6 things you should know about online content

Copyblogger’s senior editor spells out the harsh realities of the online content world, and what you should be doing today for any chance of success.

Is my headline any good?

I stole it from Cosmopolitan. The original was “10 things you don’t know about kissing.” Yes, the magazine’s is more interesting. But it’s kissing, for crying out loud. I digress.

CopyBlogger’s Sonia Simone told me to do it. Well, sort of. She recommended the “Cosmo technique” to me and a roomful of communicators at Ragan’s Corporate Writing and Editing Workshop in Chicago.

Simone uses the technique to great success. She swiped “50 things guys wish you knew,” from Cosmo and turned it into “50 things your customers wish you knew.” That article ran three years ago and still gets traffic.

Writing a decent headline is critical to the success of online content. If you don’t like Cosmo, check out Details, Glamour, or practically any magazine off a newsstand for inspiration when you’re stumped.

And if you can tweet your headline, you’re really in business.

Here are five other things you should know, according to Simone:

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