Why Headings are Important in your content
The initial purpose of a headline is to grab attention – obviously.
However, there are other reasons why your heading and sub-headings are important.
Scanning for information
Believe it or not, most people scan the page when reading or looking for specific information.
A heading or sub-heading makes it easier for your readers and potential clients to find what they are looking for.
Notice the different headings on this page as an example. If you were scanning for a specific topic you should find it in a heading.
SEO headings and sub-headings
The role of SEO content is more significant online than it was a decade ago. The use of headings and sub-headings can make a big difference when it comes to your content being found online.
An example of a SEO heading and sub-heading
Think about the key words that describe the service or services you provide. The use of these words in your content is vital but using them in your headings and sub-headings is important too.
For example, take those keywords and turn them into a sentence your potential clients may search for. Try different examples and versions. That is an example of a SEO heading and sub-heading.
How to write effective headings
When it comes to writing your heading and sub-headings complete your content first and then go back and review it. More of than not the headings and sub-headings will stand out i.e. the keywords in the sentence. Well, that’s how I do it, but I do this for a living. So, if that doesn’t work think about headings to break up the content that are useful to your reader; unique in order to pique interest; specific to get their attention or create a sense of urgency to take notice or some sort of action.
Testing the strength of content headings
Are you interested in testing how engaging your headings and sub-headings are?
There are free online tools you can use to test the strength of your headings. Check out Sharethrough Headline for example. If you know of any others, let us know so we can add them to this blog.
A word of warning about keywords in headings and content
Don’t overdo it. Your content still needs to be engaging and readable. Don’t flood your content with too many keywords. Otherwise you will lose your readers or put them off.
If you have questions about writing headings and sub-headings in your website content, contact us.