You know what really bother us? That a lot of great content dives head into the deep abyss of Internet oblivion. Well, we don’t know if it’s that dramatic but you get the point – countless articles are quickly dismissed and overlooked every second. And while many of them might deserve that fate, some are really worth checking out.
So, how’s that great articles aren’t translating into page views? The insane amount of articles on the Web should clue you in. But there’s also another issue at stake here – headline quality. If your headline is just another boring example of what everybody else is writing, then you stand no chance. On the other hand, a great headline may get you the clicks that are avoiding you like the plague.
The perfect headline
But what’s a great headline? First and foremost, it’s the one that makes you want to read the damn thing. Of course, it isn’t just about the clicks – the perfect headline explains the content in the briefest of ways. How do you make such a thing? Is there a recipe? Of course not. This isn’t rocket science – this is content marketing and the only way to get there is to try and test over and over. However, we can share some secrets we learned over the years with you.
1 – Make it mysteriously sexy
Being mysterious can be incredibly sexy – at least that’s what they told us. That applies to headlines (strange, right?). People are drawn to articles that spark their curiosity. It’s more likely that people click on an article that reads “The marketing method that rules all other marketing methods” or “Your business will never be the same after checking this marketing method.” Both of them informs you about the article’s topic but are only complete with its content. Which method? Why it’s so great? You’ll have to read to find out. See what we did there?
2 – People hate math but love numbers
From Buzzfeed and Cracked to pretty much all marketing and tourism agencies, you’ll see that numbers are almost ubiquitous in their headlines. That should be enough for you to start using them. Lists and numbers are so widespread that people came to love them and embrace them as one of their favorite formats. Think about it. Numbered lists are easier to read and comfortable enough to be scanned. Besides, once you start reading them, you’ll surely want to know what comes in the next number. It’s a proven classic of content marketing, so you should definitely use it in your headlines.
3 – Write it “easy”
You know what people loves more that pretty much everything else? Comfort. Convenience. When there are thousands of things to pick from, people will always choose the most convenient one. From tools to apps, from foods to, yeah, headlines, that rule applies every single time. If you are able to communicate that idea through your headline, then you’ll have half the job done. How do you do that? By using words that underline such convenience – easy, simple, free. You get the picture.
4 – Get descriptive
While we’re talking convenience, we can’t avoid talking about being descriptive. Getting cryptic or enigmatic in your headlines won’t get you anywhere (one thing’s being mysterious and the other is being rather inexplicable). Instead, try to describe how your article will help your readers to solve their problems. Headlines like “No visitors? Here are 4 easy-to-use tips to increase your traffic” or “5 reasons why your content isn’t being shared (and what can you do about it)” are perfect examples for this. In both of them there’s a problem and an invitation to find a solution. If a reader has that specific problem, then chances are that it will click on your article. Isn’t that easy?
Want to avoid the deep, dark, terrible abyss of Internet oblivion? You’d better start working on those headlines with these tips in mind!
