How to Hook Readers In

What's the trick to getting people to read what you write? Well, you'll want to grab their attention right from the get-go with a strong title. Let's face it: even though you shouldn't judge a book by its cover, how many times have you skipped one just because the title sounded... boring? If you're wondering how to craft an amazing title that instantly reels your audience in, just follow these five tips.

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1. Know Your Audience

The number-one, most important thing you need to do before even coming up with your title is to know your audience. You should know what your readers like, and what kind of titles grab their attention. If you skip this step, you probably won't get as much engagement as you'd expected.

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2. Keep It Short & Snappy

Nobody wants to read a long, boring title. The ideal length is between five and 12 words; any more than that might come off too wordy and will likely drive your audience away, not keep their attention. 

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3. Use Power Words

Power words give your title a little more oomph. For example, compare these two titles: "5 Tips for Creating a Title" vs. "5 Tips for Creating an Amazing Title." You're probably more likely to want to read the second one just because of the word "amazing," right?

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4. Try Unconventional or Mysterious Phrasing

Another trick you can use is to really play around with words. Avoid clichés at all costs—most readers are going to take one glance, be bored, and move on. Instead, you want to try crafting together a title with unconventional or mysterious phrasing, something that makes the readers go "Huh?" and be intrigued enough to keep engaging.

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5. Brainstorm as Many as You Can

Oftentimes, a good title doesn't just come out perfect on the first try. It usually takes some brainstorming and throwing ideas around to get something to stick. Don't just focus on words, either—visuals can help immensely, too, especially when coming up with an emotional or attention-grabbing title.

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