As discussed in class, why do you feel Headlines are so important in web content? Please provide me with another headline you clicked on recently (submit the exact headline including a screenshot) and outline in detail why you clicked it. In question #2, I asked why it resonated with you. For this question, I am asking why you actually clicked on it. This cannot be the same headline as question #2 (8 Marks)
Headlines are important to web content due to their main purpose of grabbing the reader’s attention. Writing well thought out and calculated headlines can bring in traffic to your website which improves your SEO score. Headlines are crucial to web content because they are what makes the first impression on your readers. Readers will decide whether reading your content is worth their time based on the headline attached to the content. SEO looks at headlines and <h1> tags to determine what your website’s most important content is. Your website will be ranked according to your headlines and the content that goes with it. Headlines are the summary of what your content is about. Competition for traffic and attention on the web is very intense. Headlines are what can set you apart from the competition. They can convince readers to explore your content over competing content.
https://www.buzzfeed.com/mjs538/elmos-disturbing-leap-day-post
I clicked on this headline on Buzzfeed because of the inclusion of power words. Using the words “Disturbing”, “Freaking”, “Viral” really caught my eye. The idea that the beloved Elmo from Sesame Street would be associated with these words is captivating and made me want to read more about it. Associating these words with Elmo is odd and not typical. The headline didn’t reveal too much and allowed for some questioning as the reader. I wanted to find out what in particular the headline was clueing to. The headline was unusual and captured my attention. The shock factor involved with this headline in particular was what caught my attention more than anything. I was curious to what Elmo the little monster from my childhood could have posted that would be considered disturbing and could freak people out.