With Blogging, Size Matters – If You Want Traffic
If your blog isn’t getting as many visitors as you’d like, you need a quick lesson in how people read on the Web – they don’t, they scan.
With millions of posts to choose from, people are looking for the one that jumps out and hits them on the head; the one that screams their name.
As we all know this is true, it makes sense that your headline and copy are the two most important things when it comes to enticing and maintaining your readers attention.
So, why do people still get it wrong? Because most people still think they need to make it short – so that it “scans” better. Not true.
Just look at my headline. Making it easier to scan means making it easier to understand; making it easily digestible – try it!
Write headlines and posts using plain English. Avoid difficult words; there is no reason–ever-—to use tricky language.
Be specific and descriptive rather than generalizing. You are competing with millions in the blogosphere; tell people exactly what your post is about. Which would you prefer to read?
“How to Write Good Copy” or
“How to Write a Killer ‘How To’ Article that Gets Attention”
“Writing Comments Right” or
“11 Tips on Getting your Comments Noticed on a Popular Blog”
“The importance of usability” or
I prefer the second in each set, I suspect you will too. Here’s why: the words mean something – to you, to me – to the reader.
And, because they are written in plain English, and not too tricky, there is no doubt about what we should expect.
It shouldn’t surprise you that these posts come from three of the greatest blogs out there. I’m also hoping you noticed that all three have lots more words in the headlines.
If you take another look, you’ll see that all three also include other elements that make up a great headline:
- Promise the reader a benefit
- Include tried and true words like “How to,” “Beginner’s Guide,” and “lists.”
- Teach the reader something
Apply the same principles when you write the body of your post as well. Once someone has decided your headline is worth looking into, you need to maintain their interest.
Regardless of length, keep it easily digestible.
Write in short sentences and paragraphs; it’s easier on the eyes, and the brain.
Don’t bore your reader. Get in, say what you want, and get out.
Deliver on the promise of your headline, regardless of length; just make sure you offer your visitors an enticing, interesting, easy to digest post to read.
Oh, and if you’re stuck for what to write about, check out this cool list: “101 Blog Posting Ideas”
Guest Post by Lidija Davis of BlogWell
Last updated: April 16th, 2018: added white space.
Very nice and useful tip here. It is very important that a blogger writes a very nice and attractive title. It’s what separates the good bloggers from the bad.
Also, a title can help bring traffic (as proved by the post “Do Not Read This”). :)
Basically it depends: Sometimes you manage to find a title which is both concise and tempting to click. 101 Blog Posting Ideas is one of these I think. Here the sheer number is enough to substitute the “must read, ultimate, not to miss” superlatives.
I scan all the time so I noticed that what is most important in a blog post is the text formatting.
Therefor I use lists, short paragraphs, bold, italic, blockquote extensively, as they allow to scan a text easily and then to decide whether it should be read in it’s entirety or not.
Thank you for this great new ost Lidija!
Btw. I do not force her to work on the weekend!
I struggle with headlines on every post I write. My big concern is trying to say what I want to say, but not having it too long. And, I’d like to have some keywords in there for the se’s. Did you do those titles? If so, you’re hired :)
I wonder if these will not wear off after some time. When you are new to blog reading, you indeed check out all this kind of blog posts, but after some time, it just means you will get the usual information. So it will drive away readers in the end.
Mike: Those above weren’t mine or ours but I am a very talented title writer ;-) I charge you 50$ per title, hehe.
olivier: Right, many of those are already worn off. Don’t stick to the same words, sometimes not even the same patterns. Try to convey the same message: This post is exceptional, or a resource not be ignored or something really new.
Good tips. With all titles, we need them to grab attention when a person scans through the page. Having the keywords like “lists”, “how to” etc, shows that the article will be concise, and explains exactly what the article is to deliver.
Thanks Sly, yes, it is very important to have a great title to get visitors, but once they come to your site, you really have to lay out your post well, as Tad suggests.
If the eye can scan to a point that is of interest, the reader will be happy, get what he/she wants, and most likely come back – I’ve seen some shockers that run one paragraph three screens long…
Mike – me thinks Tad made a typo – left out a zero somewhere…. ;-)
Olivier – It is interesting you say that as I know myself, having read similar titles six months ago, and passing them by; it’s all in the timing – today perhaps, that one about writing the perfect title just might be what I am looking for. So it never hurts to occasionally remind people of the good stuff.
David – I agree, if we stick with the tried and true – we are doing okay – you’ll notice the bloggers that work that way are also the bloggers that stay around too.
btw – he does SO make me work my fingers to the bone – weekends, nightshift, holidays…sheesh…. ;-)
No,not true. I’m loving it, and will forever be thankful to Tad for giving me a go.
Next post: How to make bloggers happy, let them work for you for free ;-)
I love this post, I’ll sphinn it! I found all of your information useful and it reminded me of some advice I once read about writing headlines. Check it out: http://desktoppub.about.com/cs/techwriting/a/headlines.htm