that refining your basic writing skills while carefully merging them with other marketing techniques is one of the best ways to make your advertising content really pop. From as far back as the earliest newspapers, successful journalists have understood the importance of writing a catchy headline, and that still holds true today. Whether you are writing a blog post, initiating an AdWords campaign, or even posting an educational YouTube video, your headline will ultimately play a singularly important role in determining whether your target audience clicks on your content or not. Here are four helpful tips to writing the kind of headlines that will get your content the attention that it deserves.
Be Surprising
Nothing gets an audience to sit up and take notice faster than novelty. Things that are a bit surprising or even confusing can often break the monotony of the day just enough to snap people back to wakeful attention. Although it may not be appropriate in every situation, and knowing the preferences of your target demographic is absolutely vital, a bit of word play, an unusual turn of phrase, a joke, or even something a bit controversial can all be excellent ways to engage your reader and get them curious about what you have to say.
Be Useful and Specific
When you are bombarded with a constant stream of internet content on a daily basis, it is human nature to prioritize, and people tend to pay the most attention to the things that impact them personally. Your headline should make it clear to your target audience how your content will impact their lives. Be specific so that they know exactly what to expect when they click.
Use Data and Numbers
Just being seen on busy social media platforms can be challenging, and just as contrasting colors can be eye-catching and jarring, so too does the juxtaposition of numbers and letters in a headline tend to naturally draw a reader’s eyes. Additionally, the use of specific data, like saying “20% more” instead of just “more”, gives your content an air of researched authority that demands attention.
Keep it Short and Sweet
Trying to attract attention on the internet or even in traditional advertising is often like trying to have a conversation in a crowded bar; you don’t have time to mince words. Successful politicians understand the importance of mastering the soundbite, because a quick summary statement is both easy to remember and difficult to misinterpret. Moreover, for a headline to be truly effective in an on-line world, it needs to fit comfortably in Google Search listings. In order to optimize SEO rankings, try to keep your headlines under 70 characters, or about 6 to 8 words at most.
At McCauley Marketing Services, our highly-trained staff of writers will thoroughly research your company’s respective service demographic and use our extensive experience to help you develop exceptional content that can maximize your company’s exposure and profitability. If you would like to explore how our team can make a difference for your business, schedule a meeting with McCauley Marketing Services today. We’d love to hear your thoughts, so please connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+ to share your tips and recommendations.