A Novel Headline
- Monday, December 06 2010 @ 08:57 am
- Contributed by: Jet
- Views: 1,889
Not all online dating sites have the option to create a headline for your profile, but for those that do, a headline can make or break your profile.
After all, that is the nature of a headline in all other print media. We sometimes judge whether or not read that news article or that paperback novel solely on whether or not we're “grabbed” immediately. Is it really a surprise that we might be just as judgmental when it comes to dating profiles?
There are good headlines and bad headlines, but first, let's tackle style. I find that the headlines for most people fall into two, very broad categories. Let's call them the “Newspaper” headlines and the “Novel” headlines.
When it comes to the news, we're often drawn to an article based on the content of the headline. Sure, some journalists might try to get witty from time to time, but in essence you're more willing to read a headline if it gives information about something you already find interesting, like, “Famous Movie Star Dead.”
Likewise, in online dating I see a lot of headlines that look like classified ads, stating the dry facts: “Fun looking for Adventure,” “I am really nice,” etc. The problem is, most people with online profiles are looking for basically the same things, and most of them are probably nice, interesting people. So how do we set ourselves apart, while simultaneously attracting good matches?
The answer is the Novel headline. This, in itself, is a bit of a play on words, referring both to how we select works of fiction and something that is unusual and striking. See, we don't pick up a book at the airport that has a title like “A Woman Learns to Like Her Family.” Instead, depending on our taste, it might be something like “Holiday Meal Horror” or “Sitting in Pumpkin Pie.” It grabs us, and instead of delivering all the facts, makes us want to read more.
In an online profile, the Novel headline is the first way to really personalize your profile, stand out. A witty quote, a joke, a compelling phrase – if you find it interesting, the others who do as well might have more in common with you already. And, most importantly, it can draw the reader in further, prompting them to give your profile more than just a quick scan.
We will go more in-depth in the future, analyzing headlines, but for now, look at your profile: is your headline one for the papers, giving dry facts? Or is it a Novel headline, luring in the reader with the promise of a good read?
After all, that is the nature of a headline in all other print media. We sometimes judge whether or not read that news article or that paperback novel solely on whether or not we're “grabbed” immediately. Is it really a surprise that we might be just as judgmental when it comes to dating profiles?
There are good headlines and bad headlines, but first, let's tackle style. I find that the headlines for most people fall into two, very broad categories. Let's call them the “Newspaper” headlines and the “Novel” headlines.
When it comes to the news, we're often drawn to an article based on the content of the headline. Sure, some journalists might try to get witty from time to time, but in essence you're more willing to read a headline if it gives information about something you already find interesting, like, “Famous Movie Star Dead.”
Likewise, in online dating I see a lot of headlines that look like classified ads, stating the dry facts: “Fun looking for Adventure,” “I am really nice,” etc. The problem is, most people with online profiles are looking for basically the same things, and most of them are probably nice, interesting people. So how do we set ourselves apart, while simultaneously attracting good matches?
The answer is the Novel headline. This, in itself, is a bit of a play on words, referring both to how we select works of fiction and something that is unusual and striking. See, we don't pick up a book at the airport that has a title like “A Woman Learns to Like Her Family.” Instead, depending on our taste, it might be something like “Holiday Meal Horror” or “Sitting in Pumpkin Pie.” It grabs us, and instead of delivering all the facts, makes us want to read more.
In an online profile, the Novel headline is the first way to really personalize your profile, stand out. A witty quote, a joke, a compelling phrase – if you find it interesting, the others who do as well might have more in common with you already. And, most importantly, it can draw the reader in further, prompting them to give your profile more than just a quick scan.
We will go more in-depth in the future, analyzing headlines, but for now, look at your profile: is your headline one for the papers, giving dry facts? Or is it a Novel headline, luring in the reader with the promise of a good read?
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