I read this excellent blog on copywriting tips which was originally published in the Buffer Blog http://blog.bufferapp.com/data-backed-copywriting and to those who attend my copywriting classes I recommend that you read the entire blog. But here are the highlights:
- Create a curiosity gap – the headline needs to be tantalising enough to get a reader to click through but mustn’t give away the whole story
- Use numbers – Digits in particular are more shareable
- Use the right words – see lists below
- Make it scarce – use negative dark and aggressive words in titles lead to more shares
- Avoid announcements – tell a story instead (neural coupling)
- Know your readers – Tailor your messages
- Make it surprising – Surprise captures attention and interest holds it
- Use more verbs and less nouns
Takipi’s research showed that the most popular blog posts had these words in their titles:
- Smart
- Surprising
- Science
- History
- Hackers
- Huge/big
- Critical
Most retweetable words/phrases:
- You
- Please
- Retweet
- Post
- Blog
- Social
- Free
- Media
- Help
- Great
- Please retweet
- 10
- Follow
- How to
- Top
- Blog post
- Check out
- New blog post