Are you tired of seeing a handful of people reading your blog? It is time to change that by starting with your headlines! Headlines are a much more significant part of SEO website design then most people think!
We all know that writing is something that does not come naturally for everyone. Even the most accomplished writers have been to their share of boot camps, as well as suffered from writer’s block.
SEO Website Design Writing
Writing is not easy. That is why we recommend enhancing your blogging skills, first, with consistent practices. Second, by reading more informative blogging articles. Finally, and most importantly, read up on the latest SEO and web design trends.
But what if you have done everything you can to write interesting articles and still do not see any results? If you are a small business owner struggling with SEO website design, we know what you are saying. So, read on for some tips on SEO headline writing.
The Importance of Headlines – Pro SEO Website Design Lesson
When bloggers and SEO companies notice a lack of readers on their newly published posts, the immediate response is to tweak the content. Sometimes, it may be as simple as reducing the article’s length or adding a new paragraph. In contrast, it may involve doing more research, spending hours reading about great blogging, investing days to brainstorm, outline, and re-write the post.
In most cases, the content of your blog is not a problem. Instead, the problem is your headline or better known as the title of your blog post.
In an interesting article on headline writing, the Founder of Copyblogger, Brian Fisher, shared a compelling example of how a brilliant post failed to receive its proper attention because of its headline. He wrote, “The other day, we published a headline that failed…” Fisher went on to explain how he thought the post would be a great hit, but things went south instead.
“It quickly became clear that Sherice’s post was under-performing,” said Fisher, “And I couldn’t figure out why. And then it hit me.”
According to Fisher, the original headline, Are Your Readers Calling You a Liar? is the problem’s source. No one likes to be called a liar. Plus, the chance of being called a liar by an online reader (whom you have never met) is relatively low. Most people who think you are a liar will probably never tell you. They unsubscribe and stop visiting your site.
Good & Bad Headlines
The headline failed because not many site owners have met readers who have called them liars in their faces. As a result, many site owners will dismiss the headline as irrelevant with a simple “no.” After realizing this, Fisher changed the SEO website design headline to; Do Your Readers Secretly Think You are a liar? Even though Fisher fixed the headline, the original post had already been tweeted, emailed, and shared on social media platforms. That said, the story teaches us that your headline is what makes or breaks the article. Excellent internet marketing gets it right the first time and gives your SEO website design the spotlight it deserves.
Writing a Magnetic SEO Website Design Headline
The headline of your article is the first thing your readers will see. According to HubSpot, 8 out of 10 people will read your headline. However, only 2 out of 10 will read the rest of the content. Because the headline is what will grab your reader’s attention, most writers spend hours crafting a fantastic headline that will inspire people to read more. Headlines are so important that 90% of the advertising dollars go toward headlines, says QuickSprout. For beginners who are trying to learn headline writing, here are three tips to steer you in the right direction:
Use Numbers
People are always on the go to learn new things. Many readers are interested in knowing more than one way to tackle a matter with life throwing complex situations at our doorsteps. Headlines like “10 Must-Have’s of a Great Local Web Design” or “5 Secrets to Regain Control of Your Small Business” are great at informing readers of the benefits they will receive from reading the article. As a rule of thumb, you can always spice up an SEO website design with your headline. For instance, use a headline with some exciting adjectives such as effortless, absolute, or essential.
For example, take the title “5 Secrets to Regain Control of Your Business” and change it to “5 Secrets to Effortlessly Regain Control of Your Small Business.” Doesn’t the latter give the headline an extra dash of urgency and interest?
Ask the Why Questions
You want to avoid having a reader dismiss your article with a simple, no. While you can use the “Is” or “Do” questions, the “Why” questions will challenge readers to pause from their web surfing and think harder and longer. As David Ogilvy says, “Too often the headline is the most neglected part of writing an article. People just gloss over it without taking much time to consider it. In their minds, it is the cherry on top. No, friends; it is not. The headline is the sundae.” Take your time to write it and give your readers a delicious treat.
Make a Promise
Weave a promise into your headline so your reader can get something valuable in return for stopping by. The race is on. What are you giving to your reader in exchange for their time?
Like an artist that continuously improves his skill through trials and errors, after all, writing attention-grabbing headlines is an on-going learning process. Therefore, one cannot master headline writing in a single day. Set time aside to brainstorm for a compelling SEO website design headline next time you write a post. Think of creative ways to grab people’s attention by focusing on bringing solutions. For instance, headlines that will help your readers solve a problem, learn a new skill, or perform better.