“On the average, five times as many people read the headline as read the body copy. When you have written your headline, you have spent eighty cents out of your dollar.”
This quote by marketing mastermind David Ogilvy still holds true today as it did 20 years ago when he first made the statement. Think about how many headlines you read everyday online and on social media. Which are the ones that attract you to click through? What about the ones that get the most shares and likes? Research shows that informative headlines like lists (that start with a number), how-to titles, and guides tend to come out on top. So without further adieu below are 5 tips to help you get that click!
- Use numbers
You are probably familiar with seeing numbers in headlines, top 10 lists, the 5 best ways, and so on. There is a reason for this… they work! Next time you are in a corner shop and have a bit of spare time, take a look through magazine headlines and take note of how many use this tactic.
- Use Trigger Words
What, why, how, when, free, new, instantly, simple…
These trigger words engage your audience on a psychological level and help generate attention to your headline. Make sure you use them wisely.
- Promise your readers something valuable
Whoever your writing for, there should be a focused effort on highlighting the benefit they will receive from reading your article/blogpost/ad. Without over promising you want to be bold.
4.Try this formula
Number or Trigger word + Keyword + Promise
Examples:
“How You Can Effortlessly Improve your Financial Situation in Less than 24 Hours”
“18 Unbelievable Ways You Can Paint without using a Brush”