Getting a good headline is a challenge for those who are dedicated to the hard task of generating content. Without doubt we would be very helpful to know which are the headlines that work best, what resources are used in the posts that receive more visits and interactions. Well we are lucky, because Startup Moon has published a study, drawn from the analysis of more than 100 blogs, where we determine the attributes common to their most popular headlines.
A really useful information that applied in our strategy of content marketing can make the difference between the success and virality of our information or the passing unnoticed.
The “Gore” sells. It’s surprising, but according to the study, headlines that include such sensationalist words as killing, war, blood or revenge, using the dark side to convey the problem have a great effect on readers. Let’s do a test “The e-mailing is dead, forget to try to conquer your customers through your inbox” or Is e-mailing effective to win customers? If you put yourself in the worst, you will attract users concerned about this issue.
Always negative, rather than positive . The word “no” causes havoc, as well as orders related to stop doing something or show what would be the result of quitting. “Google Penguin” owners will end up with your positioning, unless you improve your content strategy “or” Without engagement, there is no community on Facebook “usually arouse a mixture of curiosity and concern for the topic they propose.
According to the two previous results, it could be concluded that the titles that cause a certain fear or anxiety about the possibility of losing something, are those that generate more expectation.
Lists and numbers still work. The figures are synonymous with credulity, as is the case with the numbers that offer the results of studies, the statistics that show which tendencies are the most recommendable or the contrasted results of tests and several experiments. On the other hand, those headlines that promise results and boast of effectiveness are not overlooked in the eyes of users. Those headlines that indicate “10 ways to approach your customer”, “5 golden rules to improve the convertibility of your site,” or “1 in 3 customers looking for information through the mobile” captan attractively our attention.
Learning sells. In addition to warning users about what is best not to do, it will also help them to teach you how to learn quickly and easily about that topic that concerns them. Of course, forget about using the “How to” to state your message, this stale introduction no longer causes the desired effect. So, instead of saying “How to learn to use Facebook”, it is more effective to say “Learn to use Facebook in 5 days.”
Take advantage of his fame. Use in your headlines topics and current terms, adapted to your content, of course. Make reference to the new toy of Google, or to the last launch of Apple; Everything is valid if you are able to relate these terms to a creative headline.
Magnify your message. The most viral headlines include the terms “astounding, intelligent, broad, great, critical”; In this way they manage to stand out among the vast amount of messages that happen every day in the online landscape.
The data from Startup Moon indicate that those headlines trying to announce new features can not attract the attention of the public. They are probably confused between the press releases and commercials of marks, all contained with a marked promotional character.
What headlines are the ones that draw your attention? What techniques do you use to arouse user interest?