Creating Effective Headlines…
Now that I’ve got Your Attention
Headlines and subheadlines in a yearbook serve as reader entry points. A headline should grab the reader’s attention in both style and content, while the subheadline provides additional context. It is crucial to invest time in creating meaningful headlines rather than adding them as an afterthought. People may not read all of your engaging content if they’re not drawn to it in the first place.
Consistency in detail and style is important across all sections. Visual and verbal elements should be reviewed together to ensure the headlines stand out.
Here are 3 Tips to Help You Create Effective Headlines:
- Originality Over Clichés: Create content without using clichés. Be original or timely in your message. Use terminology that is meaningful to your audience, but be sure it will hold the test of time. Today’s lingo may be a distant memory by your 20th high school reunion.
- Consistency in Style: Make sure the style and mood represent the entire spread in terms of content as well as artistic style. Language, font choice, color, etc., are all important features of an engaging headline. If your team isn’t working with a Style Guide, consider outlining the different font styles and colors to use across all sections to keep a consistent style in your book.
- Use Engaging Language: Use strong, engaging language! Headlines should be succinct, but it doesn’t mean that they can’t be engaging! Use strong verbs, descriptive adjectives, and make sure the past or present tense is appropriate and consistent. Need help coming up with just the right word? Consider referencing a thesaurus. Alliteration always gets attention. And how’s your poetry style?
Headlines that are creative, engaging, and just the right style are sure to draw the reader into the full story and images that go along with it.
Now that you’ve learned how to craft compelling headlines, it’s time to put these tips into practice. Start brainstorming and experimenting with different headline styles to create a yearbook that captivates readers from cover to cover. Remember, the headline is the gateway to the story, so make it count!
>>> Font Style Tips for School Yearbooks
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