Forum Moderators: phranque
I am in the process to moving my site to a new CMS. The problem I have run into is that this CMS requires that each article and category has a little blurb/fluff/teaser describing it.
This is a really cool feature and I want to use it... but for some reason I am horrible at writing these things.
Does anyone have some good advice/examples of good blurb writing?
Someone suggested just copying the first few lines of the article, but I feel the blurb would be great for SEO.
Blurb/teaser writing can really be hard work. I like those who asks a question to the visitor, for example, does your widget got what it takes to bla bla?
Or: Is this new widget living up to the hyped expectations?
Or: The megawidget best seller is reviewed, does it have what it takes?
Some put in a famous person in the teaser:
Widgetman says he likes red widgets rather than blue.
Or: Widgetman: "I like red widgets rather than blue".
Teasers for categories is a little bit easier.
for example a category about red widgets:
"Click here for our red wigets articles, such as the bla bla or the bla bla".
Describes the category pretty well and what the visitor can expect to find inside that category. Good Luck :)
You can even learn a lot from seeing the headlines here at WebmasterWorld. Do you click on "help!" or do you click on "Should I fire my boss."
You may want to take a look at an old book, 'Ogilvy On Advertising.' David Ogilvy has a lot of insight on compelling headlines that gets results.
Depending on the industry you are in, you want to make sure it gets noticed. Even the mainstream media is getting more bold in attracting their audience to a story. For example, rather than a headline that states, "The district attorney found no evidence that [movie star] beat his wife," a more compelling headline is "[movie star] denies beating his wife."
While the examples may seem a bit over the top, it is important to have a headline (and photo captions) that generate interest in the story.
Steve
Just get cracking and write them. Eventually they'll roll off your fingertips quickly and easily.
