April 14, 2014 at 2:55 pm #591

Participant

I’m posting tomorrow’s assignment today, since this evening and tomorrow is the beginning of Passover. I’ll be really “back” on Wednesday- but hopefully check in tomorrow night 🙂

Analysing headlines is quite addictive! Thinking “Why did this work, why did it become so popular” is really fun! I analysed more but chose 4.

Viral Marketing: 6 Steps To Make Your Content Contagious
From Marie Forleo’s blog. The specific benefit- make your content contagious.
The power word- contagious. It works really well with the “viral marketing” term, which is also quite powerful. I think “Steps” has its own power, since it has a bit of a trust building quality. Like saying “I’ll walk you through it”.

23 Ways To Communicate With A Non-Verbal Child
From the Friendship circle blog. This one really comes from my niche and had tens of thousands of shares.
The specific benefit- communicate with a non-verbal child. It doesn’t have a specific power word, but the benefit is as powerful as can be. It touches the strongest pain point simply and directly.

I wonder if power words are needed in this case, or maybe they could have an opposite effect of being too harsh and driving people away? Or are there gentler power words that match?

How To Get Rid Of Your Headaches Forever
This one is from MindBodyGreen. The specific benefit- get rid of your headaches.
The power words- “forever”. Very powerful. Just what headache sufferers want. “Get rid of”- not just “stop” or “relieve”.

7 Things Men Really Really Want In A Relationship
This is one of MindBodyGreen’s most popular posts this month (about 50k shares). It doesn’t state the benefit front and center, and yet it offers a glimpse into the minds of men. The reader instantly recognizes the benefit (improve relationships). You have to know your reader quite well to write this kind of a headline (that will work), I think.
The power word is really really sneaky. That’s why I love it. The repetition of “really really” makes it feel like a friend sharing a really really good advice. (overused it here :-))

What do you think?