Andy’s Answers: How to write a Twitter-worthy headline
Recently, I wrote about how to write great headlines to help share your stuff on Twitter. If just a few of the right people re-tweet your headline, you can reach tens of thousands of potential new blog readers instantly — meaning you’ve got to write Twitter-ready headlines. Here are my tips, as well as a few ideas from readers. Share yours in the comments below.
What to do:
- Tell the complete story in the headline. Your headline has to make sense before people click, otherwise they won’t.
- Use the copywriter’s tricks. Using headline phrases like “3 tips” and “How to” are classic ways smart copywriters get people interested and forwarding their stuff.
- Keep it short. Not only does your headline need to fit within Twitter’s character limits, but you need to also leave room for the @name of anyone who re-tweets it.
Other tips from readers:
- Use @names when possible. This helps cross market both your content as well as what you’re talking about (i.e. using your company’s @name when referencing it).
- Use a URL shortener. While many platforms will automatically shorten your links, services like bit.ly provide click-through and re-tweet stats.
- Use it like a real person. Always good advice. These tips are to help you better share your great content, not a shortcut to spam or send shameless, boring promotions.
Related posts:
Tags: andy sernovitz, better writing, twitter
Categories: Andy's Answers
Permalink
Posted by TranslationforLawyers on May 27th, 2009 at 1:34 pm
LawTranslationRT @GuyKawasaki How to write Twitter-ready headlines http://adjix.com/dyb6
Posted by Twitter | doceymedia on May 27th, 2009 at 3:08 pm
[...] Sernovitz escribe “Andy’s Answers: How to write a Twitter-worthy headline” que debieras tener en cuenta a la hora de escribir los títulos de tus post para que se [...]
Posted by SmartBlog On Social Media » Blog Archive » This week’s most clicked on May 29th, 2009 at 6:36 am
[...] How to write Twitter-ready titles [...]
Posted by HOW-TO: Write Effectively for Twitter & the Social Web on September 15th, 2009 at 6:17 am
[...] How to Write a Twitter-Worthy Headline From SmartBlog On Social Media: Andy Sernovitz serves up his tips on writing strong Twitter headlines that will be re-tweeted- from “telling the complete story in the headline” to “using copywriter tricks – compelling terms like ‘how-to’ and ‘3 tips’ that will help get your tweets forwarded” and more. [...]
Posted by HOW-TO: Write Effectively for Twitter & the Social Web « Hospitalwebmaster's Blog on September 17th, 2009 at 7:02 am
[...] How to Write a Twitter-Worthy Headline From SmartBlog On Social Media: Andy Sernovitz serves up his tips on writing strong Twitter headlines that will be re-tweeted- from “telling the complete story in the headline” to “using copywriter tricks – compelling terms like ‘how-to’ and ‘3 tips’ that will help get your tweets forwarded” and more. [...]
Posted by Latitude: the official blog of Atlas Advertising » Blog Archive » How To Write a Twitter-Worthy Headline on September 23rd, 2009 at 1:40 am
[...] A short, sweet article on writing twitter-worthy headlines. [...]