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Writing headlines for the Web

Writing headlines for the Web. SEO: Search engine optimization Making a Web headline SEO-friendly means making it easier for users to find the content on search engines such as Google. Include in the headline important words and phrases that are key to the story.

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Writing headlines for the Web

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  1. Writing headlines for the Web

  2. SEO: Search engine optimization Making a Web headline SEO-friendly means making it easier for users to find the content on search engines such as Google. Include in the headline important words and phrases that are key to the story. Place names: West Palm Beach, Greenacres, Wellington, Palm Beach County. These should be spelled out. Important words: Crist, Everglades, real estate, Target, Starbucks, CityPlace, bikini teacher Cutesy headlines: Not useful for SEO purposes. i.e. label heads found on Accent packages.

  3. Avoid libel in headlines When people are arrested or charged, they're not guilty yet. When they're convicted in court, awaiting sentencing or sentenced, they're guilty and we can say they did the crime.

  4. Libel rule: Don’t say “for” doing something if the person hasn’t been convicted.NO: Man arrested for shooting woman in the neckYES: Delray Beach police: Man shot woman in the neck

  5. NO: Man arrested for beating child with leather belt YES: Authorities say man beat child with leather belt

  6. NO: Delray Beach man appears in court for ramming cop cars YES: Delray Beach man accused of ramming cop cars shows up in court with black eye

  7. Libel rule: Don’t say a person did something if the person hasn’t been convicted.NO: State will drop charge against Wellington woman who had sex with a teenager YES: Wellington woman accused of sex with teen will avoid felony charge

  8. Libel rule: We can call someone a criminal for whatever crime they did, if that person has been convicted.YES: Child killer says he won't appeal death sentence (Because story says:) A killer convicted of kidnapping and torturing two young siblings from Idaho says he doesn't plan to appeal his death sentence.

  9. Web headline tip:Include a person’s name only when the person is notable and known

  10. NO: Gutierrez sentenced to 18 years in Turnpike slaying case YES: 22-year-old underling gets 18 years in turnpike slaying case

  11. NO: Palm Beach County school district cop Jonathan E. Kelly charged with stealing identities of 20 teachers, students YES: Palm Beach County school district cop charged with stealing identities of 20 teachers, students

  12. YES: Police: Palm Beach Gardens teacher Heath Miller's cell phone has sexual photos of him with young girls (Because Heath Miller has been in the news enough to be a recognizable, notable name)

  13. Web headline tip:Don’t be constrained by print space limitations (but don’t write a novel in the headline, either)

  14. NO: Services for paramedic Thursday BETTER: Services Thursday for Martin County firefighter-paramedic killed in motorcycle crash

  15. NO: Celebrity Chatter (label headlines don’t work on the Web) YES: Wholesome Shirley Jones plays prostitute in A&E drama 'The Cleaner'

  16. NO: Celebrity Chatter: Rachel Weisz BETTER: Rachel Weisz learns to rap, unicycle for ‘Brothers Bloom’

  17. NO: Recession hot dogs (Not enough information given) BETTER: Nathan’s lends an economic hand with 5-cent hot dogs

  18. NO: Struggling mom's life turns around (not enough information given) BETTER: Post readers' help overwhelms struggling Lake Worth mother of five (notice the city is also added, for SEO)

  19. BORING: FAU's Brogan gets rave eval BETTER: FAU President Brogan refuses $50,000 bonus (adding a dollar amount always helps a headline get clicked on more)

  20. Web headline tip:Focus on most interesting part of the story(rather than feeling you have to be super-serious and summarize-y)

  21. BORING: Old West Palm Beach library demolished BETTER: Old West Palm Beach library demolished with cake, confetti, then a crunch

  22. VAGUE: Delray Beach police arrest Home Team Advantage owner on fraud charges BETTER: Delray Beach police say remodeler stole $50,000 from homeowners

  23. BLAND: Elections office gets solicitation complaints BETTER: Palm Beach County voters say campaign supporters accosted them

  24. Web headline tip: Add specific details to spice up the headline, or at least choose interesting wording

  25. Man admits to stealing jewelry from safe deposit box; none recovered Wellington man admits taking $96,000 in jewelry from safe deposit box

  26. E-mail spam dwindles after major server provider shut down Inbox-clogging spam plunges 70% worldwide after crackdown

  27. Palm Beachers use 5 times more water, West Palm Beach says Palm Beach may crack down on island's water hogs

  28. Police seek help in finding purse snatcher Woman snatched handbag at Publix, Palm Beach County deputies say

  29. Judge rejects plea deal in sexual assault case No deal for man accused in girl's sex assault, dumping

  30. Riviera police investigating a murder Man shot in Riviera Beach drives a block, crashes, dies

  31. West Palm outlines stimulus package West Palm Beach to spend $127 million to boost economy

  32. BLAND: Expert dispels rumor about horses in big cats' feed BETTER: Dead Wellington polo ponies end up as lion food? Neigh!

  33. Web headline tip: Avoid “process” heads. Focus on people, not government or bureaucracy

  34. JARGONY: Home prices reach point of sale BETTER: Florida home sellers finally get real about pricing

  35. BLAND: Palm Beach County OKs road cuts to fund bus service BETTER: Palm Beach County yanks cash for roads, gives it to bus service

  36. BLAND: Judge appeals ruling, seeks new election (bureaucratic, government-y) BETTER: Losing judicial hopeful Wennet won't give up (Wennet is a newsworthy name, so adding it helps the headline)

  37. JARGONY: 1.2 million Florida mortgage borrowers have negative equity, study says BETTER: 1 in 3 Florida homeowners owes more than home is worth

  38. JARGONY: Congress sides with consumers on credit card overhaul bill (bureaucratic, government-y) BETTER: Credit card users may soon get relief from steep rate hikes, fees

  39. BLAND: Florida Supreme Court stops Wednesday execution (bureaucratic, government-y) BETTER: Man who killed woman in Broward County in 1983 won't be executed just yet (also adds SEO-friendly details)

  40. GOV’T FOCUSED: State reopens wildlife areas to hunters, froggers PEOPLE-FOCUSED: Hunters, froggers again welcome in once-flooded Everglades areas

  41. BUREAUCRATIC: Palm Beach Gardens officials testify at administrative hearing BETTER: Palm Beach Gardens officials grilled about gated country club development

  42. BUREAUCRATIC: Riviera Beach marina improvements on the agenda for CRA BETTER: Riviera Beach, developer to talk about $500 million in marina spruce-ups (also adds dollar amount, which helps headlines get more clicks)

  43. BUREAUCRATIC: Palm Beach County to sell bonds for FPL plant BETTER: $90 million infusion to help FPL pay for power plant

  44. BUREAUCRATIC: Hastings seeks money to cut wait times to vote BETTER: $1 billion idea could slash wait times at the polls nationwide (focus is now on how it affects you, not on what a politician did)

  45. BUREAUCRATIC: West Palm Beach commissioners vote for ordinances requiring referendum before any future move of city hall, library BETTER: West Palm Beach voters will get to decide on city hall, library moves

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