Using ‘Hooks’ In Your Content Titles

You have beefed up your site, and instituted a blog. You have widgets and gadgets, and a partridge in a pear tree. Now you basically have to keep pushing the link building and the content!

Having fresh new content is the number one way to keep pushing yourself under the search engines’ noses. Your title needs to reach out and grab the consumer, though – and there are a few ‘hooks’ that never grow old.

Top Ten, Twenty, etc Lists

People love lists. They actually go online and search for lists, especially if they want to find a lot of good information all in the same place. The words ‘ways to’ or ‘best’ are helpful to target your audience:

“Top Ten Ways to Dress Your Pet this Season” could be one, or “Top Twenty Best ‘Celebrity Pet’ Outfits”.

How To Articles

Searches on ‘how to’ do things or find things or make things are a favorite. Don’t know how to fix that leaky faucet? Go online. Wondering about finding a career moms club in your area? We can help with that, too!

“How to Make Your Own Dog Bandana Collar”, “How to Grow Catnip”, “How to Find a Reputable Groomer”…see what I mean?

Do…? What…? Why…? Should…?

Answer questions. Surfers are often looking for answers about topic in the field, and here is your chance to make your content the valuable resource they are looking for.

“Do Cats Sweat?”, “What Kind of Material Should My Dog Bed Be Made Of?”, “Why Do Hamsters Get Active At Night?”, and “Should I Buy a Leash for My Ferret?”

Funny Stories

Humor, humor, humor. If you can make a person laugh, you can get them to come back, to link in, to tell their friends. Tell a true anecdote, make up a funny joke, offer to print readers’ contributions. Combine the other methods listed above with a humorous twist.

“Top Ten Things NOT To Do With A Rabbit”, “How To Make a Cat-Feeding Bird Feeder” or “Why Shouldn’t You Take Your Pet Snake to Wal-Mart?”

Graphics

The title of and text surrounding your graphics, whether they be pictures or videos, can really pull visitors to your site. All of the above hooks can be used for graphic content too: Instructional videos on how to do things, pictures of curious or hilarious things or funny video clips can always bring people flocking.

Don’t forget, you can always move things around, and make your website new and interesting. Your blog is a terrific place to start discussions, and find out what draws attention. You can use it for a testing ground. If something really takes off, try to direct it towards your site, and take advantage of the interest!

Keep your finger on the pulse of ‘what is hot’ and try to figure out how it links in to your topic. Here is another way you can use your blog to pull people in; you have a lot more leeway there. Make sure your content fresh, and update as often as you possibly can; you will see it pay off in links, traffic and rankings!