I am working on making my headlines more click-worthy. I use headline analyzer and subjectline.com. I always strive for 80+, but now I will shoot for 90! I've hit 100 on subjectline.com, but I think it is a wee easier to get higher scores on that site.
I try to have fun with headlines, and quite often use the one that makes me happiest instead of worrying about how it will do. But I should check out this tool and see what it suggests. I haven used a headline tool since Medium.
I don’t know why casual anti-cat statements are okay. If you had tried this with dogs, I bet you would lose a bunch of your subscribers. But however good your headlines are, this caused me to unsubscribe.
‘If you call your story “Cats,” I may block you because I don’t like cats 😁 However, if you call it something like “Your Cat Does Not Belong On The Dining Room Table,” I’ll dive into it headfirst because I wholeheartedly agree they don’t belong there.’
I don’t understand your butt-hurt comment, Minding Mittens. I love cats, I have a cat, and she DEFINITELY does not ever belong on the table. Other people are allowed to not like cats and to write about it.
Monster Headline Analyzer is one of two that I use regularly. I haven't been as successful as you, yet. But I keep working at it. I shoot for getting into the green, but maybe I should aim for 90 or better too.
LOL Teri!! As someone else said in the comments, sometimes it pays to go with your gut rather than an algorithm. These are just guidelines and helpful tips 😁
Wow - Thanks for sharing. As a writer who loves to read the work of others, I like to scroll my currently saved reads to see what titles have interested me prior to crafting titles for my own posts. I’m exited to try this tool!
I find headline writing and finding images the hardest part of writing. It’s difficult for me and time consuming and, frankly, drives me crazy. I know it’s important and I get frustrated how time consuming it is.
I appreciated this essay when I read it the first time and have been using Monster since. It is a very user friendly tool so thanks for the suggestion. I’ll be curious how this post does this time around, let us know.
I'm glad you've been using it all along. It can be a fun challenge.
I'm also curious about this post the second time around because lately, it seems like Substack stats are in the toilet, regardless of how many subscribers we have. 🙄
Interesting I ran my highest ranked / read posts thru the analyzer and they got low scores - I wonder if it rewards click baitey titles over more soulful and nuanced ones?
Maureen, I find it rates certain words much differently. And it definitely favors certain clickbaity ones, such as "How to..."
I mostly use it to surf the lists of words it offers as substitutes for bland common words. For example, instead of using Great it ranks Spectacular a lot higher. Stuff like that.
I have often wondered about this too Maureen. Sometimes I just want to go with the headline that speaks to me even if it won’t make sense to others. Maybe I should try experimenting with that!
I decided a long time ago that my writing needs to be for me if I try to tailor it for the “bots” it loses its soul for me - that said I hope people will find me so 🤷🏻♀️
I hear you. I don't like to tailor for the algorithm either but I do like to amuse people enough to click. My headlines almost always aim to intrigue or entertain. Not on this publication because it's just work, but on my main publication, Wildhood Wanted.
I am working on making my headlines more click-worthy. I use headline analyzer and subjectline.com. I always strive for 80+, but now I will shoot for 90! I've hit 100 on subjectline.com, but I think it is a wee easier to get higher scores on that site.
Wow, 100 is amazing! I think the highest I've ever scored is 93. And I never even used the headline.
It seemed too easy to hit 100 — like is something wrong with this site :-).
Writing strong and catchy headlines is something that has eluded me. Thank you for this post, the tips and tools - I needed them!
Oh how I love headline analyzer!! And congrats on this humongo growth!!
Thank you so much Teyani!
I try to have fun with headlines, and quite often use the one that makes me happiest instead of worrying about how it will do. But I should check out this tool and see what it suggests. I haven used a headline tool since Medium.
Good old Medium, hey? We were starving for attention over there!
I don’t know why casual anti-cat statements are okay. If you had tried this with dogs, I bet you would lose a bunch of your subscribers. But however good your headlines are, this caused me to unsubscribe.
‘If you call your story “Cats,” I may block you because I don’t like cats 😁 However, if you call it something like “Your Cat Does Not Belong On The Dining Room Table,” I’ll dive into it headfirst because I wholeheartedly agree they don’t belong there.’
Lol I have a dog and I would have no problem writing about her not being allowed on the kitchen table. 😁
Clearly, our tastes in humor differ. I can't please everyone...I'm not bacon 🤣
I don’t understand your butt-hurt comment, Minding Mittens. I love cats, I have a cat, and she DEFINITELY does not ever belong on the table. Other people are allowed to not like cats and to write about it.
Monster Headline Analyzer is one of two that I use regularly. I haven't been as successful as you, yet. But I keep working at it. I shoot for getting into the green, but maybe I should aim for 90 or better too.
90 has been very elusive! It's only happened a handful of times. But hitting green is a worthy accomplishment.
It took me about a zillion tries to get above 50. I definitely need some help in the headline game.
LOL Teri!! As someone else said in the comments, sometimes it pays to go with your gut rather than an algorithm. These are just guidelines and helpful tips 😁
Wow - Thanks for sharing. As a writer who loves to read the work of others, I like to scroll my currently saved reads to see what titles have interested me prior to crafting titles for my own posts. I’m exited to try this tool!
I've been using this tool for awhile now and appreciate the headline help as I tend to be too wordy. Definitely improves my readership.
I struggle with titles, excited to use this tool!
Excellent! I hope it helps you 😊
I run a publication in Medium and use Monster quite to help with submitted articles.
For headlines or for all the other things Monster offers?
I find headline writing and finding images the hardest part of writing. It’s difficult for me and time consuming and, frankly, drives me crazy. I know it’s important and I get frustrated how time consuming it is.
I appreciated this essay when I read it the first time and have been using Monster since. It is a very user friendly tool so thanks for the suggestion. I’ll be curious how this post does this time around, let us know.
I'm glad you've been using it all along. It can be a fun challenge.
I'm also curious about this post the second time around because lately, it seems like Substack stats are in the toilet, regardless of how many subscribers we have. 🙄
Interesting I ran my highest ranked / read posts thru the analyzer and they got low scores - I wonder if it rewards click baitey titles over more soulful and nuanced ones?
Maureen, I find it rates certain words much differently. And it definitely favors certain clickbaity ones, such as "How to..."
I mostly use it to surf the lists of words it offers as substitutes for bland common words. For example, instead of using Great it ranks Spectacular a lot higher. Stuff like that.
Makes sense and it was great to know about as I didn’t previously but not sure I’d bank my whole strategy on its advice!
I have often wondered about this too Maureen. Sometimes I just want to go with the headline that speaks to me even if it won’t make sense to others. Maybe I should try experimenting with that!
I decided a long time ago that my writing needs to be for me if I try to tailor it for the “bots” it loses its soul for me - that said I hope people will find me so 🤷🏻♀️
Same! It’s a juggling act sometimes.
I hear you. I don't like to tailor for the algorithm either but I do like to amuse people enough to click. My headlines almost always aim to intrigue or entertain. Not on this publication because it's just work, but on my main publication, Wildhood Wanted.
You are sooo clever! Tried to leave you a tip for the tip but the technology wouldn’t work for me. 😔 Why am I not surprised? (sigh)
Lol I'm sorry it didn't work for you! But glad you found the post useful 😊
Thank you! This was helpful :)