People have a lot on their plates. When people have so much work to be getting on with your Blog/eBook/SlideShare title had better be good. Your not just asking for people to be interested in your title, your asking for people to actually take out the time to read your content. Here are our tips so that you’ll be bringing in and gripping readers consistently:
“What’s in it for me?”
Be precise and give a clear aim to the value of your content. When people understand what exactly they will get out of consuming your content from just a glance, they are much more likely to read.
Of course this also means that your content has to provide value. No matter how exciting a title or a headline is if it isn’t going to benefit the reader it’s highly unlikely your content is going to take off. So the first step is to find out what your readers actually would like to read. Then tell them upfront to pull them in and don’t let up!
People understand Value, not specifications/process
People are not interested in the product/service you offer, they are interested in the gain from that offer. Clearly stating the benefits of an action, rather than the action itself will have a vast impact on how many heads you turn with your titles.
For example, most businesses are not interested in how email marketing can educate and connect with your audience. However if you explain customers who receive email newsletters spend 82% more when they buy from the company, you’re going to grab their attention.
This is a really powerful technique which takes some thought but is well worth the results.
Tried and Proven Header & Title Formulas
Great! Now that you understand the concept of what your headers and titles should be including here are a few examples of precise actionable templates:
- [Insert Number] Of ways to solve [Issue which your audience is trying to solve]
- The Definitive Guide to [Regular problem your readers face]
- [Insert Number] Mistakes to avoid when [tackling obstacle your readers face]
- [Insert Number] Steps to [Resolved issue]
Numbers are a powerful tool in your titles. People tend to know what they are looking for, the more specific your title is the less likely they feel like they will regret reading your content.
This has been our tips on working towards some really groundbreaking titles. What do you think? Have we hit the nail on the head, or are we missing something? If you have any examples of great headings which worked for you let us know!