How to Write Attention Grabbing Article Headlines - Article Marketing

How to Write Attention Grabbing Article Headlines

Headlines are critical to your article — they are the first thing your reader will see and they have to accomplish at least two things right off the bat. They must;

  1. instantly grab your reader's attention
  2. compel them to read more of the article

and they usually need to do it in 15 words or less.

No small feat, but there are some fundamental considerations, which if you understand them, make it a whole lot easier.

First, have a clear idea who your reader is. Second, understand what the important features of your product or service are, and third, think about why your reader would want to buy your product or service — list the benefit of reading the article, i.e. what's in in for them.

For maximum readership, try to write your headline as if you were creating short, curiosity-arousing teaser copy on an envelope. Try to strike a balance by compelling your reader to find out more without being so blatant as to turn them off.

Here are ten ways to create effective headlines, all the while taking into consideration your answers to the earlier three points: who your reader is, what the important features of your product or service are, and what benefit does reading your article provide?

  1. State a benefit. For example: "Learn how to potty train your dog in 3 easy steps."
  2. Use words that help the reader visualize. For example: "Keep your socks dry. Eliminate doggy carpet puddles and smelly wet socks in 3 easy steps."
  3. Highlight your offer in your headline. For example: "Learn how to create an award winning aquarium."
  4. Use numbers and statistics.
  5. Make it newsworthy using words like: new, introducing, or announcing.
  6. Make a guarantee.
  7. Make a big promise. This is used a lot, for example: "Lose 20 pounds in 20 days."
  8. Use reasons why. For example: "10 reasons why you're losing money in the stock market."
  9. Anticipate and address your reader's fears.
  10. Pique their curiosity.

Naturally, there are many ways to produce a good, attention getting headline. Psychologists and skilled copywriters will both tell you that people don't buy for logical reasons. They buy for emotional ones. We're talking fear, greed, curiosity, benevolence, jealousy, lust, insecurity, pride, and frustration.

Those feelings are among some of the more effective emotions that copy writers tap into, and the same holds true for article headlines. If you can provide a headline that appeals to your reader's emotions, not only will you have more people eagerly reading your article, you'll have more websites, blogs, and ezines linking to your article.

When writing your headline, a good tactic is to write several headlines and choose the most effective, or to write your copy first and let your copy dictate the headline.

Regardless of how you write your article headlines, experience and reading other eye catching headlines will help you explore the process. Visit an article directory and take a look at the articles that catch your eye. Browse through the articles with the most readership and examine the different headline styles.

Doing this will help you create your own article headlines that generate the same readership numbers. The end result will be more traffic and visibility for your website.

Have you got any favorite attention-grabbing article headlines you'd like to share?

P.s. Rich Schefren has just made available his list of phrases to keep your reader's attention. It's a free download, no sign up, and well worth getting hold of to accompany your attention-grabbing headlines. Let me know if you find them useful.

Tags: Article Headlines
Published under Article Writing

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