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Blog
Dana Sitar, The Headline Expert
We wanted to get to know Dana Sitar (NAIWE’s Headline Expert) better, so last month we sat down with her. Here is what she shared with us.
What has been your most effective headline, and what platform was it for?
I don’t have data to say for sure, but this example comes to mind right away: In 2014, I wrote an article for HuffPost titled “Your Toddler Might Be Gay,” which got a ton of a attention. The biggest factor, likely, was that both LGBTQ issues and children are subjects on their own that elicit a ton of emotion in people. The headline includes hooks that are valuable regardless of the topic, though: “Your” speaks directly to the reader and suggests something “might be” something which creates curiosity that makes them want to learn more. The article is about the danger of treating straight identities as the default, but I don’t give that away in the headline.
How often are headlines changed?
This depends on the publication, the content, and the publication’s goals. When I’ve written for sites that rely heavily on advertising to attract traffic, we frequently tested and changed out headlines to give an article new life without rewriting. On sites that rely on search traffic, headlines were often more stagnant.
How do you add personality to a headline?
Writing the headline as a statement (“Do These 6 Things Every Morning If You Want to Make More Money”) is a good place to start, because it mimics how we speak. Think about who your audience is—what are they like, where do they come from, and what do they know?—and who you are in relation to them—an expert, a teacher, a peer, an entertainer, for example. Write headlines as if you’re speaking to the audience from that position.
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A single headline is not sufficient for most content in digital publishing. Readers access your content in a variety of contexts, and the headline that’s effective in one context is often less effective in another. This training shows you how to craft headlines that catch readers’ attention across platforms, including websites, social media, email and search.
You can join in this conversation on August 27, at 4 pm eastern, when NAIWE will host a discussion on writing headlines for a variety of platforms. The cost for NAIWE members is only $10! Non-members can join for $30. Register today!
Days to Celebrate in August
August: National Wellness Month. This month focuses on self-care, managing stress, and promoting healthy routines.
August 1-7: Simplify Your Life Week. This week was dedicated to be an encouragement to refocus your life and declutter. A suggestion is to eliminate things that cause stress or anxiety.
August 5: National Work Like a Dog Day. This is a day to pay attention to how hard you are working.
August 8: National Happiness Happens Day. Happiness is a choice. It is not a destination, but a life-long pursuit.
August 8: National Dollar Day. This day commemorates the day Congress established the U.S. monetary system in 1786.
August 9: National Book Lovers Day. A day for those who love to read to find a favorite reading place, settling in with a good book.
August 10: National Lazy Day. Nearing the end of summer, we all need a day to just kick back and do very little.
August 15: National Relaxation Day. Take this day to slow down, unwind, and relax!
August 25-31: Be Kind to Humankind Week. This is a week when we can make a difference in someone’s life by being kind to them.
August 27: National Just Because Day. This is a day to do something unexpected for another (or even for yourself) just because!
Member Benefit: Searchable Database
NAIWE members are all listed in NAIWE’s free searchable database! Instead of just hoping for traffic, you can have the confidence that anyone can easily find your NAIWE website. You’ll be able to communicate with readers and potential clients through the information on your NAIWE site.
Visit the NAIWE website to see all of the member benefits.
Kristen Fischer, The Journalism Expert
We wanted to get to know Kristen Fischer (NAIWE’s Journalism Expert) better, so last month we sat down with her. Here is what she shared with us.
What defines a source?
A source is a person with the credentials applicable to lend credibility to a story.
What are ways to verify a source?
My favorite way is to Google the source’s name. Also, visit the institution they are currently at to ensure that they are, in fact, employed there.
What are some of the credentials to look for in a source?
If you’re writing a story about cancer, you’d probably want to talk to an oncologist if you need a professional source. There are certain credentials you may want for different topics; for that cancer article, the oncologist should be an M.D., for example. You may also want to see if that source authored research or wrote a book on the topic. If they are a member of a related trade association, that looks good as well. You just want someone currently working in a related role or someone retired who was highly regarded in the field.
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Want to know how to quickly find reputable sources? We’ll go through tips and tricks from journalists to find the right sources for stories–in a pinch. This will include experts for quotes, as well as written research for articles.
You can join in this conversation on July 20, at 4 pm eastern, when NAIWE will host a discussion on finding sources. The cost for NAIWE members is only $10! Non-members can join for $30. Register today!
Days to Celebrate in July
July 12: National Simplicity Day. Henry David Thoreau was born on July 12, 1817. Thoreau was an advocate for living a life of simplicity. In our busy lifestyles, National Simplicity Day is the time to take a step back and begin to simplify our lives. One can start by decluttering and striving for balance.
July 15: National Give Something Away Day. In the United States, giving is on the rise. What can you give to your clients or to the publishing industry?
July 17. World Emoji Day. Emojis are images that express, similar to emoticons (emotions + icons) that are produced from an arrangement of keyboard characters.
July 18: Get to Know Your Customers Day. When businesses get to know your customers, you also get to know more about your need to grow. Reach out to your patrons and get to know them better.
July 18: Toss Away the “Could Haves” and “Should Haves” Day. Created by author and motivational speaker Martha J. Ross-Rodgers, this day is intended for all to let go of the past and live for the present. Make a list of your business regrets and then throw it away and live for today.
July 21: National Be Someone Day. What can be done in 10 seconds? Spend 10 seconds to make a business commitment such as pursuing professional development.
July 26: National All or Nothing Day. Throw caution in the wind and go for broke. What is one business challenge that you would like to overcome?
July 31: National System Administrator Appreciation Day. Show appreciation to your IT professional.
Member Benefit: Newsletter Promotions
Posts on your NAIWE blog may be promoted in The Edge: Success Strategies for People Who Work With Words, which has a subscriber list of over 6,400, as of January 2020. Both members and prospective clients subscribe to The Edge, so your blog posts promoted in the newsletter become one more way to introduce yourself and promote your books and services.
Visit the NAIWE website to see all of the member benefits.
Mark Allen, The AP Stylebook Expert
We wanted to get to know Mark Allen (NAIWE’s AP Stylebook Expert) better, so last month we sat down with him. Here is what he shared with us.
Does this edition have more changes than in past editions?
There are fewer changes this time around and not as many big changes as we’ve had in the past. The AP Stylebook editors want their usage advice to reflect what’s going on in the world, and sometimes that means changing long-standing quirks to reflect reality. Changing the way things have always been done is what causes an uproar each year on social media, as with accepting “over” for numerical differences in 2018.
For 2020, there are many significant changes that didn’t cause a stir on Twitter. Some of the changes come in the area of conscious language and dehumanizing terms: gender neutrality, older adults, sexual harassment and sexual misconduct, disabilities and addiction, homelessness. I count 83 new entries and 69 updated entries for this edition.
Did the COVID-19 pandemic play any part in what was changed?
The thing AP Stylebook does better than other reference sources is keep up with the news of the day. The coronaviruses entry was added online on February 3 and expanded to 368 words for the print edition. The Stylebook has had usage advice on pandemic since 2007, and the editors saw no need to update it.
What change were you most surprised to see?
The most surprising change was not a new entry but a business decision to publish the book in physical form every two years instead of every year. That was surprising because physical books still tend to make more money than online subscriptions, but there are many reasons that the online edition is superior. Some other surprises came in updates to entries that had only recently being updated, proving if nothing else that the editors of the AP Stylebook are listening to feedback.
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Changes are plentiful if not dramatic in this year’s Associated Press Stylebook, published in May. The growing reference tome offers advice on gender-neutral language and language dealing with sexual assault. It cautions against the “senior citizen” label. And it says “mistress” is not a very useful term. AP Stylebook Expert Mark Allen will run down all the updates in the new edition and talk about moves away from the paper book and toward doing more online.
You can join in this conversation on June 29, at 7 pm eastern, when NAIWE will host a discussion on the 2020 updates of the AP Stylebook. The cost for NAIWE members is only $10! Non-members can join for $30. Register today!
Days to Celebrate in June
June 1: National Say Something Nice Day. Make the day pleasant for someone today by saying something nice.
June 2: National Leave the Office Early Day. This day is an incentive to many who often work more than 40 hours each week.
June 3. National Repeat Day. Take this opportunity to repeat something you needed or wanted to do again.
June 6: National Higher Education Day. Spend a moment educating or inspiring others who are interested in pursuing a similar career.
June 10: National Ballpoint Pen Day. Write a client note today with a ballpoint pen to commemorate the patent filing on June 10, 1943.
June 11: National Making Life Beautiful Day. Celebrate those who make life beautiful through their words.
June 13: National Random Acts of Light Day. Bring light to a colleague by sharing some encouraging words.
June 21: National Selfie Day. Take some selfies that show you are balancing work-life activities.
June 30: Social Media Day. Post on all of your social media accounts today, letting potential clients know you are available for hire.
Member Benefit: NAIWE Blog
A blog where you can reach out to readers and potential clients with business breakthroughs, new books published, speaking engagements, articles, tips, news, resources, and more! Every time you post on your NAIWE blog, NAIWE will re-post it on our social media accounts, expanding your reach even further! You can also look at the NAIWE Member Activity Feed to see what other members are doing with their member blogs.
Visit the NAIWE website to see all of the member benefits.
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