Category: 
July 28, 2011
Words are very powerful. Whether spoken or written, words can influence people and they can persuade them to take action. Depending on how they are used, words will either have a positive or negative impact.
On the internet, the written word needs to be clear as it is the main method of communication, whether creating an article or blog post or writing sales copy on your website. Your message can be delivered with more impact based purely on how you choose to communicate to your readers and your unique choice of words.
In writing content or copy for your website, starting with a good title is a must. The title, also called the headline, needs to grab the attention of the reader and provide an insight into what your site or article is all about. The purpose of the headline is to be creative and catchy enough to encourage your visitor to continue reading the next line.
You have to keep in mind that most visitors will just scan a web page first. If you have not grabbed them “at hello”, chances are they will quickly lose interest, move on to the next article or click away from your website.
A headline needs to be specific but should not be too long. Avoid general titles. In other words, you have to have a target market in mind to ensure your headline is clear, concise and delivers your message. Write a great headline first and you will find it easier to write your article or website copy or content.
An ideal technique in creating a headline that stands out is to write out several of them first and see which one sounds the best. What feels right to you? Try going back to it several times to check your choice of words and how they are structured. Edit it a number of times to determine which one will have a greater impact on your readers and deliver the message you are looking to convey. Doing this ensures that your headline is crisp and clear.
Let’s take a few examples. The title “Writing Blogs is Fun”, for instance, is quite general. It says what you are trying to say, but if you look at another interesting angle for your topic, you can make a bigger impact.
If your target market is people looking for blogs that pay people to write, you might change the original title to something like “Writing Blogs Can Earn You Money” or “Earn Money Online by Writing Blogs or Blog Posts.”
When people, especially those who love to write, read this headline there is enough of a hook to encourage them to read on and find out how to earn money through blogs or posting on blogs. What type of “hook” can you include in your next headline to attract the attention of your target market?
So remember, creating a specific headline that will grab attention will take some time, a little effort and a dash of creativity. Continue to practice to hone your writing skills and you’re on your way to establishing a following of regular readers.
Author Bio: Wendy Moore is the founder of www.savvywebwomen.com and creator of the Savvy List Building Blog – the information packed resource that shows business owners and entrepreneurs how to better understand the internet to build a highly responsive, targeted list of clients specific to their business niche. To receive your free Special Report and weekly how-to articles to expand your online List Building toolkit, visit www.wendymoore.net.
