Writers have never been taught to use good titles. It’s
something, which they learn by themselves. If you have to present a point, you
tend to make your first sentence attractive, probably like a pitch. But people
like us, who belong to the writers club, have started to take article titles for
granted. We believe that we will come up with any sentence, and paste it right
at the top as a headline, and it will work.
When I was working in the marketing firm, selling financial
products, the first thing I was taught was to get the first sentence right when
meeting a client. The first sentence decides whether your potential client will
allow you to speak further. If you mess up with your first sentence, then you
are probably gone, if you manage to get it right somehow, the onus then lies
with the client, and he might let you speak further. But if you get it perfect,
then that sentence becomes an effective and powerful tool, and leaves the
client with no choice, but he decides to listen more from you.
That is exactly true when writing articles. Your title,
which is the first sentence in the article, has to be dynamic. It should be
such that it leaves no choice for the reader, but he gets his eye below the
fold to read more of the content.
Understand the topic
Successful writers begin their quest for a good title by
understanding the topic they want to write upon. The title should be a teaser.
Sometimes writers write an article, and then choose the title, which is
absolutely wrong. And I can tell you why. If you do that, then your article is
detached from the title and your title lacks the essence of your article theme.
Prepare a virtual outline of the topic, and you will get a good
title idea, at least you will know what the article title should contain.
Understand your
target audience
If you are writing an article, you should write for someone.
You should not write just for the sake of writing. More often than not writers
write for their clients, and they carry that attitude in their writings. If you
have that kind of an attitude, you will sacrifice a good article title. Looking
at your audience will give you a perfect idea for a good article headline. The
title should address the target audience.
The use of vocabulary
Your knowledge of the vocabulary also helps you to find the
right title. Some words tend to weigh more than other synonyms. The words or phrases you use in the title
should have an element of assertion. Even controversial and provoking phrases
in the headline can cause a stir, which is perhaps good for the article.
The use of keywords
in the title
Using keywords in titles is a practice that is commonly used
for SEO purpose. At least that’s what most of the online writers tend to
believe. However, keywords in the title give you direction. Right keywords may
help your article to get noticed, but most importantly, it helps you to carve
out an effective and powerful title.
Asks questions in the
form of titles
Some say, headlines that ask questions are likely to be
responded. Human nature likes to answer back. Studies have shown that questions
make human beings alert. It challenges us. It also makes human beings more
curious to know the answers. Titles that ask questions are more likely to be
researched upon.
Conclusion
No matter how you go about it, the bottom line is that you
have to get the title and write an article related to the title.
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