Headlines are tricky business. They’re the difference between getting clicks on your article, or sending them scrolling on by.
They are the gateway to getting people onto your website. So why do so many businesses throw headlines together as an afterthought… And then wonder why they’re getting zero visitors!?
Headlines are a big deal, my friend.
But if you struggle to muster great headline ideas for your blog posts, luckily there are many proven formulas we can swipe and adapt for our own businesses. These are headline formulas that just work, no matter who your audience is or what industry you operate in.
And today I want to share with you three headlines that will always rock your reader’s socks off, no matter how overused they are.
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How to posts
‘How to’ posts always do remarkably well because they provide a very specific solution to a particular problem. It often reveals a way to make your reader’s lives better.
‘How to’ posts are usually instructional posts that guide the reader step-by-step to achieve an outcome. The headline makes a promise, and the blog post delivers on that promise. Well, it should do anyway, or your reader will leave feeling peeved and cheated!
If you’re using Pinterest to market your business, (which in my opinion all online pet businesses should be!) ‘how to make’ posts tend to do incredibly well. These posts teach your reader how to make something specific and are dynamite on Pinterest.
‘How to make a destruction box’ on my dog blog has received thousands of shares on Pinterest. And another post ‘How to stop your dog from scavenging on walks’ is one of my most visited articles from the search engines.
Don’t underestimate the power of a solid ‘how to’ post. Use them where you can.
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List posts
People love a good list. They’re always popular with readers because, again, the promise of what to expect is clear cut in the title. You’re looking at a list post right now, all be it a small one, but three can still be considered a list of sorts.
List posts almost always start with a number. So for example, you could write a post about ‘10 ways to exercise with your dog’, or ‘15 DIY Halloween costumes for dogs.’
Lists also break the post down into easily digestible chunks. Not everyone likes to consume large blocks of text. Listing an x number of ways to achieve something specific, gives your reader an opportunity to skim and find what they’re looking for quickly.
I use lists quite heavily on GoneDogMad. My post ‘15 signs your dog is stressed and what to do about it’ did rather well with a few hundred shares and continues to attract traffic on my blog.
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Why posts
Why posts answer a particular question your reader has. They should cover, in some detail, a surprising fact and provide an explanation to their burning question.
Humans are curious creatures. Google has made it DANGEROUSLY easy to search for answers to our questions online. We all need a stark reminder sometimes that Google is no substitute for a doctor or a vet!
But people actively search for answers to their pet queries because we’re a nation of animal lovers and we want to understand our furry friends that little bit better. Good news for pet professionals – you can capitalise on this fact by writing posts to satisfy your reader’s curiosities.
Take this post from GoneDogMad as an example: ‘Why do dogs eat grass and should you worry?’ has attracted an easy few hundred shares so far and continues to bring in steady traffic every week.
You should always spend time thinking about your headlines, and test them out to see what does and doesn’t work. A simple tweak can make all the difference to whether your posts are seen or not.
Most of the traffic and social shares I attract come from Pinterest. If you’d like to learn how to leverage the power of Pinterest, grab your free ‘Double your traffic with Pinterest checklist’ here.
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P.s. If you need help to reach more pet parents and sell more of your products or services, there are a few ways I can help you do that:
For 44 ways to get more clients for your pet business, grab the FREE Pet Biz Sales Booster Bible.
The Pet Biz Thrive Online Club is my super affordable, contract-free membership programme and your safe space where you'll learn all about how to market your pet business online. So you can grow your audience and attract new clients. Doors are currently open to new members. Learn more and sign up here.
If you need more 1-1 coaching support to give you the clarity, focus and plan to achieve those results you crave, check out my coaching packages here.
If you're on a tight budget, want to DIY your marketing and kick-start your progress, I have a few online courses to help with that. All my courses are designed to help you market yourself with more ease and flow, without spending all hours in front of your computer. Head over here to check them out.
To get my 4 step online marketing strategy that will help you get booked solid with pet clients, sign up for my FREE masterclass.
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Not sure what you need? Email me at hello@karlyedwards.com and let's chat about how you can market and grow your pet biz.