In this online video tutorial, writing coach Starshine Roshell shows you how to set your headline apart from the rest by choosing crisp, colorful language and experimenting with wordplay and alliteration. When readers are delighted by a headline, they’re more likely to read the story that follows it.
- [Voiceover] Your headline sets the tone…for the story that follows it.…So, if the words you use are common place and predictable,…then as readers, we have to assume your story…is going to be common place and predictable too.…And tell me, how often do you make time in your life…for a common and predictable read?…Take these for example.…This Sports Car Is Really Fast.…How to Make Your Living Room Look Better.…Would you click through and read those?…I probably wouldn't…So, show potential readers…that you put in the work for them.…
That you go the extra mile to make your information…crackle and hum with energy.…By choosing surprising words over obvious ones.…For example, instead of saying…The Vinyl Record Trend, Explained,…you could use a play on words…that ties into the subject matter.…Why Vinyl Records Are Back for Another Spin!…And instead of the straight forward, but dull,…Tips for Business Presentations,…you could give it some energy.…Some conversational oomph.…11 Ways to Nail Your Next Presentation.…
Reads also love alliteration.…
Author
Starshine Roshell
Released
6/23/2016How do you sum up an entire story in a few words? Starshine shows you how to preview a story, pull out the relevant benefits, and pack them into a pithy headline. Find out how to use style to engage your readers—writing with vibrant, active language, being truthful, and telling readers what they need to know in a timely way. She also stresses the importance of mechanics, showing you how to correctly and effectively use punctuation and capitalization in headlines. Plus, get details on when to write subheads, how to employ keywords for SEO, and the background on headline trends, all with loads of examples along the way.
- Construct attention-grabbing headlines.
- List the four Us of great headlines.
- Name three problems that arise from using long headlines.
- Explain how to use active verbs to enhance a headline.
- Identify trends that are helpful in creating fresh headlines.
- Use proper mechanics to craft grammatically correct headlines.
- Compose a subhead to share additional critical details.
- Summarize the benefits of using strong keywords in headlines.
Skill Level Beginner
Duration
Views
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Introduction
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Welcome1m 9s
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1. Content
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Grab the readers' attention1m 52s
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Make headlines concise2m 16s
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2. Style
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Make headlines engaging2m 32s
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Trends in writing headlines3m 51s
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3. Mechanics
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Capitalization in headlines2m 43s
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How to use subheads3m 21s
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Conclusion
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Next steps1m 49s
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Video: Use vibrant language in headlines