Writing Headlines People Will Read

Writing Well for the Web

Take a look at a good newspaper or magazine and just read the headlines. What draws you in -- what makes you want to read a particular story?

What's the trick? Here are a couple of ideas:

• Use Action Verbs. Remember those? Avoid flat verbs like Is, Have, Was.

  Which has more action? The New Product Is Here! or Achieve Results by Purchasing the New Product!

• Catch Their Attention. Don't be afraid to be playful or clever (assuming it's appropriate for the web site). Your goal is to draw the reader in to read more.

  Which is more interesting? Drink Water Every Day or Ever Quake In Your Boots for a Quenching Quaff of Agua?

• Be Descriptive. Include the key elements of the "thought" in your headline. Give the reader a good idea of what they'll get if they read further.

  Which tells you more? My Summer Vacation or The Highs and Lows of My Summer On the Road: A Wanderer's Musings