4 Headline Formulas That Attracts Users Like A Hot Blonde
People read this blog for SEO advices, Marketing advices, Web Design Resources, Ways to make money online etc etc. One thing that I realized that I don’t mention enough is great post. So I went on a streak of writing about post titles, core of blogging. My last post was answering the question, Why do some people always write magnificent post titles? From that post, a regular user of Balkhis, Hugo Santos raised a question how do you know which title really works.
As I promised on that post, that I will do some research on Balkhis post structures, and use my experience to come up with some headline formulas that work. Well here it is.
First of all Hugo, the answer to your question is experience. Each blog have different type of users therefore different titles work. So the results will vary. But there are some obvious headlines that always work. I mean you will always see these on digg’s front page or what not. So let me share a few that I think works almost all the time.
[Number] ways to do something something
A lot of people use the common number 101, 5, 10. I prefer to go a little off the chart and do 9 and others. Because I think 5, 10 are overrated.
- 113 ways to make money online
- 99 ways to say Sorry
- 101 ways to save electricity
How Did I [or] How I …
People love success stories, so if you accomplished something than share it because you will attract users left and right.
- How did I increase my search engine traffic by 258% in less than a month
- How I Increased my subscribers to over 1800 in ten months
[Number] Interesting Facts that you must know about [XXXX]
People love facts. They would open this post regardless. So you would be doing yourself 50% of a favor by using this headline. The other half is by writing a good post, so the user stays.
-9 Interesting Facts that you must know about Barrack Obama
-11 Interesting Facts that you must know about cell phones
You don’t have to be a [blank] to [do something]
- You don’t have to be an expert to make money online
- You don’t have to be an electrician to change your own circuit
Now these are just some ideas. These headline formulas are guaranteed to work. I mean over the years that I have been online, I have seen these work. Heck I have used some of these as well. If you are interested in knowing what posts work on Balkhis.
Check out the Case Study that I did, Which Blog Posts gets the most traffic?
If you have any more suggestions feel free to add it in the bottom. Remember headline alone just do 50% of the job. Make sure you write good content.
Hey, I am Syed Balkhi, The guy who is behind Balkhis Inc. I entered the industry back in 2002 not knowing a single thing. I barely spoke English at that time. In the past six years, my language barrier has been eliminated. Aside from English, now I also speak html, and php. Along with the languages I have also managed to master a few arts. Art of web-designing started when I first entered. Messing around with photoshop, I learned how to create my first web design. Now I founded a web designing firm Uzzz Productions. After running numerous amount of websites in various niche, I have mastered the art of web-development. Now I am compiling a resource of what I already know, and what I am learning on this blog. This resource is to help me if I ever need a guide to look back to, and it is help my fellow webmasters.
Wow! This is very good advise. Thanks.
I agree! This content is what every successful blogger needs to know.
Thanks for the answer and link Syed
After reading this post, i realized that many bloggers use this technique. Probably some of them do it unintentionally, but the majority knows what they are doing.
There is a portuguese blog that uses this technique intensively, specially the “[Number] ways to do something something”. The blog is very very successful. The owner uses these tricks so many times that i find that a little bit irritating… but it is very effective has you already shown us.
Hey Syed, that was an apt title that you have used for this post. But, tell you what you’ve hit the nail on the head here. I mean that it very important to understand that you have to think from the readers p.o.v. so that you have more and more increasing number of visitors and they stick to your posts…
I like your tip about using numbers other than 5 or 10. I usually use those two myself. Will have to try and use more random numbers in the future…
When you’re composing your blog posts – put 80% of your effort in creating a catchy title and 20% of your time composing the content – because 80% of people will see the title and only 20% will actually READ the content.
just like we all read the newspapers
well, nice post…
Tutorials like how,what,when always works.
You have very aptly demonstrated the usefulness of your own advise by how eye catching the headline of this post of yours is
Great headline indeed, Syed. Please allow me to share what I’ve learned from Copyblogger
1. Who Else Wants [blank]?
2. The Secret of [blank]
3. Here is a Method That is Helping [blank] to [blank]
4. Little Known Ways to [blank]
5. Get Rid of [problem] Once and For All
6. Here’s a Quick Way to [solve a problem]
7. Now You Can Have [something desirable] [great circumstance]
8. [Do something] like [world-class example]
9. Have a [or] Build a [blank] You Can Be Proud Of
10. What Everybody Ought to Know About [blank]
Cheers
Yan
Good list, the numbered list is always very good, especially when they hit the social sites
Ha.. how about “Secrets revealed..” and “Tips to..”
Great post. You can use the same type of attention getters in Article Marketing. It will get people interested in your article and click through to your site
Thanks,
It works universally well, writing a great headline or a title is one thing that almost all the writers are taught at a very early stage in their careers. It is certain that you can attract a lot many visitors if you have your title in a good shape. You’re right here Syed, good titling almost does 50% of your job…
many trained bloggers don’t even think on the title to use. They just write it and voila… it is natural for them
I like the second one structure although in looks quite long. Probably somebody could think of some more shorter variations?
One more great post on Headline topic, which is very influential. I second that numbers make a great results as they bring most attention to visitors, because visitors want exact things and facts.
Great ideas! I have to say, though, I resent the post title.
haha That was a good one :p
I think this post is another winner. What good advice you give! I have been working on SEO for my posts lately and now I can apply this tip. Thanks.
Yeah, this ones, very true
Great advice. I dig the title of this article as well. Keep up the great work.