Capturing Attention: Your Blogging Hook

Think of what you have watched and heard on television and you’ll quickly start to rattle off the hooks and tag lines of many of the biggest corporations out there. Their hook is what they say or sing during a commercial.

Nike: Just do it.
Apple: Think different.
United Airlines: Fly the friendly skies.
American Express: Don’t leave home without it.
Pepsi: The choice of a new generation.
Disneyland: The happiest place on Earth.

These hooks capture your attention. Chances are their songs and tag lines often get stuck in your head because what they offered and how they said it was catchy. Often times you don’t even realize that you know the hook until it belts from your mouth.

It’s often been said that we have just a few seconds to capture the attention of our visitors, to give them our hook so that they can choose to stay or go. Maybe subscribe or unsubscribe.

We’re constantly building hooks with how we open our posts, what a visitor might see when they hit our site, the images that we use as avatars, the way that we write or speak, and our networking skills. These hooks draw people in or turn them away.

Knowing this, it’s become more and more vital that we draw attention to ourselves using hooks.

Recently, in a forum discussion on the Hive, Chris Garrett asked how others wanted to be known. The ultimate hook associated with your name. For me, as my blog’s tag line reads, I want to be know as the “How to Tips for Bloggers” girl. When you think of Katy Castro, think of how to tips for bloggers. When you think of I’m Blogging That, think how to tips for bloggers.

Are you getting my hook?

Why You Need One
Having a tag line or hook serves as quick way to show your purpose to those who visit your blog. Just as the companies I have mentioned above, your hook is how the blogosphere will know you.

By visitors reading a single quick line, you can make yourself valuable to them and leave it to them to decide if you or your site can serve a purpose for them. Keep in mind, visitors are self-serving. Rarely does a visitor pop on to a blog and read because they want to help others. Instead, it’s to help themselves.

A hook or tag line will quickly tell your visitor your self-serving purpose for them. And while it may sound like you could turn away a couple of people from your site, you could also increase your visibility to others.

Creating a Hook
Evaluate what your site has to provide those who visit to determine what best suits the needs of both you and your visitors when creating your hook. Think smart when it comes to the creation of your hook. Remember, this is how you want to be known and how you will demonstrate to others that your site is helpful for them. Here’s a few things to consider when brainstorming your hook.

Niche
Your blogging niche will have a lot to do with the hook that you create. I wouldn’t talk about something other than blogging in my tagline, that just doesn’t make any sense and won’t capture attention.

Writing Style
Not everyone will have something that stands out from their writing style that can be used as part or all of a hook. But, don’t overlook it if you think there might be something there.

Defining Yourself
Can you sum up one of the things you love the most about yourself that also relates to your blog?

Personality
Are you funny, silly, crazy, outgoing, shy, or reserved? Can a personality trait such as this help to define the hook that you present to the world?

Using Your Hook
Once you have created the hook/tag line that best suits you and serves a purpose for both you and visitors, it’s time to use it. Keep in mind that what you have created is how you will become known if you decide to implement your hook throughout the web. For attracting attention based on your tag line, consider using it in the following places:

Your Blog
First and foremost, make it part of your site. A statement in your sidebar or an addition to your header image. Display the hook in an obvious location or it won’t get the attention it deserves.

Signatures
Forum and eMail signatures are a great place to display your hook tag line. These places get a quick glance over and the extra addition of a short tag line could be exactly what is needed to get new visitors.

Social Media
How many times have you filled in an ‘about me’ box with information about your site and yourself? These are great places to place your tag line. Keeping your ‘about’ short encourages people to actually read it and using your hook here will generate more impact.

Guest Posting
If you decide to guest post on another blog, your hook can become part of the about the author signature within the post. This always needs to be kept to a minimum so consider how lengthy your hook is before using this as your about.

Your Hook
How do you want to be known throughout the blogosphere? Have you created a hook or tag line that has become a quick reference for the type of blog that you have or the information that you provide? How are you using your tag line and have you become associated with the tag line? I’d love to hear your thoughts!