Writing headlines for social media bedevils me. I must toss rules of print writing for punchy openers that grab search engines. And though it gives me sleepless nights, I insert the cyber-preferred second-person voice, you - GASP! --- a huge no-no from my days as a college writing coach, where professors deducted points for every ‘you’ found in papers they graded. ![]() Then I stumble on the Headline Analyzer, a FREE gem of an online tool from the Advanced Marketing Institute. I don’t know much about this organization, other than I love how its analyzer tool measures my headline's likelihood of click-throughs and shares. This tool is based on an Emotional Marketing Value (EMV): words measuring three areas that engage people:
Here’s how the analyzer helped me find an effective title to for this post.
Boo. An EMV of just 11% (see below). I'm so hosed. I stress out when I read studies about writing headlines like the one reported in The Guardian. Eight words max. OK. Odd numbers are better. Huh? Colons (not of the human intestinal kind) are magical. Really? Yikes! I need help!
And now that you know how to write powerful social media titles with this handy tool, may the headlines be forever in your favor. TAKE-AWAYS: To learn more... Check out this comprehensive post for writing effective headlines for tweets, emails, and blogs by social media guru Kevan Lee, Content Creator for Buffer Social. Blogger Amy Lynn Andrews also shares a dandy blog content generator you can use to stimulate ideas for blog topics and titles. P.S. We're all on this writing journey together, so please join the conversation in the comment section. What do you use for writing social media headlines? And if you tried the headline analyzer, how did it work for you? Click below to deliver Social Media 101 to your RSS feed.
8 Comments
karen emma
10/6/2014 09:34:49 am
I love writing a new headline, and this is a perfect read for those who struggle or even just to get a wider range to choose from. Thanks for posting this Cat :)
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10/8/2014 03:59:52 am
Thanks, Karen. I the tool's instant feedback about what I write, and I'm glad you find it useful, too.
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I look forward to this new section of your website/blog, Cat! You always come up with the best articles and finds.
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10/8/2014 04:07:41 am
K., being an Indie author is a huge learning curve, and I'm just hitting the tip of this iceberg. Couldn't do it without the support of my writerly colleagues.
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10/8/2014 04:03:31 am
Thanks, Enisca. It's kinda fun receiving the immediate feedback and score. I hope you find it useful, too.
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10/8/2014 04:04:50 am
Appreciate the feedback, Mari. There's so much to learn, and it's always better to share and support each other on this journey.
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CAT MICHAELSThe writing journey is a long one. And with all that social media and technology in the mix, it's easy to feel overloaded. To make it easier, I share angst-saving tips found along my way. I'm still learning, so please join me. Let's travel this writing journey and learn together. Join Cat's Readers's Room Team
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