Long, Angry and Redundant: Headline Problems
- Monday, December 13 2010 @ 08:32 am
- Contributed by: Jet
- Views: 1,759
You might have heard before that headlines can make or break a profile. Indeed, just as a profile is a first impression, a headline can be an instant snap judgment. Today, I'd like to focus on the most common headline problems.
By far, the headline issue I see the most is length – specifically, a headline that is way too long. Some sites have character limits in their headlines; often, the writer won't even notice. They copy and paste their long quote or blurb and don't even double-check it. Sometimes they even get confused and try to post their self-summary in the headline section, so you'll see the first few lines duplicated. Even when the headline isn't cut off in the middle, it can still be too long. The reader might be confused – is that a section designed to grab your attention, or is it just a random thought?
The second most prevalent headline problem belongs to those who I shall call “summarizers.” They've got a profile that details exactly who they are and what they're looking for; then, when it comes to the headline, they try to say the same thing all over again. This time, it might be in the form of a string of adjectives, or, worse, a bunch of abbreviations like a discount classified personals ad. If you see someone with a headline like, “Loyal, caring, fun, adventurous guy looking for compassionate, cute girl!” you've found a summarizer.
Occasionally – and this takes either talent or bad luck – a headline manages to be offensive or overly aggressive. The most classic example of this is the girl who “isn't looking for drama” and hopes to turn jerks away from the get-go. Unfortunately, she's probably turning away a lot more than the jerks. In trying to be assertive and strong, she manages to either scare prospective people off or come across as a total grouch. Women are not the only ones guilty of this, either – I've seen men trying to be macho who do the same thing. Regardless of gender, it's a common misapplication of strength.
When constructing a headline for your profile, stick with something short, sweet and catchy. Remember: you're just trying to get the reader to check out the rest of your profile. Thus, you don't need to give long explanations or justifications; just get them to continue reading, even if it's because your headline says something ridiculous like “Free BBQ Sauce (Pig Included If You Can Catch It).” Let the headline bring in readers; the profile keeps them reading.
By far, the headline issue I see the most is length – specifically, a headline that is way too long. Some sites have character limits in their headlines; often, the writer won't even notice. They copy and paste their long quote or blurb and don't even double-check it. Sometimes they even get confused and try to post their self-summary in the headline section, so you'll see the first few lines duplicated. Even when the headline isn't cut off in the middle, it can still be too long. The reader might be confused – is that a section designed to grab your attention, or is it just a random thought?
The second most prevalent headline problem belongs to those who I shall call “summarizers.” They've got a profile that details exactly who they are and what they're looking for; then, when it comes to the headline, they try to say the same thing all over again. This time, it might be in the form of a string of adjectives, or, worse, a bunch of abbreviations like a discount classified personals ad. If you see someone with a headline like, “Loyal, caring, fun, adventurous guy looking for compassionate, cute girl!” you've found a summarizer.
Occasionally – and this takes either talent or bad luck – a headline manages to be offensive or overly aggressive. The most classic example of this is the girl who “isn't looking for drama” and hopes to turn jerks away from the get-go. Unfortunately, she's probably turning away a lot more than the jerks. In trying to be assertive and strong, she manages to either scare prospective people off or come across as a total grouch. Women are not the only ones guilty of this, either – I've seen men trying to be macho who do the same thing. Regardless of gender, it's a common misapplication of strength.
When constructing a headline for your profile, stick with something short, sweet and catchy. Remember: you're just trying to get the reader to check out the rest of your profile. Thus, you don't need to give long explanations or justifications; just get them to continue reading, even if it's because your headline says something ridiculous like “Free BBQ Sauce (Pig Included If You Can Catch It).” Let the headline bring in readers; the profile keeps them reading.
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