image courtesy of StuartMiles/freedigital
photos.net
The thing about your headlines is that they get read more than anything else on your website. That’s why a headline serves one goal: to grab attention so people feel compelled to read the first sentences on your page or post.
I have a rather large file of headline templates that I refer to time and again for Web pages, blog posts, articles, emails and more.
Jon Morrow is one of the best bloggers on the planet and I just downloaded his “52 Headline Hacks: A Cheat Sheet for Writing Blog Posts that Go Viral.”
Here is a sampler from the great Jon Morrow, just fill in the blanks to fit your piece:
1) Threat Headlines – What Keeps Your Readers Up At Night?
How Safe Is Your [Valuable Person/Object] from [Threat]?
7 Warning Signs That [Blank]
Warning: [Blank]
2) Zen Headlines – Promising Your Readers a Simpler Life
The Zen of [Blank]
Can’t Keep Up? 11 Ways to Simplify Your [Blank]
How to Take Charge of Your [Unruly Problem]
3) Piggyback Headlines – Riding on the Back of a Famous Brand
[Famous Person’s] Top 10 Tips for [Blank]The [World-Class Example] School of [Blank]
What [World Class Example] Can Teach Us About [Blank]
4) Mistakes Headlines – Irresistible Teasers From the Masters
Do You Make These 9 [Blank] Mistakes?
11 [Blank] Mistakes You Don’t Know You’re Making
Don’t do These 12 Things When [Blank]
5) How To Headlines – The Oldie but Goodie That Never Fails
How to [Blank]
How to Be [Desirable Quality]
How to [Blank] Without [Objectionable Action]
6) List Headlines – Bite Sized Content That Readers Adore
7 Ways to [Do Something]
Get [Blank]! 10 Ideas That Really Work
5 Surprising Reasons [Blank]
These are just a few headlines you’ll find in Jon’s ebook. You can get it free by clicking here and subscribing to his email. I highly recommend not only the book but the valuable tips you’ll get by subscribing.
By the way, I’m not benefiting in any way from letting you in on Jon’s website and blog. He’s just very good and he’ll help you with your posts in a fun and informative way.
Until next time,
Nick
Nick Burns is a Web writer specializing in persuasive copywriting and content marketing. Nick’s services include SEO Web writing, website information architecture, content marketing, consulting, and publishing. He provides clients a winning online strategy plus the content writing to make it work. You can contact Nick here.
