42244
2
3
html
<p>This makes them easy to scan and understand, and providing enough information about the content of the article so that a web user can decide whether to click on it. This avoids the problem, according to today's <a href="http://www.useit.com/alertbox/headlines-bbc.html">Alertbox post</a>, of <strong>wasted clicks</strong>. </p>
<p>Nielsen outlines the criteria for usable web headlines; they should be: </p>
<ul>
<li>short</li>
<li>rich in information scent</li>
<li>front-loaded with the most important keywords</li>
<li>understandable when not in original context, in results pages etc</li>
<li>predictable</li>
</ul>
<p>As Jemima Kiss <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/pda/2009/apr/27/bbc-research">points out</a>, some tabloids are reluctant to give up their (sometimes) witty and attention grabbing print headlines, even though these often don't come across as well on the web. In general, <a href="http://econsultancy.com/blog/348-witty-vs-descriptive-headlines-what-works-best">web headlines should be descriptive and reflect the content of the story</a>, as the BBC manages to do. </p>
<p>One site where a snappy and descriptive headline can make a big difference is Digg and, as <a href="http://weblogs.hitwise.com/robin-goad/2009/02/the_telegraph_digg_traffic.html">reported by Hitwise</a>, The Telegraph has picked up a lot of traffic from the social news site lately. </p>
<p>While the plethora of Digg buttons and widgets around its articles has played its part, the headlines have also played a part. Slightly longer than the BBC's perhaps, but they are still relatively short and certainly descriptive. You know what you're getting when you click on '<a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/earthnews/3353693/Giant-spider-eating-a-bird-caught-on-camera.html">Giant Spider Eating a Bird caught on Camera</a>' for instance.</p>
<p>This makes them easy to scan and understand, and providing enough information about the content of the article so that a web user can decide whether to click on it. This avoids the problem, according to today's <a href="http://www.useit.com/alertbox/headlines-bbc.html">Alertbox post</a>, of <strong>wasted clicks</strong>. </p>
<p>Nielsen outlines the criteria for usable web headlines; they should be: </p>
<ul>
<li>short</li>
<li>rich in information scent</li>
<li>front-loaded with the most important keywords</li>
<li>understandable when not in original context, in results pages etc</li>
<li>predictable</li>
</ul>
<p>As Jemima Kiss <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/pda/2009/apr/27/bbc-research">points out</a>, some tabloids are reluctant to give up their (sometimes) witty and attention grabbing print headlines, even though these often don't come across as well on the web. In general, <a href="http://econsultancy.com/blog/348-witty-vs-descriptive-headlines-what-works-best">web headlines should be descriptive and reflect the content of the story</a>, as the BBC manages to do. </p>
<p>One site where a snappy and descriptive headline can make a big difference is Digg and, as <a href="http://weblogs.hitwise.com/robin-goad/2009/02/the_telegraph_digg_traffic.html">reported by Hitwise</a>, The Telegraph has picked up a lot of traffic from the social news site lately. </p>
<p>While the plethora of Digg buttons and widgets around its articles has played its part, the headlines have also played a part. Slightly longer than the BBC's perhaps, but they are still relatively short and certainly descriptive. You know what you're getting when you click on '<a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/earthnews/3353693/Giant-spider-eating-a-bird-caught-on-camera.html">Giant Spider Eating a Bird caught on Camera</a>' for instance.</p>
2009-04-27T14:18:03+01:00
0
1
html
<p><strong>The BBC's descriptive yet concise news headlines are a great example of writing for the web, and are always written to the 'highest web usability standards' according to usability guru Jakob Nielsen.</strong></p>
<p>He cites headlines like 'Mass Thai protest over leadership' and 'Iran accuses journalist of spying' as best practice examples, with the average news headline containing five words and 34 characters.</p>
<p><strong>The BBC's descriptive yet concise news headlines are a great example of writing for the web, and are always written to the 'highest web usability standards' according to usability guru Jakob Nielsen.</strong></p>
<p>He cites headlines like 'Mass Thai protest over leadership' and 'Iran accuses journalist of spying' as best practice examples, with the average news headline containing five words and 34 characters.</p>
false
3736
<p>Refer also to Econsultancy's <strong><a href="http://econsultancy.com/reports/user-experience-buyers-guide">User Experience Buyer's Guide</a></strong> and <strong><a href="http://econsultancy.com/reports/effective-web-design-best-practice-guide">Effective Web Design Guide</a></strong> for more information about best practice in these areas.</p>
<p>Refer also to Econsultancy's <strong><a href="http://econsultancy.com/reports/user-experience-buyers-guide">User Experience Buyer's Guide</a></strong> and <strong><a href="http://econsultancy.com/reports/effective-web-design-best-practice-guide">Effective Web Design Guide</a></strong> for more information about best practice in these areas.</p>
BBC has the best headlines on the web - Nielsen
false
2009-04-27T14:24:23+01:00
bbc-has-the-best-headlines-on-the-web-nielsen
2009-04-30T05:58:03+01:00
2009-10-13T10:12:35+01:00
1832