11) Headlining and Sub-Headlining Effective Content Pieces
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)
-
This post is brought to you by the Content Development and Marketing Program, find out more information about the program here
@SoulfullyAButterfly
Propose a new article title as well as a subheadline for this published article at 7 Cups.
Headline: Feeling Lonely and Isolated During Holidays?
Subheadline: 6 Useful Tips to Help You Cope During Covid19.@Saro007
I like that your title tells the reader who the article is for. Given that we were probably all feeling lonely last Christmas, it will call to most people. It is 5-7 words.
Your subheadline uses many of the guidelines—the number 6, tips—then again makes it personal to the reader.
I have no suggestions for improvement.
5 Tips for Less Lonely Holidays
Successful Strategies for Coping With Loneliness and Loss
@AdventurousSpirit123
Use of a number is good and since they mentioned odd numbers tend to engage more 5 is a good choice, but might consider 5+ since there are 6 sections. I like that your sub headline has several key terms which will help with SEO.
New title: How to Deal with Loneliness During Covid-era Holidays
New subheadline: 6 strategies to help you cope during the most stressful time of year
@SoulfullyAButterfly
How to Isolate the Loneliness This Holiday
6 steps to turn the holiday triggers into treats
@giggleBubbles6722
Love the creativity of the title and the use of holiday-related antonyms in the subheadline! I honestly don't know if there's anything I could suggest that would improve this, except for maybe checking the capitalization in the headline.
Headline: The Holidays are Looking Different This Year
Subheadline: 6 creative ideas for celebrating while facing loneliness
@SoulfullyAButterfly
Headline: 6 Tools to Chase Away Holiday Blues
Subheadline: Ways you can make COVID-era holidays feel more fulfilling
@Sunisshiningandsoareyou Thank you!
Title:
The 6 free ways you can chase away the holiday blues
Subtitle:
How to use strategies to help with loneliness during the festive season
@Izzy274
I like your title, it's very catchy!
The subtitle might be a little long though
@Icecream2Day
Thanks for your feedback, I'll try a shorter one next time :)
Title: How to make your holidays less lonely
Subtitle: Ways to spend your vacation in company
Headline :
Want to Overcome the Holiday Blues?
Sub headline :
The 6 awesome ways to shoo away your holiday blues .
@Sunisshiningandsoareyou
Sun, that is for sure one very creative Headline! I love terms with the touch of neologisms, it sounds fresh and evokes curiosity. With a question in titles, it is often like in active listening, we try to ask open-ended questions. Our readers mustn't say No to our title:) Excellent, beautiful, playful language in the subtitle, 'shoo away' - I feel like I want to talk to that author already, they are a great guy/girl. The only thing I would pay attention to in the future is avoiding tautology, moreover 'holiday blues are not a perfectly precise term, it is open to interpretation, so it would be great to use subtitles for narrowing it down, like what exactly holiday 'blues stands' for.
Sun, I am so curious about your writings, I hope to see your articles around, your creative writing is over the roof inventive.💜
Aw hey Aria , firstly it is so great to see you in the CDM program ! Good luck ❤ you'll rock it ! And thankyou for your detailed comment on my title ~ I really appreciate you highlighting the strengths and suggesting what could have been better ! @AriadneLove
Thankyou for the kind words and encouragement hehe, super appreciated ! Looking forward to see yours tooo 😃
@Sunisshiningandsoareyou Aww thank you, Sun:) This is my very first day on trial as CDM Mentor, so I do not have high rocking ambitions yet,main goal is not to do harm and see if I am a good fit :)
I am certain you'll do well as a mentor, best wishes ❤ @AriadneLove
@Sunisshiningandsoareyou
I love the term Holiday Blues a lot! Also, I think your use of "shoo away" gave a comforting and friendly vibe to the article.
Aw glad you feel so @kindLemonade , thanks a ton❤
@Sunisshiningandsoareyou
I love the heading and sub-heading. Both give a casual and friendly vibe to the article.
Hey @azuladragon34 , thanks for your feedback ❤ much appreciated!
@Sunisshiningandsoareyou Sun I love the use of a rhetorical question for the heading. The sub-heading has spunk to it and you have successfully managed to capture readers interest through doing this . Well done 😀
@GoldenRuleJG
Aw thankyou very much for your kind feedback, Golden! Greatly appreciated! ❤
@SoulfullyAButterfly
Headline: 5 Startling Effects of COVID-19 On Your Mental Health
Sub-Headline: Cultivating a healthy mindset in isolation
@sophiasanae
Headline: 5 Startling Effects of COVID-19 On Your Mental Health
The number, as Soul said, can of course attract audience. And if I were a person who saw this, I would click on it straightaway!
Sub-Headline: Cultivating a healthy mindset in isolation
I liked how the sub-headline basically supports the statement the best. Loved it!
@Star996
Aw thank you so much!
@sophiasanae
