People love a good story. We’ve all heard of Shakespeare, and how he practically defined the art of storytelling with his plays. And while there’s no debating that his works have had an extremely significant impact on modern literature and drama, it’s fair to say that most of us have never heard of the great British playwright. But now is as good a time as any to bring him to mind, as Google has just granted him his annual Google Doodles honour.
If you’re looking to create irresistible titles for your copywriting, you’re in the right place. Because in this post, we’ll teach you the exact steps that Google took to make sure that every one of its customers knew exactly what they were searching for when they typed in a query on their mobile device. And perhaps most impressively, they did this all while respecting the originality of the works that made up the British Library.
Step one: Define the problem you’re trying to solve
As the name would suggest, the Google Doodles celebrate the incredible works of imagination that are written (or drawn) by Google’s users. So the first step in the creation of a Dizzy Doodles title is to define the problem you’re trying to solve.
Asking how to come up with catchy titles for your copywriting might lead you to believe that this is a straightforward task. But it’s important to note that, as with any creative endeavour, there are as many different ways of solving this problem as there are individuals who’ve ever faced it. And to ensure that you choose the right approach for your situation, you need to start by defining what you believe to be the purpose of your writing.
Now, it’s not uncommon for writers to want to secure a steady stream of freelance work. Especially as more and more people discover the joys of copywriting, and the demand for content creators increases. Whether you’re a seasoned professional looking to further your career or an absolute beginner just starting out, having a steady stream of work is a great way to make a living. And of course, it would be wonderful to secure all of your dreams and make your name as a famous playwright.
But what if you don’t want to write for money? Or what if you believe that the most effective way to influence others is through the power of example? Or maybe you want to communicate the importance of sustainability in this day and age.
Whatever it may be, there’s a way that you can make a difference through your writing. And perhaps the most effective way of doing this is by inspiring people to take action. So while it’s wonderful to want to earn a living through your words, it’s also important to ensure that your words are both meaningful and, hopefully, influential.
Step two: Research the topic in depth
Once you’ve established the purpose of your writing, it’s time to do some serious research into the topic. This is especially important if you’re going to choose a phrase that’s completely made up, as it might end up meaning nothing at all when used in a sentence. (For example, what is the definition of ‘innovation’ as used in the marketing world?)
Fortunately, there are online tools that can assist you in your research. And in the case of the Google Doodles, this is made doubly easier as the company has provided a wealth of valuable information about its users.
If you click on the Google Doodles badge on any of its search results, you’ll be led to a wonderful collection of articles and fascinating insights into the character of its users. From fascinating infographics that break down key data to revealing interviews, you’ll discover a wealth of information.
Step three: Generate ideas
If you believe that the best way to come up with a great title is by thinking of words and phrases that have the power to compel readers to action, then the next step is to generate ideas. This can be a daunting task, as your mind will be flooded with words and phrases that you’ve associated with success in the past.
But don’t worry – this is where the fun begins. As you search for the right ones, you’ll discover that your creativity has no limits. So go ahead and write down all of the words and phrases that come to mind. And don’t worry about being concise. As a copywriter, you won’t need to write a short story – this is the exception, not the rule. In fact, the opposite is true. Concision is the key to creating a successful story. (See also: The Most Important Element of a Killer Pitch)
When it comes to copywriting, less is more. And that’s especially relevant when coming up with a title; you don’t want to put too much thought into it, as you’ll likely end up creating a dull and uninspiring title. So while you want to choose words that are both familiar and easy to remember, you also want to keep it short and snappy.
Now, some of the words and phrases that you’ll undoubtedly come up with are likely to be completely made up. But that’s part of the fun. As you search for the right one, you’ll realize that it doesn’t matter whether the word you choose is real or fake – it will probably end up meaning the same in the end. So don’t worry about it too much. Just write it down and move on to the next idea.
Step four: Review your list
Once you’ve begun to accumulate a significant number of words and phrases, it’s time to review your list. If you’ve followed the advice given so far, this will be a relatively short list, and you’ll be able to choose without difficulty. Now, before you make any decision, it’s important to step back and re-evaluate your list. Remember: your goal is to create a title that is both memorable and has the ability to draw in an audience. So, ideally, you don’t want to choose any of the following:
- Too many words (dull)
- Too many syllables (for the sake of melody)
- Not memorable (easy to skip over)
- Too many meanings (ambiguous)
- Too few words (prompts to fill in the gaps)
- Not significant (won’t make a difference)
- Too easy to find (usually)
If you’ve reviewed your list and feel confident that you’ve chosen the right words, it’s time to make your decision. Now, some of the words and phrases on your list may seem perfectly suitable for a title. But not all. So, to ensure that you choose the right word, you need to narrow your selection down to just a few. And to do this, you need to choose the right form of the word.
Step five: Test the words you’ve chosen
Once you’ve chosen a word that is both memorable and has the ability to hold attention, it’s time to test it.
With any new title, there’s always the possibility that it won’t work out. This is why it’s important to test your title before you use it. First, you need to decide on a word that you’ve chosen for your title. And then, you need to write a sample piece of content using that word. (Be sure to use relevant keywords in your sample piece of content, as this will make it much easier for clients to find your content if they are searching for related topics.)
If you’ve followed the advice given so far, this should be a fairly easy task. You’ll already have a short list of words that you believe to be suitable for a title. And now, it’s time to put your creative genius to the test.
Step six: Write a short story using your word
From a short story writer’s perspective, this is the most exciting part. Because here, you get to write an entire story using your word. Nothing stands in the way of your creative genius. The only restriction is the length of the short story. To create a successful short story, you need to follow a few key rules.
The first is to keep the story light. People hate reading heavy articles (unless they’re specifically looking for content that’s heavy on literary references). So if you want to attract attention, a short story is the way to go. Remember: your goal is to choose a word that will both attract and retain interest.