More headline wizardry from Copyblogger Brian Clark. If you’re like me, you learn a lot when people explain the options and decisions. I picked up a couple of tips on writing stronger headlines by using more powerful words.
1. The Secret Selling Power of Color
Original Headline: Colors for Marketing
Reasoning: In this case, the original headline communicated what the post was about, but I thought it could use a bit of jazzing up. I went with the old stand-by “The Secret of…” format since this information is not generally well known, and employed more vivid wording. While you want to avoid hyperbole, understatement is often not the most effective approach.
Lessons I learned: Think jazzy, vivid wording, avoid hype yet do not understate.
2. Discover New Music That’s Perfect for You
Original Headline: Discovering Music That You Like
Reasoning: It’s hard to go wrong when you start a headline with the word “discover,” but discovering is a bit too unassertive here. Also, while “new” is implied, the headline gains a bit of momentum by its express inclusion. Finally, music that you “like” seems less than earth shattering. Speaking to the individual tastes and preferences of the reader in a general sense seems to be the best approach given that we don’t know what those tastes and preferences are.
Lessons I learned: avoid non-assertive words, go for earth shattering.
If you missed lesson one, go here and to Brian’s original post here.