A good financial blog headline should do 2 things; increase curiosity, and encourage people to take action.
Headlines can be one of the hardest things to write. They need to be short, to the point and catchy, while also clearly explaining what to expect from the blog. However creating a good headline isn’t quite as complicated as it sounds.
Here we break down 5 top tips for creating great financial blog headlines that capture your reader’s attention and get them to respond.
1 – Convey The Benefits
Benefits are what sell products and services. People want to know what they are going to get out of reading your blog, they want to know what’s in it for them. The easiest way to do this is to explain how you’re going to solve a particular pain point for them. If you want an example, just look at the headline of this blog you’re reading right now.
2 – Keep it Short
One of the best things to do with a headline is to write it, create the blog, then go back to your headline and simplify it. Remove any superfluous language and edit it down to its most simple form. Sometimes it might mean being ruthless, but it’s worth it.
3 – Use You, Not We
Too many marketers focus on ‘we’ and ‘I’ when writing copy, when you should be focusing on the reader instead. Using you shifts the perspective and creates an emotional response that compels them to keep reading. By making the message more personal, it helps the audience identify with the message more smoothly.
4 – Don’t be Afraid to Break the Rules
When it comes to financial marketing, the sometimes seriousness of the content means that marketers get hung up on writing rules. Your main job when writing headlines is to communicate, don’t worry about grammar and proper sentence structure. Just focus on getting your message across clearly. Getting overly concerned about writing correctly, will only limit yourself and the potential impact of your blog and overall brand.
5 – Avoid Puns, Idioms and Cliches
Using puns, idioms and cliches can feel like a shortcut to creativity, but that’s exactly what it is – the lazy way out. It’s more likely to turn people away from reading your blog, as your audience are more likely to think that you’re recycling old content rather than give them something new and valuable. Don’t waste your great content, by giving it a cheap headline it doesn’t deserve.
