{"id":16024,"date":"2014-02-13T18:39:21","date_gmt":"2014-02-13T23:39:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.shareaholic.com\/?p=16024"},"modified":"2014-04-07T16:40:20","modified_gmt":"2014-04-07T20:40:20","slug":"shareable-headline-secrets","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.shareaholic.com\/blog\/shareable-headline-secrets\/","title":{"rendered":"10 Bold Strategies for “Increasing the Click Factor”"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"new<\/a>Want more readers to promote and share your content for you? We can help with that. Access our free tools at Shareaholic<\/a>.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

As a writer who, on a daily basis, competes with premium and traditional news outlets for readers’ time (oh, and Buzzfeed too), I’m keen to learn how I can get you to read<\/a> and share<\/a> my story.<\/p>\n

Arm-twisting and blackmail aside, I recognize one of the more critical things\u00a0that gets\u00a0consumers of digital content<\/a>\u00a0to click and share is an exciting headline<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Therefore, I’ve consulted a few\u00a0marketers and members of the\u00a0Young Entrepreneur Council (YEC)<\/a>,\u00a0an invite-only organization comprised of the world\u2019s most promising young entrepreneurs,\u00a0for their responses on:<\/span><\/p>\n

Q. What’s your secret for creating highly shareable headlines for your blog posts and articles?<\/h2>\n
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Also, in partnership with Citi, YEC recently launched StartupCollective<\/a>, a free virtual mentorship program that helps millions of entrepreneurs start and grow businesses.<\/em><\/p>\n

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1. Take a Trip to Your Local Magazine Store<\/h3>\n

\"Magazine<\/a><\/p>\n

“Big magazine brands spend thousands of dollars studying which headlines make buyers grab a copy from the newsstand,” says\u00a0Juha Liikala<\/a>\u00a0of\u00a0Stripped Bare Media<\/a>. <\/span><\/p>\n

Liikala\u00a0recommends you, “Study those magazines from the cover photo to the headlines they use, and also take a look at the magazine’s table of contents. Chances are that you’ll instantly find multiple brilliant (and certainly shareable<\/a>) headlines you can adapt to your own blog.”<\/span><\/p>\n

2. Look for Copy that Works<\/h3>\n

Josh Weiss<\/a>\u00a0of\u00a0Bluegala<\/a>\u00a0shared his foolproof tactic. “We look at companies such as BuzzFeed who are experts in making content go viral<\/a>. Then we try to come up with headlines that match that style.”<\/p>\n

3. Find the Contrarian View<\/h3>\n

This approach is a bit more bold. Brennan White of\u00a0Watchtower<\/a>\u00a0knows, “The most compelling content is often the most surprising. Creating obvious headlines will not attract initial readership, nor will it incentivize a reader to share.<\/p>\n

“Most social sharers of content do so to share novel or interesting things with their friends (or be perceived as interesting themselves). If your headlines don’t surprise or delight, then there is little reason<\/a> for someone to share it.”<\/p>\n

4. Make a Statement<\/h3>\n

\"Leaving<\/a><\/p>\n

“Give readers a real reason to want to read your article,” says Ronnie Castro<\/a>\u00a0of\u00a0Porch<\/a>.\u00a0“What are you going to give them for reading your post? Promise them something in the headline, and then deliver on that promise with valuable content.”<\/p>\n

5. Put Them Through a Curiosity Filter<\/h3>\n

Nathalie Lussier<\/a>\u00a0of\u00a0Nathalie Lussier Media Inc.<\/a>\u00a0directs you to, “Run your headlines through a curiosity filter. Would people be so curious that they’d click to find out more? If not, you probably need to get down to the gut level. That means talking about things people really think, but might be afraid to say out loud, and tabloids are definitely a great example of this!”<\/p>\n

6. Embrace the Spoiler<\/h3>\n

Sam Saxton<\/a>, of\u00a0Salter Spiral Stair<\/a>, is a bit more forward in his approach.\u00a0“There\u2019s little benefit in being cryptic and forcing your audience to read on in order to uncover your point. Make sure your titles give an accurate preview of both your topic and your unique contribution to this topic.”<\/p>\n

7. Reference Stats and Data<\/h3>\n

\"Remember<\/a><\/p>\n

When in doubt, never forget that data is on your side<\/a>. “Exact stats and data will almost always create a more shareable headline than general text. ‘How I increased readership by 37 percent with one simple change’ is better than ‘How I increased readership with one simple change.’ By including ’37 percent,’ you convey that you have solid data to back up your theory and that it was tested — not just an opinion,” shares\u00a0Dave Nevogt<\/a>\u00a0of\u00a0Hubstaff.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n

8. Answer a Question<\/h3>\n

Empathizing with readers, Phil Laboon<\/a>\u00a0of\u00a0Clear Sky SEO<\/a>\u00a0knows,\u00a0“the most important aspect of headline writing is answering a question people are asking. Even if you don’t completely answer it in the title, you can give hints that you will provide an authoritative answer. Including phrases such as ‘how to,’ ‘how not to’ and ‘X common mistakes’ are ways of doing this.”<\/p>\n

9. It’s All About the Verbs<\/h3>\n

Making sure to catch readers’ attention, Mary Ellen Slayter<\/a>\u00a0of Reputation Capital<\/a>\u00a0suggests,\u00a0“Strong action verbs make for strong writing, and headlines are no exception. Chose active, unique verbs to make your headlines stand out, and keep it short and sweet.”<\/p>\n

10. Increase the Click Factor<\/h3>\n

\"Some<\/a><\/p>\n

The most brazen approach comes from Benish Shah<\/a>\u00a0of\u00a0Before the Label<\/a>.\u00a0“It’s a simple approach — if you saw this headline, would you click on it without knowing who wrote it or anything more about it? If you would, then you have a winner.”<\/p>\n

How do you develop clickworthy and shareable headlines? Oh, and in case you didn’t get the memo, we’re hiring<\/a> :)<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Shareaholic<\/a><\/p>\n

Image source: 1<\/a>, 2<\/a>, 3<\/a>, 4<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Want more readers to promote and share your content for you? We can help with that. Access our free tools at Shareaholic.\u00a0 As a writer… 
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