In the never-ending quest for organic growth, many businesses and online platforms turn to content marketing as a means to attract, engage and convert potential customers into paying subscribers.
While many businesses operate in stealth mode when it comes to content marketing, the truth is there is no secrecy in this space.
If you’re looking to create content to promote a new product or service, you’ll likely need to consider that content’s purpose. What’s the goal of this content? Is it to inform, entertain or inspire the reader?
Once you determine the purpose of your content, you can better decide on the type of words and phrases you will use to communicate that message.
Create Killer Headlines
In the world of content marketing, headlines are even more important than usual. While the body of your content may be full of vital information, your headline must grab the reader’s attention and make them want to learn more.
To create a killer headline, you’ll need to consider the platform you are publishing to, your target audience and the competition. Remember: you’ll only have a few short moments to grab the reader’s attention.
In general, a good rule of thumb is to write the headline before you write the body of the content. Doing so will give you a clear idea of what your headline should be and how it should play out. Then, you can flesh out the rest of the content in the context of the already-designed headline.
As for the type of words you’ll need to use to generate killer headlines, you’ll want to go for words that are simple, precise and as close to their dictionary definitions as possible.
Make It Short And Sweet
In the age of the clickbait epidemic, brevity is the new black. As the saying goes, ‘shorts’ attract more clicks than ‘long’ articles, and headlines that are shorter are usually more effective than longer ones.
To attract readers and drive traffic to your content, you’ll need to consider the type of person you are trying to reach, whether you are writing for a general audience or a more targeted group and what is the main objective of your article. Once you have a clear idea of these three factors, you can craft an attention-grabbing headline that will keep your readers interested and engaged in your content.
Choose An Entertainment-Packed Headline
If you’re looking to create headlines for the sake of entertainment, you’ve come to the right place. In today’s world, engaging with readers is often a way of letting them know a brand is thinking of them or understanding their plight. In the same way that a funny tweet can become an internet phenomenon, so can a good headline.
To create a satirical headline for the sake of entertainment, all you need is a pen, a notebook and a sense of humor. But, don’t worry, you don’t have to be funny to bring a smile to your reader’s face. Just make sure you choose words that are entertaining to those that you are writing for.
Don’t Forget The Call-To-Action
No article is an island, and to continually hold the reader’s attention, you’ll need to provide them with a clear call-to-action at the end of each piece of content.
If someone is reading your content and decides it’s valuable, they will want to know how they can use it to its fullest. At the very least, they’ll want to know where they can find more information about your company. In some cases, they may even want to take your brand into consideration and do business with you.
To provide them with a clear call-to-action, you can use either of the following:
- A specific URL to take them to;
- A specific blog post or page on your website that they can click through to;
- The buttons below the article (i.e. “read more”, “sign up”, “contact us”);
- A promise of additional value that you’ll provide if they click through to your site (e.g. “learn more about our products”, “find out how you can earn a commission”, “enter your email address to receive our blogs directly in your inbox”).
If you’re looking to craft an engaging narrative for your content, consider each piece of content a mini-story that will draw the reader in and keep them coming back for more. With a little imagination and research, you can tailor each story to be fun, informative or inspiring.