Writing a short press release headline that packs an informative punch isn’t easy. It may be tempting to describe your story in full right out of the gate, but lengthy headlines can overwhelm readers and compromise their interest.
If your readers don’t make it past your headline, they won’t be clicking your call to action.
Short headlines are preferable for a number of reasons. Concise headlines are easier to comprehend when scanning through a newsfeed and are better formatted for mobile devices.
Moreover, the shorter your headline, the better the chances your release will be shared and read in full by your audience. Our SlideShare How to Write Press Releases notes two rules of thumb for headline length:
- Keep it under 110 characters so that it’s easily tweetable
- Include the most important information in the first 65 characters (including spaces), which is the approximate length for Google displays/indexing
This may sound simple enough, but your headline can double in length when trying to accommodate brand guidelines. Company names, product mentions, and other information quickly add up.
The next time you’re writing a press release, consider these five tips and examples to help keep your headline short, sweet and to the point.
1. Utilize subheadlines.
Long, convoluted headlines are more difficult to understand, and your message could be lost on readers if there are too many details. Focus on being succinct and utilize subheads to add context.
Headline Before: XYZ Corporation, a Technology Company, Partners with Leading Consumer Electronics Brand ABC at ConsumerTech 2016 to Launch Wireless Earbuds
Headline After: XYZ Corp. and ABC Brand Debut Wireless Earbuds
New Subheadline: Visit XYZ in booth 720 at ConsumerTech 2016
The reader still sees the main points of the story with fewer words and tighter language.
2. Omit nonessential words.
Review your headline for any words that can be cut, such as adjectives, articles (a, an, the), or even entire clauses. Replace conjunctions with punctuation, and your audience can still skim the headline without losing its meaning.
Headline Before: XYZ Corporation Shares the Very Best Family Travel Destinations of the Summer and Tips for Traveling with Children
Headline After: The Best Summer Travel Destinations for Families
New Subheadline: XYZ Shares Tips for Traveling with Kids
Eliminating unnecessary descriptors cuts down on clutter; even replacing ‘children’ with ‘kids’ saves valuable characters.
3. Consider word length.
By substituting in well-known abbreviations (Corp. for Corporation, vs. for versus), acronyms (ET for Eastern Time, IPO for Initial Public Offering), numbers (300 for Three Hundred) and symbols ($, %, etc.), you can save precious characters and still convey a clear message.
Headline Before: The Ten Best Places to Eat for Less Than Ten Dollars in Los Angeles According to XYZ Corporation
Headline After: XYZ Corp. Ranks 10 Best Places to Eat for Less Than $10 in LA
Keep in mind that too many acronyms and abbreviations can cause confusion; use them where most appropriate and be sure that they are readily understandable and familiar.
4. Minimize the hype.
Search engines now favor “human-friendly content” that uses natural language with minimal jargon. Don’t be tempted to overstuff your headline with too many keywords, clever idioms and slang. Don’t be too vague, either.
Headline Before: Social Media is a Piece of Cake for Small Biz Owners Using XYZ’s Marketing Platform
Headline After: XYZ Offers Simple Social Media Marketing Tools for Small Businesses
5. Test what works.
Try including a variety of information (both quality and quantity) in your press release headlines. For instance, if you are writing for a niche audience, using specialized language and industry terms could improve engagement. Look at your reporting and analyze the types of headlines that drive the most interest from your audience. Then adjust accordingly as you move forward.
Make every word count when considering the length of your headline. If you want to hook readers with your press release’s compelling story, you need to give them a reason to click.
Download The Buyer 2.0 Content Strategy Checklist for more tips that will help you write and distribute content that resonates with your audience.
Author Erica Crist is a Senior Customer Content Specialist based in Cleveland. PR Newswire’s Customer Content Services team is available 24/7 to counsel brands on content distribution. Follow her on Twitter at @VPOEventZone. You can also connect with her on LinkedIn.
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