4 Tips to Write Better Attention-Grabbing Titles
Increase your click rate
Since Medium has gone from claps to views, its become paramount to master the act of titling your article. There is no other way to hoard those views and reads if people are scrolling past your articles.
Although it is true that there are people who are gifted in this area, however, all hope isn't lost. It is something you can learn, just as I did.
Remember when it comes to writing, there are really no laws. What we have are simply pointers and subjective advice. Because writing, just like art, is an expression of the artist, his style, and parlance.
So, therefore, in order to get eyeballs on your piece, here are a few pointers that you need to nail down.
1. Use superlative words
Superlative words are words that describe or show the highest form or degree of a thing.
It’s like trying to exaggerate or pump up the value of something. Examples of superlatives are biggest, smallest, tiniest, largest, finest, etc.
This is just to give you an idea of what we are talking about. When it comes to article titles, you want to use not only these menial superlatives but rather, words that lay emphasis and exaggeration. Take a look at these titles below and note the difference between them.
— 6 Profound Lessons From Being a Sex Addict — — 6 Lessons From Being a Sex Addict —
Do you notice the difference in how both titles come across or even sound in the mind?
2. Include numbers
It's a known fact on Medium that listicle articles are among the most-read pieces. And most of these pieces usually carry numbers.
Titles with numbers tend to draw more attention. Take for example the following titles, which piqued your curiosity more?
— How I Finally Found the Love of my Life —
— 9 Unbelievable Ways I Finally Found the Love of my Life —
The perception behind a title without a number like the one above is, the reader might feel; another boring story from a lonely woman. On the other hand, the title; “9 Unbelievable Ways I Finally Found the Love of my Life” comes across as; there is something to learn — something to take from this piece.
And that makes all the difference in the world whether someone will click on your article or not.
3. Optimal word count
Though this varies on medium a lot because I have seen articles with really long word count do very well. Usually, however, such articles are written by well-established writers. You have no idea what you can get away with when you become well known as a writer on this platform.
Nevertheless, if you do not have that pedigree, for now, stay close to the shores.
The ideal number of words for a title is around 7–8, top.
4. Use words that evoke emotions
There is no denying the fact that writers who are good at storytelling tend to do better with their pieces.
They do not even need to tell an entire story on each piece. All they need to do is add a short anecdote, the audience is hook immediately. why?
As humans, stories have a way of engaging our emotions. We are emotional creatures after all. Have you heard the saying, “We make decisions by our emotions, but justify them with logic?” That is true by the way.
Let your title provoke emotions — whether sad or happy, positive or negative — it will do the trick. Take a look at the example below for some ideas.
— 10 Ridiculous Things Young Writers Get Wrong — — 10 Things Young Writers Get Wrong —
Which will you speedily click to read?
Final words
If you’ve been following the Medium news lately, you'll know there’s a constant change in the medium algorithm. This means medium as a platform is constantly changing.
Since we are not the captain of the ship, we must learn to go with the wind, or punches — whichever suits you.
I encourage you to continue mastering your craft; learning how to be a better writer, understanding the tools needed to better structure and edit your pieces. And also just as important, crafting titles that people want to click on.
If you really want to take your writing to the next level, then read the article below.