Here’s the trick to funneling traffic off of the social web: Write better headlines.
Sure, you need to be participating in conversations and engaging with customers, prospects and partners on social media. But sites like Twitter and Facebook are an endless stream of information snippets, each with the life expectancy of a kiwi. If your goal is to encourage a click from a social site to a landing page or a piece of content you will need to learn to write status updates that get clicks.
Social Proof Headlines (Social Proof = the propensity for people to make choices based on the choices that other people make):
- Here is a Method That is Helping [world class example] to [blank]
- [blank] Hacking With [world class example]
- Savvy|Smart|Sexy People Do XYZ
- Why I [blank] (And Maybe You Should Too)
- [Do something] like [world-class example]
- The [desired result] That [world class example] Is Talking About
- Join [impressive number] of Your Peers that [take desired action]
- [desired result] Like A [desired group or person]
- How [impressive number] Got [desired result] in [time period]
- Like [world class example] You Can [desired result]
- [world class example] Reveals Ways To [desired result]
- Why [impressive number] of People are [taking desired action]
- A Simple Way To [desired result] That Works For [desired group/person]
- How to [desired result] Like [world class example]
Threat Headlines:
- Do You Recognize the [number] Early Warning Signs of [blank]?
- If You Don’t [blank] Now, You’ll Hate Yourself Later
- I’ve Lied to You for [time period] Now
- The Biggest Lie In [your industry]
- X Shocking Mistakes Killing Your [blank]
- Don’t Try [blank] Without [desired action] First
- [blank] May Be Dangerous To [something precious]
- [blank] May Be Causing You To Lose Out On [desired result]
- At Last, The Secret To [desired result] Is Revealed
- The [blank] Risk Hiding In Your [blank]
- Why you shouldn’t [do what I desire them to do]
- Why [blank] Fails and [blank] Succeeds
- Do Not Try Another [blank] Until You [take desired action
- The Ugly Truth About [blank]
- What Your [blank] Won’t Tell You And How It Can Save You [blank]
- What Everybody Ought to Know About [blank]
- Your [blank] Doesn’t Want You To Read This [blank]
- The Sooner You Know [blank] The Better
Gain Headlines:
- Where [desired result] Is And How To Get It
- Discover The [desired result] Secret
- [blank] Your Way To A [desired result] You
- To People That Want To [desired result] But Can’t Get Started
- You, a [desired result]
- Stop [undesired result]
- You Too Can [desired result] in [time period] with [blank]
- How To Become [desired result] When You [something challenging]
- There’s Big [desired result] In [blank]
- You Don’t Have to Be [something challenging] to be [desired result]
- Little Known Ways to [blank]
- How to turn [blank] into [desired result]
- How To Build a [blank] You Can Be Proud Of
- Get [desired result] Without [undesired result]
- Get Rid of [problem] Once and For All
- Improve/Increase Your [desired result] In [time period]
- Imagine [desired result] And Loving Every Minute Of It
- Here’s a Quick Way to [solve a problem]
- Get [desired result] Without Losing [blank]
- The Lazy [blank’s] Way to [desired result]
- How To Make People Line Up And Beg To [blank]
- How To Get [desired result] Out Of [blank]
- How To [desired result] When You’re Not [blank]
- No [undesired result] Just [desired result] Everyday
- Never Suffer From [undesired result] Again
- The Quickest & Easiest Way To [desired result]
- If You Can [blank] You Can [desired result]
- How You Can [desired result] Almost Instantly
- Where [desired result] Is And How To Get It
- Discover The [desired result] Secret
- [blank] Your Way To A [desired result] You
- To People That Want To [desired result] But Can’t Get Started
- You, a [desired result]
- Stop [undesired result]
- You Too Can [desired result] in [time period] with [blank]
- How To Become [desired result] When You [something challenging]
- There’s Big [desired result] In [blank]
- You Don’t Have to Be [something challenging] to be [desired result]
- Little Known Ways to [blank]
- How to turn [blank] into [desired result]
- How To Build a [blank] You Can Be Proud Of
- Get [desired result] Without [undesired result]
- Get Rid of [problem] Once and For All
- Improve/Increase Your [desired result] In [time period]
- Imagine [desired result] And Loving Every Minute Of It
- Here’s a Quick Way to [solve a problem]
- Get [desired result] Without Losing [blank]
- The Lazy [blank’s] Way to [desired result]
- How To Make People Line Up And Beg To [blank]
- How To Get [desired result] Out Of [blank]
- How To [desired result] When You’re Not [blank]
- No [undesired result] Just [desired result] Everyday
- Never Suffer From [undesired result] Again
- The Quickest & Easiest Way To [desired result]
- If You Can [blank] You Can [desired result]
- How You Can [desired result] Almost Instantly
- How To Become [desired result] When You [something challenging]
- How To Use [blank] To [desired result]
- How To Turn Your [blank] Into [desired result]
- See How Easily You Can [desirable result]
- Now You Can Have [something desirable] Without [something challenging]
- How To Take The Headache Out Of [blank]
- X Questions Answered About [blank]’
- Give Me [short time period] and I’ll Give You [desired result]
- Answered: Your Most Burning Questions About [blank]
- Take X minutes to get started with [blank]… you’ll be happy you did!
- Who Else Wants [desired result]?
- How to fast-track your [desirable result]
- How [impressive number] Got [desired result] Without [undesired result]
The competition for attention on social media is fierce…This swipe file is your weapon in the battle for clicks on social
channels like Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn. Access this list when you are in need of headline inspiration and watch
your social media traffic soar!