How to Make Your Article Titles Sell More

Many Internet marketers promote themselves by writing articles. However, few marketers understand that the title of an article is the headline for the article.

I belong to some article announcement email lists, and I assure you that 90% of article titles (your competition) range from unintentionally humorous to pathetic.

Here's a small sample, author names removed to protect the guilty, from just one day:

"Extreme Sports: Are They Worth The Risk?" -- This is not bad, but the author is trying to change the reader's priorities rather than help them. "10 Easy Ways to Minimize the Risks of Extreme Sports" would be helpful rather than preachy.

"What Is A 'Dot Net' And Should I Install It?" -- Who cares? For what? Try: "How Microsoft's .Net Technology Can Help You Run More Useful Software Programs on Your PC."

"10 Ways To Increase Your Blog’s Pageviews" -- good one!

"Interior Designers Expand Your Advice to the Exterior" -- I don't even understand what this one is supposed to mean.

"The Power of Affirmations and Music" -- the power to do what for me? A benefit is implied but not made explicit. Don't make readers have to guess at how you can help them -- telling them is your job.

"Why Should You Get Life Insurance?" -- this question is structured to make me say, "I don't know, so I better find out why." But without the promise of a benefit, I just say, "Who cares?"

"What Is Keratoconus?" -- who cares?

"Where's the Beef?" -- Where's the benefit?

"A Lot Of People Could Use The Convenience Of A Money Transfer..." -- I certainly could. If I read your article will you transfer some money to me?

"Wells Fargo Enters Payday Loan Business" -- sounds like a press release, not an article telling me something that will benefit me.

"Everybody Can Garden With Containers" -- So what?

"Transfer Made Easy Through Heavy Transport" -- Do write titles that at least make sense.

"Great On Weddings" -- What's great on weddings and why should I care?

"Mitral Valve Prolapse (MVP) - A Heart Condition" -- Where's the benefit?

"Radical Muslims Run Afoul Of Kant’s Categorical Imperative" -- maybe it's about our newest weapon in the War on Terror.

Did you notice that article titles in the form of questions usually provoke you to say, "no" or "so what?" or "who cares?" What lesson can you learn from that?

I swear, this was just a random sampling from one day. I couldn't have made them up if I tried. (And no, I don't know what "keratoconus" is, and don't care.)

Make the benefit of your article clear to the reader and you'll be ahead of 90% of article writers.

Article Source: http://articles.directorygold.com

c. 2006 by Richard Stooker Discover how dramatic sales writing can help you sell more of your products and services.

Please Rate this Article

Not yet Rated

Click the XML Icon Above to Receive Writing Articles Articles Via RSS!

Additional Articles From - Home | Writing And Speaking | Writing Articles

Use Article Writing to Relax Your Way Into Wealth - By : Debbie Allen
6 Easy Tips to Get Your Articles Read - By : PINNA
Article Writing - By : Brian Wisz
How To Write The Perfect Article In Three Easy Steps - By : Patrick Omari
8 Mini Article Writing Templates to Drive Your Articles the Extra Mile - By : Earma Brown
More Steps to Get Your Article Rejected - By : Adrian Kennelly
One Unique Home Based Business Opportunity - By : Donald Pope
Turn Your Advertisement Into an Article - By : Bruce A. Tucker
Start Writing For Money - By : a.anies
How to Put That Extra Zing into Articles to Make Them Different - By : Mervyn Love

	Print This Article
	Post Comment
	Add To Favorites
	Email to Friends
	Ezine Ready

Submit Articles
Member Login
Top Authors
Most Popular Articles
Submission Guidelines
Ezine Notifications
Article RSS Feeds

New Stuff
About Us
Site Blog
Forum
Link to Us
Contact Us
Privacy Policy
Terms of Service
DirectoryGold Home
Free Image Hosting
MySpace Tweaks

Subscribe in a reader