Psst – Headline Swipe File Secrets

Headline writing is something you will spend a lot of time on when writing blogs, for good reason Headlines don’t just get blogs read or retweeted, they also get emails opened, they get customers picking up the phone.

You can make it easier on yourself though. Start a swipe file and add to it often.

A swipe file is a fab tool for people just starting to blog. It helps you focus in getting things done.

It is a file on your desktop with links and free reports and ebooks that you can ‘swipe’ inspiration from. Remember swiping is not copying. It’s being inspired and adapting what you see around you.

Create a new folder (right click on the desktop), then start checking out the links I mention. As you are searching through the great stuff listed here, you will find other resources you think are fab. Add them too.

Things like

• A good headline
• Good, strong content
• Calls to action
• Images

So I will share some of the contents of my swipe files with you. Go and take a look. Unless I state otherwise, they are free.

Headlines

No matter what people say, they do not click on a dull, factual headline.

You will need a headline swipe file, here is what is in mine.

How to write a Headline
This is a great starting point. This post breaks down the types of headlines that there are, and then gives and example of how it is used. If you are completely new to headline writing, this is the place to start.

Magnetic headlines, a Copyblogger post

The Cheaters guide to great headlines, again another Copyblogger post

Chris G’s 102 Headlines PDF. I recommend taking some of the titles he suggests and start playing with them and adapting them to your own blog. I used this to help with some ezine articles that I wrote. They were very effective.

Problogger has a fab post about letting your blog go, have a click and take a look at the image, now you know why you need an image swipe file as well.

Constructing a good headline means it can be used to bring you search engine traffic and if your blogs are good, then they become regular readers. John Chow has a how to use adwords for headlines post. It’s worth adding to your swipe file.

Lorelle has an in depth post on creating headlines and titles. It may be a little too in depth at the moment, but I would add it as one day you will look at it and it will all make sense.

Sean D’Souza has a fab giveaway if you sign up to his newsletter. He doesn’t spam you to death and if you are focusing on writing blog posts that will get read, then you will enjoy getting his newsletter. Add the giveaway to your swipe file AFTER you have read it. It’s possibly the best thing in the file on headlines, so read it. I am a big fan of his work, you will see me reference him often.

Interested in the science behind headlines and why they work? Then take a peak here. This is also a great newsletter to get, and I have their posts delivered to my inbox. Digg is a social bookmarking site that can help you create good headlines, just by reading what people are clicking.

Headline writing, art or science is a newer find, I have added some nice articles from the writers here in my swipe file.

Did you watch the video above? Michael Martine  shows you what to look for whilst you are out and about. Add it to your swipe file.

One thing you may have noticed a lot of – how numbers are used in headlines…

Bloggers need links. Links to and from each other and social sharing (twitter, Facebook, stumbles etc) and a great way to get links is a list post or a post with a number in the title, this post is a must read on how a number in your headline can look, again with examples.

Headlines don’t just get blogs read or retweeted, they also get emails opened, they get customers picking up the phone.

Sarah

PS I mention images for your swipe file. A picture can paint a thousand words… have a trawl around Google images and see what inspires you. Add them to your swipe file. Remember if you use them in a blog you need to accredit the source after you have checked to see if you can use them.

Related resources

• 2,897 Words on How to Create Viral Content (The Key Element Behind Every Successful Blog) (viperchill.com)
• Inspiration on Demand: Create a Swipe File | Write to Done (writetodone.com)
• Headlines Mean Nothing If You Don’t Deliver (blogworld.com)
• 10 Killer Titles That Will Provoke Your Facebook Fans (allfacebook.com)
• How to Choose a Headline Using 3 Little Known Secrets (famousbloggers.net)
• 5 Traits of a Great Headline (searchenginepeople.com)