Informative Headings: The Easiest Way to Write a Good Heading
Usually, I prefer informative headings, because they are easy to follow, breaking up a document into logical and understandable parts and telling the reader what comes next.
Say, as a copywriter in a software development company you are to write a post describing 6 key steps for a successful mobile development project. Writers often tend to come up with “catchy” headings, which doesn’t always work well. Let’s see if you can nail it.
Catchy Heading, Bad Example
I. Digging it up
II. The Roadmap
III. Let’s get to the art
IV. Working the magic
V. Proving it right
VI. The last stop
Now, let’s imagine a reader skimming through this page. Do these headings really help them navigate through the content? I don’t think so. They are too vague to give the reader a quick idea about every section. I am going to fix it up.
Informative Heading, Good Example
I. Requirements gathering and analysis
II. Concepting
III. UX/UI design
IV. Implementation
V. Testing
VI. Publishing to the store
Why Informative Headings Work Well
Clear now, huh? Whether these headings are ideal or not, it depends on your style and voice as well as the goal you aim to achieve with this post, but at least they are descriptive, they enable the reader to navigate and visualize the section ideas on the go. Informative headings are always a win, especially when you are not able to come up with something “catchy” (do you really want it, anyway?).
Please, note that using refined “creative”, “catchy” headings might be a double win strategy, but you need to master the art first.
Creating an Informative Heading
So, what’s the easiest way to come up with an informative heading? Just go through the section and answer a simple question: what’s it about? Is it about the benefits of automated testing? Go say it. Is it about improving employee collaboration with a mobile app? Go for it. Don’t break your neck while trying to be “creative”. Don’t look for “workarounds”. Just say what the given paragraph, or blog post, or service page, is really about. That’s it.
Mikita Cherkasau is copywriter and CEO at Your Extra Marketer, a small content marketing agency with a single focus on IT.
