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11) Headlining and Sub-Headlining Effective Content Pieces

SoulfullyAButterfly January 31st, 2021

Article titles (headlines), as well as subheadlines, are one of the first things a reader reads.

In this discussion, we will understand effective strategies to write headline titles as well as subheadlines to these titles.

Some general tips include:

  • Avoid long article titles: try to fit the title within 62 characters or limit it to 5-7 words.

  • Consider using “What”, “Why”, “How”, or “When” as these are catchy and add to curiosity.

  • Use Numbers - numbers ensure the availability of organized information, and are generally liked: using Odd Numbers in the title has helped in terms of SEO. Remember to write the number itself (5 instead of five).

  • To add specificity, consider using “the” before the number.

  • Provide an answer to why people should click and read your content: words like “tips”, “strategies”, “facts”, “reasons” all help provide a rationale.

  • Include the word “Guide” where applicable.

  • Consider using emotional adjectives that describe the topic. For example, “essential”, “free” etc.

  • Consider outlining Negative aspects - spin this to meet mental health content goals. For example, The 5 Essential Things You Did Not Know About Depression.

  • Use common words to ensure people understand and grasp the topic while finding the title simple

  • Consider using a “Things I Wish I Had Known” approach to content if applicable.

How to test your headline as being unique:

Copy and paste your headline with quotation marks into the Google search bar. (e.g. “The 5 Essential Things You Did Not Know About Depression”) - if the results come back as “no results found”, your headline is unique!

Helpful Resource: Useful Title Capitalization Tool

Note: The bottom line to success in terms of marketing and content is to ensure that your content body reflects the great headline/title. It might be worth considering to write final titles after the content body.

Subheadlines: Effective subheadlines summarize the content body while also linking it to the title.

Activity

Using the knowledge attained through this discussion, propose a new article title as well as a subheadline for this published article at 7 Cups.

Reply to at least one other student’s response and share your feedback with them

(Edited by @SoulfullyAButterfly: 12/2/2021 to clarify "subheadline" instead of subheading)

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This post is brought to you by the Content Development and Marketing Program, find out more information about the program here

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VerseArt May 9th, 2021

Hello @SoulfullyAButterfly

Propose a new article title as well as a subheadline for this published article at 7 Cups.

Title- Creatively chasing away loneliness this holiday season

Subheadline- 6 fun ways to cope with loneliness in the holidays

2 replies
Lugi123 May 15th, 2021

I love how you started the title with creatively. I also liked that you used numbers and adjetives. My constructive feedback would be to switch it around a bit and use the Subtitle as the title.

LovetoGod May 22nd, 2021

@VerseArt

I really love your answer❤

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wagwanianPA May 11th, 2021

The 7 Best Free Ways to Destroy Holiday Loneliness

Spoiler Alert: It Involves Pizza. Lots of It

1 reply
Happy900 June 6th, 2021

@wagwanianPA I love pizza, by the way. Loved reading your post, to.

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Lugi123 May 15th, 2021

6 Tips To Combat Holiday Blues - Pandemic Edition! Tactics to help you adjust your focus and chase away loneliness

1 reply
Lugi123 May 15th, 2021

6 Tips To Combat The Holiday Blues - Pandemic Edition! Tactics to help you adjust your focus and chase away loneliness

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Lugi123 May 15th, 2021

Sorry, I posted already but the line breaks were not showing.

My title and subheading should be like this:

6 Tips To Combat Holiday Blues - Pandemic Edition!

Tactics to help you adjust your focus and chase away loneliness

1 reply
unassumingFarm3602 May 16th, 2021

@Lugi123

Hi there! The last part of our headings is the same, haha (purely coincidental, I assure you...)

Great work, both the title and the subheadline are concise and quite attention-grabbing. Keep it up!

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unassumingFarm3602 May 16th, 2021

@SoulfullyAButterfly

6 Clues to Beat the Holiday Blues: Pandemic Edition

Sub-headline: Home for the holidays (literally)? This holiday season, feel at home with yourself!

1 reply
unassumingFarm3602 May 16th, 2021

@SoulfullyAButterfly

Here's an edited version of my heading and subheading to avoid resemblance with @Luigi123's work:

6 Brilliant Clues to Beat the Holiday Blues!

Sub-headline: Home for the holidays this time (literally)? This holiday season, feel at home with yourself!

1 reply
ouiCherie July 14th, 2021

Hi @unassumingFarm3602
Both versions of your Title are great, but the edited one aced it! And... the rhyme is fun 😁

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Happy900 June 6th, 2021

@unassumingFarm3602 Love the bold type.

sereneMango3007 June 21st, 2021

@unassumingFarm3602
Wow! I love the headline (I'm guessing this was a referencing to Blue's Clues?) I think both the headline and subheadline were creative and gave off a positive vibe ^-^

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LovetoGod May 22nd, 2021

@SoulfullyAButterfly

How to Make Your Holidays Happy?

Six Things to Bring Pleasure

1 reply
DaisyDaph May 23rd, 2021

@LovetoGod

It's a good title! 🙂

However iI seems a bit too general and short to understand the gist of it, especially the subheadline.

I would suggest for the headline: 6 ways to make your Holidays happy

And for the subheadline: Feeling unhappy this season? Find out ways to bring happiness and pleasure to your Holidays!

1 reply
LovetoGod May 23rd, 2021

@DaisyDaph

Thanks for telling me. That's great too ❤

Happy900 June 6th, 2021

@DaisyDaph Nice job.

One small correction, you forgot to get rid of your small i, to get rid of your error, remember to use, the backspace key on your computer. I hope this tip was helpful.

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DaisyDaph May 23rd, 2021

6 Jolly and Joyous ways to Cope with Loneliness during the Pandemic

The holidays are here, but where your heart is, there the occasion will be. Let us explore essential, heart-warming ways in coping with Loneliness during the Pandemic.

blindHeart12 June 5th, 2021

@SoulfullyAButterfly

Article: Lonely ? Wondering how to celebrate holidays ?

Sub-Headline: Six different Ideas to make celebration a worth memory.

1 reply
Izzy274 June 24th, 2021

@blindHeart12

Hi!
I love how you included the questions in the title and the phrasing of the subheadline is really eloquent :)
Perhaps one idea would be to use the number 6 instead of typing it or adding What/ How/ Why to the title questions?

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SupportiveSpace8282 June 6th, 2021

Heading:

Feeling and Staying Festive From a Distance: COVID Edition

Subheadings:

Practicing Gratitude

Staying Connected

Festivities From a Distance

Reaching Out

Shifting Gears

Self-love

4 replies
SupportiveSpace8282 June 6th, 2021

@SupportiveSpace8282

Whoops! I did this wrong. Let me repost:

Heading:

Feeling and Staying Festive From a Distance: COVID Edition

Subheadline:

Practicing Gratitude, Staying Connected, Reaching Out, and Shifting Gears to Practice Self-love

3 replies
Happy900 June 6th, 2021

@SupportiveSpace8282 Nice Job. Very organized and professional looking.

Creamyyy June 12th, 2021

@SupportiveSpace8282

The phrase "from a distance" is very catchy and apt, keeping covid19 distancing precautions in mind. Sub-headings could be condensed a little. Great work!

Saro007 June 14th, 2021

@SupportiveSpace8282

I love it! Both your headline and subheadline are looking really professional and I love that you added: COVID edition!

Keep up the good work Space!

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Creamyyy June 12th, 2021

@SoulfullyAButterfly

Article Titte: The 6 Habits for A Happy Holiday Mood

Sub-heading: Turn your holiday blues into rainbows with these uplifting activities.

2 replies
SupportiveSpace8282 June 13th, 2021

@Creamyyy

I like the optimism that your title conveys. The connection between blues and rainbows that you made in your subheading is also attention grabbing and unique. Great job!

1 reply
Creamyyy June 13th, 2021

Thanks for the encouraging feedback

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