Regardless of the adage that we shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, many people form opinions before taking a deeper look.
This goes for judging blogs by the headlines they’re given as well.
If an author creates a poor headline, the post will often be overlooked regardless of how well written and informative the post may be.
The moral of the story? Create inviting headlines.
According to KissMetrics, 1 in 5 people browsing blog headlines will continue to read posts after reading the headline.
Medical blogs are even less likely to be read because they’re perceived as being dry pieces to read in the first place. In order to get a reader’s attention, bloggers need to entice their reader with a compelling headline.
Some tips for drawing in readers include the following:
Be Straightforward & Informative
Don’t be too vague. If your blog post is about cleaning braces, don’t make your headline “Cleaning the Impossible.” This doesn’t provide enough information. Rather, try something like “Tips for Cleaning Your Braces.” You shouldn’t make it any harder on your readers to decide whether or not to click on your link.
Get Creative
With a material base that may be dry to the average reader, medical blogs often need to interject a little bit of creativity in order to gain readership. Try making your headlines creative and fun to entice viewers to choose your blog over the others available in their search results. Some tips include:
- Playing with language. Try alliteration, or a fun pun.
- Use conversational language. Talk directly to your reader.
Make it Personal
Speaking directly to your potential reader can often draw them in. For example, if you’re reporting on flu season approaching, rather than using “Flu Shots Help Prevent Illness,” try something like “Have YOU Gotten Your Flu Shot Yet?”
Play with Numbers
I’m sure you’ve seen a multitude of blogs (including this one) that give you a number or statistic. Why is that? It’s because numbers break up the monotony of seeing words and they offer the promise of a concise list with helpful information.