5 Things to Avoid When Writing Headlines
Do you have awesome content on your real estate blog but nobody is clicking on it? While there may be many culprits for low traffic to your blog, one common reason is your headlines. This is the curb appeal of your content — it is what impresses and entices the reader to read, know, and see more. So, when this aspect of your writing is poor, you miss many opportunities to increase your traffic, engage with your audience, and improve your brand.
Whether you write incredible headlines or they could often use a little work, let’s talk about five mistakes you must avoid when writing headlines.
1. You Don’t Think About Your Audience
No matter what type of content you are writing, you must think about your audience. You must picture them in your mind. This is vital to your headline writing. What would catch the attention of your audience? What would make them want to click and learn more?
Great headlines capture the emotion of your readers. It sparks curiosity. It makes them surprised or angry or sad. If your headline doesn’t do this, your readers are less likely to click on the content.
2. You Give the Entire Article Away
You want to make your readers click into the article to learn something or benefit in some way. If you give the entire article away in the headline, it will simply be a waste of time for your audience to click on the article. Be creative and entice them. If the headline doesn’t make you want to learn more, you need to rework it.
3. Your Headlines are Very Similar
Did you know that certain types of headlines tend to do better than others? The most viral headlines include the following:
Numbers
Are how-to articles
Ask a question
Are part of a quiz
Additionally, according to research from BuzzSumo, the most engaging phrases in headlines include:
“will make you”
“this is why”
“can we guess”
“only X in”
“the reason is”
“are freaking out”
You may get very comfortable with writing a certain type of headline but it makes your blog less interesting and it takes away the power of each post. Try to incorporate a number of components that are listed above for each article you publish.
4. You Use Your First Headline
If your headline is lacking, nobody will pay attention to the rest of your content. This means that you must put in the time and effort to perfect your headline. One way to do this is to make a list of 5 to 10 headlines and then narrow down your options. You may also consider writing headlines last so you can focus on key points in the headline.
5. Your Headline is Too Wordy
While you want to provide adequate information and engage your audience, you also want to avoid making this piece of content too wordy. Headlines that are short and concise are more attractive to the eye and simple to understand. According to Outbrain, the ideal headline is 60 to 100 characters or 16 to 18 words long. This means you must choose your words wisely and avoid too much fluff.
If you struggle writing headlines, consider using a headline analyzer. This online tool will help you identify where your weaknesses lie and help you strengthen your headline. A few headline analyzers to consider using are:
If you still need help writing quality content that captivates, engages, and informs, let the experts help. Check out our blog writing services and contact us today for your consultation.
