Psychologists and emotional intelligence experts warn us to watch the impression we make on people the first time we meet them – these impressions, however fleeting, rarely change. Nor are they wrong. Surprisingly people make accurate snap judgments in a fraction of a second. In a Princeton University study subjects could predict with 70 percent […]
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Headline Tip #8: First Impressions Count
by Wes Hanson on April 18, 2012
Headline Tip #7: Deadly Sins Are Headline Virtues
by Wes Hanson on April 17, 2012
Vanity, envy, greed, lust, anger … all those nasty vices that trigger human behavior are virtues to the headline writer. That’s because intriguing headlines get read over innocuous ones. It’s all so shameful. What do spicy headlines do? They pose questions, give orders, announce news, make promises. People don’t want “information” so much as they […]
Headline Tip #6: Curiosity Is Catnip to Readers
by Wes Hanson on April 16, 2012
Curiosity may be deadly for felines, but it’s lifeblood for headlines. An intriguing headline can pull readers in like a ball of string. There are endless ways to accomplish this. Your headline might ask a provocative question or make a counterintuitive or even outrageous statement. You’ve got to get readers interested in reading more. Beyond […]
Headline Tip #4: Key Words Unlock Passages to Readers
by Wes Hanson on April 5, 2012
In headlines every word is key. Literally. Keywords rule internet search. You attract more readers when you use the language your audience uses. Their readership leads to more links, more retweets, more social bookmarks, and more search traffic. Specificity improves headlines. They address readers’ specific interests and needs. A narrower niche also means less competition […]
Headline Tip #3: Learn Free From the Masters
by Wes Hanson on April 4, 2012
A lot of trial, error, and money was expended in crafting effective headlines in the past, the key to sales and readership. Learn from the masters, for free. Digg.com – People vote on headlines that attract them. What are they voting for? Magazine covers – These guys have been doing this since the 19th century […]