Blog Titles and Nano Content
Headline Guidelines
- First two words are vital
- Front-loadedmost important content first
- Transportable and quotableunderstandable out of context
- Words users useget outside of ED
- Under 50 total characters
- Brief is best
Nano Content
Online reading is dominated by the F-pattern.
- People read the first few listed items somewhat thoroughly (the cross-bars of the "F")
- Read less and less as they continue down the list
- Pass their eyes down the text's left side
- See only the beginning of each items
On the internet, lists occur in many places, including:
- Social media
- Search engine results pages (SERP)
- Syndication (RSSs)
- Archived articles, headlines, press releases, and other news items
- Table of contents
Users typically see about 2 words (about 11 characters) for most list items
They see a little more if the lead words are short, and only the first word if they're long.
Search engines show about 60 characters (over 50% of ED.gov's traffic comes from seach engines).
Headlines and titles are nano content, and need to be:
- Shortusers don't read much online
- Rich in information scent
- Front-loaded with the most important keywords
- Understandable out of contextthey often appear without articles
- Predictableusers know whether they'll like the full article before they click
Supporting articles
- First 2 Words: A Signal for the Scanning Eye
- Optimize Headings and Titles (GSA 18F Content Guide)
- Headings Are Pick-Up Lines: 5 Tips for Writing Headlines That Convert
- World's Best Headlines: BBC News
- How Little Do Users Read?
- Microcontent: How to Write Headlines, Page Titles, and Subject Line
- How scannable is your website content?
Teaching an...
The Pathway...
4 Reasons to...
Secretary D...
A Different...
Know It 2 O...
D.C. Public...
Look and Li...
15 Principals,...
How We've I...
Teaching and Leading at the 5th International Summit on the...
The Pathway to Success at King/Drew Magnet High School
4 Reasons to Apply for the 2015 President's Education Awards...
Secretary Duncan: "Step Up and Fund Education"
A Different Approach to NCAA Bracketology
Know It 2 Own It: Helping People with Disabilities Access...
D.C. Public School Students Celebrate Their Creativity and...
Look and Listen: 10 Reasons Why We Can't Afford to Cut...
15 Principals, One United Voice
How We've Improved the Customer Experience for ED's Grant...
Teaching and Leading at the 5th International Summit on the Teaching Profession
The Pathway to Success at King/Drew Magnet High School
4 Reasons to Apply for the 2015 President's Education Awards Program
Secretary Duncan: "Step Up and Fund Education"
A Different Approach to NCAA Bracketology
Know It 2 Own It: Helping People with Disabilities Access Middle Class Careers
D.C. Public School Students Celebrate Their Creativity and Knowledge in the Arts at ED
Look and Listen: 10 Reasons Why We Can't Afford to Cut Education Funding
15 Principals, One United Voice
How We've Improved the Customer Experience for ED's Grant Opportunities
Teaching and Leading at the 5th International Summit on the Teaching Profession
The Pathway to Success at King/Drew Magnet High School
4 Reasons to Apply for the 2015 President's Education Awards Program
Secretary Duncan: "Step Up and Fund Education"
A Different Approach to NCAA Bracketology
Know It 2 Own It: Helping People with Disabilities Access Middle Class Careers
D.C. Public School Students Celebrate Their Creativity and Knowledge in the Arts at ED
Look and Listen: 10 Reasons Why We Can't Afford to Cut Education Funding
15 Principals, One United Voice
How We've Improved the Customer Experience for ED's Grant Opportunities
Internation...
Magnet Scho...
PEAP: Reaso...
Ed Funding,...
NCAA Bracke...
Disabilitie...
DC Art Stud...
Funding Cut...
15 Principals,...
Get Grants:...
International Summit on Teaching (4 words, 32 characters)
Magnet Schools: King/Drew Success (4 words, 33 characters)
PEAP: Reasons to Apply (4 words, 22 characters)
Ed Funding, Equitable Spending (4 words, 30 characters)
NCAA Bracket: Academic Final Four (5 words, 33 characters)
Disabilities & Middle Class Careers (4 words, 35 characters)
DC Art Students Exhibit at ED (6 words, 29 characters)
Funding Cuts We Can't Afford (5 words, 28 characters)
15 Principals, One Voice (3 words, 24 characters)
Get Grants: How to Apply (5 words, 24 characters)
Total: 44 words, 290 characters
Each title averages: 4.4 words, 29.0 characters
See also: