If you decide to have a blog on your website, there are numerous topics you can choose. Mostly, blogging will be something you have to figure out for yourself, but there are two things about every blog that can be taught. The first is headlines, and the second is pictures. Regardless of what kind of blog you write, these are consistent aspects of every blog that you can be taught.
Blog Headlines
The main thing to remember when you write a blog headline is to make the topic clear. Most people read a blog based on topic. Don’t try to be cute or poetic with your title. Make sure that whoever reads the headline knows exactly what to expect in the article. Write five headlines for a blog post and then pick the best one. It takes time, but getting the extra clicks for a catchy headline is worth it. Here are five tips on how to make an informative headline grab the attention of readers.
1. Use Numbers
Something about numbers, especially odd numbers, draws the eye. Which blog headline do you think is more likely to get clicked: “Best Blogging Practices” or “The 5 Best Blog Practices”? Using numbers gives the readers clear expectations. There are five tips so it is a short article or there are fifteen tips making it more comprehensive. Even something like “How To Double Your Readership In 3 Months” is catchy since it’s quantifiable. Use numbers whenever possible with your headlines, and more people will click to read it.
2. Use Parentheses
Parentheses are like you sharing a secret or insider information with your audience. It makes the headline impossible not to click. Headers like “The 5 Best Blog Practices (With Examples)” or “The 5 Best Blog Practices (The Last One Increased My Clicks By 25%)” make the readers feel like they are getting something special. Use parentheses to make the readers curious and want to know more.
3. Use Colons
Colons help set up the main topic of the blog and then allow for more explanation. For instance, “Blogging: The 5 Best Practices” shows the readers the topic and then what to expect. It works well for series, as you have probably seen me use, when you want to cover one thing with many different aspects. I recently used it with my interview series and my branding series on this blog.
4. Use Questions
One way to make a headline is to ask a question your readers are most likely also asking. What makes a successful blog? Then make the headline “What Are The Top 5 Aspects Of A Successful Blog?” Most people search the internet to answer questions. Make it easy on them to find the answer by using a similar question for your headline.
5. Use Negative Words
People love controversy and conflict. If you don’t believe me, just look at the news. Conflict makes headlines. You can do this with blog headlines as well. Change “The 5 Best Blog Practices” to “5 Things To Avoid In Your Blog” and watch your clicks go up. People don’t want to do something wrong, and they will want to click your link to make sure they don’t. You won’t want all your headlines to be negative, but it is a good strategy to use occasionally.
Blog Picture Copyrights
Every blog post needs to have at least one picture to make it look appealing to the audience. I wouldn’t recommend taking your own pictures unless you are a photographer. An amateur picture can make your blog and website look unprofessional. However, you cannot pick any picture off the internet either. There are copyright rules that protect images, and you need to be careful not to break them. I’m not well versed in copyright law, but if you click here there is a website that I found helpful in learning more about it.
There are several websites that offer images for free that are in the public domain. You can search them according to topics and download pictures that work best for your blog post. The copyright website above lists ten websites with free images that you can use. If you want to merge pictures or add text, you can set up a free account with Canva and do your own graphic design. It’s easy to use and makes your photos unique.
Final Thoughts
There is a lot of uncertainty when it comes to blogs, but headlines and pictures shouldn’t be a mystery. You need to grab your readers through catchy headlines and appealing pictures. Getting their attention is half the battle, and I hope it will be easier with these tips. After that, it all rests on your ingenuity and creativity. Luckily, you’re a writer, and captivating people through your words is what you do best.
Thanks for reading!
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