Headlines are a key component of any online business. You use them in your Website and web pages, Sales Letters, Newsletters, PPC Ad Campaigns, Emails, Site Descriptions…
There is no avoiding them.
But are they “sticky”?
Do they grab the attention of the causal surfer? Are they funneling your target traffic to your “money” page?
There are some basic elements to consider when composing your headlines.
- Use irony to boost impact and grab attention.
“Busier than a one legged man in a butt-kicking contest” - Create a memorable, compelling mental picture.
The above phrase uses irony to create a memorable mental picture. - Load the Headline with possibilities to your “target” audience.
One mistake many people make is trying to be all things to all people. Narrow your focus to capture those who will benefit most with what you have to offer. - State what it is and what it does.
Remove all doubt in the reader’s mind as to where you are going to take them. The response will be more positive.
OK, so you have some headline strategies to work with but how do you get proficient at using them?
Start a Headline Swipe File
Collect headlines that attract your attention and write them in a notebook. This keeps your mind in headline mode and becomes a great resource when you get stuck.
Record headlines from newspapers, TV news items, sales pages, incoming email messages, anything that prompts you to take a look.
Become a Twitterer!
Say what?
(I was going to say become a Twit but that sounds worse!)
A Twitterer is someone that uses the Web 2.0 Social networking tool from Twitter.com to write comments about what they are doing or websites they are visiting and like. You can twitter online and from your mobile phone using SMS.
Like all Social Networking tools and sites it uses the viral effect to get your message out there. The follow feature enables you to grow an entourage of followers who instantly receive your “tweets” (micro messages)as you post them.
So what does this have to do with making headlines sticky?
Proficiency through active participation… practice make adept! (not perfect)
Because you can only do micro posts of 140 characters, it is a great way to practice your headlining skills.
To get started with Twitter
- Go to Twitter.com
- Watch the video on the sign up page
- Sign up for free.
- Set up your profile and phone access.
- Go to my Twitter profile and click on follow button
- Add your twitter profile URL to email and forum signatures
Set up these Twitter Tools
Firefox Browser Plugins
Download and install these twitter plugins to make twittering easier while browsing
TweetBar - A sidebar for Twitter. However this takes up a permanent part of your screen real estate and if you have another application running in the sidebar they can’t both run at the same time.
TwitBin - Another sidebar plugin for Firefox which shows posts from your profile and those you follow. You can post update from the sidebar directly without having to go to Twitter.com
TwitterBar - This plugin is very handy if you like to tweet about web pages you are currently browsing. This adds a tiny icon into your Firefox address bar that you click to send an update. The cool thing is that both the web address and your appended tweet get posted. Great for twittering you own sites, pages and blogs.
TwitterFox - Shows you a popup notification when new tweets come in and shows a number in brackets in your status bar showing any that are unread. Click on that to expand the timeline. Very discreet and efficient.
Wordpress Plugins
If you have a hosted wordpress blog you can’t do without these plugins for Twitter
Sidebar Widget - If your theme is widget-enabled then you might want to check out this plugin which allows you to create a highly customizable widget for the sidebar.
Twitter for Wordpress - Another plugin that creates a widget for you.
TwitterTools - This plugin by Alex King allows you to archive your tweets, make blog posts out of them, send tweets from your sidebar and lots more. A personal favorite.
Caroline Middlebrook, a fellow 30DC-er has a superb archive of using info about using Twitter on her blog. I suggest you take a look.
How Often Should You “Tweet”?
Write a minimum of 3 posts a day. Practice your headlining skills to get grab peoples attention and monitor how many people begin to follow you.
Ed Dale from the 30 Day Challenge has a great free video explaining all these principles. Check it out here at http://www.thirtydaychallenge.com
This years 30 Day Challenge begins in August so while at the page register to recieve updates and pre-season training.
Well what are you waiting for? Start Twitter yourself into being a Headline expert!
