The factors that make an article go viral are numerous, but one must-have is a headline that encourages people to not only open the article but share it with the whole wide world as well. That means you need to craft a headline that isn’t just SEO-optimized with certain keywords. It needs to engage the reader without being too verbose. Whether you’re writing a blog or an update on Facebook or Twitter, follow these tips to up your chances of getting your headline — and your article — seen by millions.
Choose Your Words Carefully
For starters, and generally speaking, use action words. That includes minimizing the amount of nouns you use and focusing on choosing descriptive verbs. For example, a headline such as “Dogs are known for increasing our happiness, study says” won’t work nearly as effectively as “Dogs increase our happiness, study says.” The active verb automatically engages the reader, whereas verbs like “are” or “is” simply waste space. By using active verbs in your headlines, you automatically cut down on your headline’s length, which also makes your headline more shareable too.
But verbs aren’t the only words that count when crafting shareable headlines. The science behind sharing shows that using certain words in headlines often leads to more engagement, and in turn, more sharing by your readers. These words include “smart,” “surprising,” “hacks,” “huge,” “critical,” “history” and even “science,” particularly in blog post headlines. In status updates on Twitter, popular words in highly shared tweets include “free,” “how to,” “top,” “follow,” “social,” and “please retweet.” As for Facebook, try active verbs like “warns,” “inspires,” “unites” and “amazes.”
Get Personal
Emotions are key to engaging your readers. By eliciting feelings — from awe to anger — you’re getting a reaction out of your readers. In turn, they’ll be more likely to share their reaction with their friends on social media. But getting personal isn’t just about emotions. It’s about showing what you personally are about. By using the word “I” or “Me” in a headline, particularly on Facebook, you’ll often get more likes. And as many bloggers know, the more likes you get, the easier it is to get your content in front of more people.
Test Your Headlines
Craft your headline using the tips above, but don’t write that post or hit publish on your article quite yet. Rather, make Twitter and Facebook resources that can do some legwork and research for you. Test out your headline as a simple status update. Try tweeting out “A visit to Martha’s Vineyard isn’t complete without Back Door Donuts,” and then an hour later, tweet out, “Must-Try Stops on my Martha’s Vineyard Trip? Back Door Donuts.”
Whichever post gets more retweets or favorites wins and becomes your new headline. You can also use Twitter and Facebook to test ideas for posts and see how well a fun fact does in terms of shares and favorites as well before you pen an article that takes you a good hour to write.
Plan Your Timing
You can craft the best headline possible and have it get lost in the crowd if you share it on social media at the wrong time. For starters, don’t bother posting in the middle of night when your target audience is most likely sleeping. Rather, focus on posting in the morning or afternoon, even if that means scheduling your posts in advance. If you know your target audience is most likely online during their lunch hour, too, test out that time frame as well. As always, track your engagement by looking at your Twitter and Facebook insights so you can focus on what works best for you and your headlines.
Ask Your Followers to Share
There’s no need to be shy on social media sites. After all, Facebook and Twitter are designed for people to share what you share. According to Twitter, when people ask for retweets of their content, those tweets get shared 13% more often — and that can mean a sizeable bump in traffic to your headline and content.
Other Ways to Make Your Headlines Shareable
In addition to trying out the above, try these tricks as well to make your headlines even more shareable:
Use numbers. People love lists, often because it means you’re offering practical advice. Just be sure to use the numeral rather than spelling out the number. For example, “5 Things You Must Bring on Your European Vacation” literally spells out what the reader will gain from clicking open your article.
Example of a list post
Teach your readers something new. In the same vein as using numbers, readers love to learn something new, which is why “how to” and DIY articles are so popular. But you don’t need to only use “how” and DIY to demonstrate what you’ll be teaching. For one, a headline like “History of the World’s Tallest Buildings” is not only informative, but it uses a highly shareable word in the world of headlines: “history.”
Word choice clearly matters when it comes to crafting a shareable headline, but it doesn’t stop there. Always consider your audience and what’s valuable to them. If you can capture that in a few words, your headline will be golden.
About author:
Adrienne is a freelance writer and designer obsessed with social media. You can get in touch with her on Twitter at @adrienneerin or by visiting her blog.
A great content marketing strategy may essentially be the response you need if you are small business owner seeking quality web traffic for your site. This might just be the strategy you need to increase the quantity of sales you are get without putting off your current customers and breaking your bank.
The theory of a web content strategy is pretty simple. It is a worthy alternative to tiring internet users with hollow marketing campaigns that rudely interrupt people’s lives while you try to make sales. Instead your strategy ought to offer helpful information that is both esteemed and cherished by people who are keenly seeking solutions to their problems.
It is here that content marketing comes into the picture. Content marketing involves aggressively writing and publishing value-based web content that seeks to draw prospective customers that are indirectly looking for products and services like yours.
In other words, a robust content marketing tactic, prepared for you, would look first to understand accurately what your prime target market is keenly seeking, then come up with web content that answers that articulated need, by not only providing useful information but also promoting your product or service in the process.
The plan is often to catch the prospects’ attention, by engaging them with your content. Your first goal in this case is to get permission to deliver your product as a solution to the topic at hand. Doing it this way gives you a chance to build up some trust, which indirectly means having the chance to have repeated interactions with the prospect and probably making a sale later.
There are many ways one can gain by having a well-planned and executed content marketing strategy. One can do this by publishing an enlightening blog, or creating video tutorials, or sending out e-mail newsletters. But if, you are not well acquainted with what, specifically, prospective clients are actively seeking, you will end up wasting a lot of time. That is why you need to remember that the answer to kicking off a triumphant content marketing strategy is, putting yourself in the consumers’ shoes. Think like them as you actively look for information on how to solve their problems or concerns.
If you succeed in doing this, you will be able to look for ways that you can provide the right information that answers their concerns and thereby improves their lives. Meaning, you will educate the prospective customer first on how to solve their problem or what to look out for, before cleverly pointing them towards your product or service.
To introduce your product or service, you will use certain phrases or words in your marketing content campaign that online shoppers often use in their search queries. Then you will optimize these search words by adding your content to turn them into readable and informative web content. This has to be done cleverly to ensure the information presented makes sense and also does not put off the search engines. For example, if your search word or keyword is “E-book creation,” then telling internet surfers something important about E-book creation” and ensuring the keywords are not overused in the articles is key. Most online marketers are even opting to use the keywords only twice in their web content so as not to offend the search engines.
So remember the phrase that “content is king” when it comes to online marketing. Prospective customers are repeatedly seeking information that solves some challenge that they have. They are not directly looking for an immediate sales pitch. They are looking for someone to trust with their problem. They are looking for credibility and an authority in a certain area that is troubling them. It is here that content marketing comes in and, somehow, overcomes sales resistance; while all along providing the information that these prospects are after. In other words, it lets an internet marketer put on two hats; one as a reliable counsel and the other for a salesperson.
This is what online businesses that have the maximum accomplishments in terms of lead generation and sales are doing. They are blending their product in web content that is very informative and useful to internet users. So, if you are a small business owner in need of a content marketing strategy for your Business, then go ahead and get one as you are taking the right step.
Author Bio:
Jason Smith is an online consultant for Hitches – speciality hitches . Jason likes blogging about online strategies that are related to SEO, Content, PPC & Lead generation. In his free time he likes to study about web designing and practice Jiu Jitsu.
Are you struggling to create blog content that captivates your readers? Look no further! We’ll share six valuable tips on writing fantastic blog posts that your audience will absolutely adore. From understanding your readers’ needs to optimizing your content for search engines, we’ve got you covered. Get ready to take your blogging game to the next level and start engaging with your audience like never before!
So, let’s dive in and discover how to create blog content that leaves a lasting impression.
Understanding Your Audience
To write great blog content that resonates with your audience, you need to understand their needs and preferences. It’s crucial to know who your readers are and what they’re looking for.
Conduct thorough research to gain insights into their demographics, interests, and challenges. This will help you tailor your content to address their specific pain points and provide valuable solutions.
Pay attention to the language and tone that resonates with them, so you can create a connection and build trust. Engage with your audience through comments, surveys, and social media interactions to gather feedback and understand their preferences.
Crafting Compelling Headlines
You can grab your readers’ attention and increase click-through rates by crafting compelling headlines that intrigue and entice them to read your blog posts. A great headline is like a magnet that pulls readers in and makes them want to know more.
To create compelling headlines, start by understanding your audience and what they’re interested in. Use power words that evoke emotions and curiosity. Make your headline specific and focused, offering a clear benefit or solution to a problem. Keep it concise and avoid clickbait tactics that may disappoint readers.
Experiment with different headline structures, such as using numbers, posing questions, or making bold statements. And don’t forget to optimize your headline for SEO by incorporating relevant keywords.
Creating Valuable and Relevant Content
Start by brainstorming ideas and then narrow down your options to create valuable and relevant content that resonates with your target audience. When writing blog content, it’s important to consider what your readers are interested in and what problems they might be facing.
Conduct research to understand their needs and preferences. Once you have a list of potential topics, choose the ones that align with your brand and expertise.
Next, outline your content to ensure a logical flow and clear structure. Use engaging and conversational language to captivate your readers’ attention. Provide valuable insights, tips, or solutions that they can apply in their lives. Additionally, include relevant examples, statistics, or stories to support your points.
Incorporating Visual Elements
Make sure to frequently incorporate visual elements, such as images or infographics, into your blog content to enhance its visual appeal and engage your readers.
Visual elements are powerful tools that can help you communicate your message more effectively and capture your audience’s attention. By using images or infographics, you can break up long blocks of text and make your blog posts more visually appealing and easier to read.
Visuals also have the ability to convey information quickly and concisely, making complex concepts easier to understand. Additionally, incorporating visuals into your content can help improve the overall user experience and increase the chances of your readers sharing your posts on social media.
Optimizing for SEO
As you strive to create high-quality blog content, it’s important to understand how optimizing for SEO can significantly impact your visibility and ranking in search engine results. By incorporating SEO techniques into your writing, you can increase the chances of your blog being found by your target audience.
Start by conducting keyword research to identify the words and phrases that people are using to search for information related to your blog topic. Then, strategically place these keywords throughout your content, including in your headings, subheadings, and meta tags.
It’s also essential to write engaging and informative content that keeps readers on your page for longer durations. Additionally, optimizing your blog’s loading speed and making it mobile-friendly will further improve your SEO efforts.
Encouraging Engagement and Interaction
You can increase the level of engagement and interaction on your blog by regularly responding to comments and asking thought-provoking questions to encourage discussions.
When you respond to comments, it shows your readers that you value their opinions and are actively participating in the conversation. This can lead to a sense of community and encourage more people to join in.
Additionally, asking thought-provoking questions can spark curiosity and encourage readers to share their own thoughts and experiences. By engaging with your audience and encouraging discussions, you create a more dynamic and interactive blog environment.
This not only helps build a loyal readership but also provides valuable insights and different perspectives. So, make it a priority to respond to comments and ask engaging questions to foster meaningful interactions on your blog.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Can I Effectively Monetize My Blog Content and Make Money From It?
To effectively monetize your blog content and make money from it, you need to focus on strategies like:
- Affiliate marketing: This involves promoting products or services on your blog and earning a commission for every sale made through your referral link. By partnering with relevant brands and incorporating affiliate links into your content, you can earn a passive income from your blog.
- Sponsored posts: Collaborating with brands to create sponsored content is another way to monetize your blog. Brands pay you to write a blog post or review that promotes their products or services. This can be a lucrative opportunity if you have a large and engaged audience.
- Creating digital products: Developing and selling digital products, such as e-books, online courses, or templates, can be a great way to generate income from your blog. By leveraging your expertise and providing valuable content, you can create products that your audience is willing to pay for.
These methods can help you generate revenue and maximize your blog’s earning potential.
What Are Some Common Mistakes to Avoid When Blogging?
When blogging, avoid common mistakes that can hinder your success.
Focus on engaging your audience, using proper grammar and spelling, and providing valuable content.
These steps will help you create blog posts your readers will love.
How Can I Keep My Blog Content Fresh and Interesting Over Time?
To keep your blog content fresh and interesting over time, there are several strategies you can try. One approach is to experiment with different writing styles. This can help to add variety to your content, keeping readers engaged and interested. Another strategy is to incorporate multimedia elements into your blog posts. This can include things like images, videos, or infographics, which can help to visually enhance your content and make it more appealing to readers. Additionally, engaging with your audience through comments and social media can be another effective way to keep your blog content fresh. Responding to comments and interacting with your readers can help to foster a sense of community and encourage them to keep coming back for more.
What Are Some Effective Strategies for Promoting My Blog and Increasing Its Visibility?
To promote and increase visibility of your blog, focus on the following strategies:
- Optimizing your content for search engines
- Promoting on social media
- Collaborating with influencers
- Engaging with your audience through comments
- Guest posting.
How Can I Measure the Success of My Blog Content and Track Its Performance?
To measure the success of your blog content and track its performance, you can use analytics tools like Google Analytics. It helps you see metrics such as page views, bounce rate, and engagement, giving you valuable insights to improve your content.
Conclusion
In conclusion, by understanding your audience, crafting compelling headlines, creating valuable content, incorporating visual elements, optimizing for SEO, and encouraging engagement, you can write great blog content that your audience will love.
Remember to always keep your readers’ interests in mind and provide them with valuable information and an enjoyable reading experience.
With these tips in mind, you can create blog posts that will captivate and engage your audience, building a loyal following and establishing yourself as a trusted source in your niche.