I’m really jealous of the way Alaura Weaver works her last name into her story-based content business—WordWeaver Freelance. I got some funny looks when I tried to do that with mine.
Also, she writes killer blog posts.
I was particularly drawn to Pain Makes Amazing Blogging Inspiration- Here’s How To Use It (Without Being A Douche), because, well, it’s got an awesome title. It geniusly works in a hook, then justifies its use to make you feel silly-in-a-good-way for misinterpreting it.
Also, geniusly isn’t a word.
There’s so much good stuff in here. And the GIF’s are spot-friggin’-on. Even the one that sort of makes fun of me for being a guy seems appropriate.
Well played, my friend.
When I reached out to Alaura and asked if I could give an alternate headline a shot, I knew it would be a challenge. The bar was set high. And much like the 3 previous posts for Doug Paton & Hillary Weiss, this one drained every ounce of life juice from my body. But I think I did OK…
Give the post a read—then come back to view the lines that almost killed me.
I promise I won’t exaggerate as much as I did in the last sentence.
Here are 100 alternate-but-unnecessary lines for: PAIN MAKES AMAZING BLOGGING INSPIRATION- HERE’S HOW TO USE IT (WITHOUT BEING A DOUCHE)
Bold likes selected by Alaura. Italics missed the mark.
| 1 | The surprisingly good find in all the terrible, terrible comments |
| 2 | The lazy writer’s guide to finding painful blogging topics |
| 3 | There’s plenty of pain to write about (and why that’s a good thing for you) |
| 4 | Is your blog a bully? (How to tap into a customer’s biggest fear) |
| 5 | No, it’s not just bullies that hang out in the comment section |
| 6 | Why exploiting your customers pain can be more profitable than solving it |
| 7 | This blog topic method sounds sketchy, but it’s mostly just painful |
| 8 | You’ve got the power to heal, but should you? |
| 9 | Why you should never leave your customer’s pain points unpoked |
| 10 | Why my lady parts cringe in the cleaning aisle (and how companies can be nice to woman) |
| 11 | Show me your book reviews, and I’ll show you your darkest fears |
| 12 | Find everything you need to write about on Amazon |
| 13 | How gently stalking your target will make you a better writer |
| 14 | If I tell you how to read your prospect’s mind, do you promise not to abuse the power? |
| 15 | Your customer is afraid. Now go write about it. |
| 16 | The evil truth behind twisting a knife in your customer’s pain point |
| 17 | Good writing hurts (but not like you think) |
| 18 | How to crack into your reader’s brain—and heal (or cause some serious damage) |
| 19 | Mean as it is, the comment section is your new best friend |
| 20 | If you want to know all your customer’s secrets, look here |
| 21 | The comment section is a blogging goldmine |
| 22 | This old douche ad still makes me cringe—just like so many other things on the internet |
| 23 | The exploitation dilemma: Should you really solve your customer’s pain? |
| 24 | Is this 1960’s ad the reason we call some men douches? |
| 25 | Here’s what I learned about humanity by reading Facebook comments |
| 26 | Writing shouldn’t be as painful for you as it for your reader |
| 27 | How to find blog topics your readers will care about |
| 28 | Pain is your friend when it comes to blogging |
| 29 | Before you heal your reader’s pain, you might want to twist the knife |
| 30 | Profiting off your prospect’s pain: The ethical dilemma of good business |
| 31 | If my blog was around in the 1948, I’d go apeshit on this douche |
| 32 | How to modernize a classically offensive ad for lady parts |
| 33 | With great blogging comes great responsible (so don’t be a douche) |
| 34 | It’s time you start hanging out with the bullies and trolls in the comment section |
| 35 | Poke the bear with your blog – how to agitate your reader’s emotions |
| 36 | How to build a blogging archive you can be proud of |
| 37 | How to exploit your reader for profit — and other bad moves from a douche |
| 38 | The goldmine that lies in your reader’s fear |
| 39 | The quickest & easiest way to exploit your reader (and other bad business ideas) |
| 40 | Identifying your customer’s pain is easy. Now let’s talk about how you blog that data… |
| 41 | A painful way to tap into your reader’s fears |
| 42 | There’s blogging gold hidden in the dark shadows on the internet |
| 43 | You can tap the vein of your customer’s agony— but should you solve their pain? |
| 44 | How to be your reader’s Band-Aid |
| 45 | You don’t have to be mean, but a little pain goes a long way with bloggers |
| 46 | The bloody secret to where better blog posts lie |
| 47 | How to profit from other’s pain (in a non-sketchy way) |
| 48 | This type of advertising is mean as hell—but it still makes money |
| 49 | The unsketchy way to spy on your customers (and steal their words) |
| 50 | Make your blog a doctor |
| 51 | This classic ad for a douche got it wrong—and I’m going to fix it |
| 52 | Discover better blog posts (underneath a scabby Band-Aid from your reader) |
| 53 | Writing through the pain (but not yours) |
| 54 | If you want to be a better writer, you’re going to need to hang out with trolls |
| 55 | Now you can find customer empathy on Amazon—even without paying for Prime |
| 56 | The internet already told you what your customer wants to read—you’ve just been looking in the wrong place |
| 57 | Hey dummy—your customer already told you everything you should write about |
| 58 | Is it better to scare your reader? Or is playing the empathetic long game really worth it? |
| 59 | Your reader’s got a fever – and the last thing they need is more cowbell |
| 60 | Please don’t write like this douche |
| 61 | The best place to find blogging inspiration is probably lower on the page than you think |
| 62 | The business model of choosing to be nice (and not a complete douche) |
| 63 | Here’s a method to step into your prospect’s head like Kreskin |
| 64 | How to tap into your customer’s pain |
| 65 | Empathy is a blogger’s best friend—and it can be used for good or evil |
| 66 | Every writer knows pain—but most are focused on the wrong person’s |
| 67 | How to drive a knife into your reader’s heart—and heal them better than before |
| 68 | Blog ideas to punch your reader right in the face |
| 69 | Your customer is in pain—and that’s great for business |
| 70 | Steal your content: How to use your customer’s inner monologue |
| 71 | The comment section is visceral (and how to use it to your advantage) |
| 72 | Why tapping into a woman’s fear is an incredibly douchey thing to do |
| 73 | Everything I need to know about pain is in your Prime account |
| 74 | Good vs. Evil —which is more profitable? |
| 75 | The comment trolls can teach you a thing or two about pain points |
| 76 | Why reading the comments is a necessity (even if it can crush your will to live) |
| 77 | Finding blog topics in the darkest corner of your prospect’s mind |
| 78 | This douche tortured women with advertising (not to mention their lady parts) |
| 79 | Don’t write like this douche |
| 80 | Big blog ideas are painful—that’s the point |
| 81 | The exploitation dilemma: Is it more profitable to keep your customer in pain? |
| 82 | Careful—your words are stronger than you imagine |
| 83 | Little known ways to find good blogging topics |
| 84 | Here’s how to find a blog topic on Amazon—and how not to be sketchy about it |
| 85 | Everything your reader wants to know is on the other side of fear |
| 86 | Being mean for profit—and other bad business moves from the 50’s |
| 87 | Dig until you hit the nerve – how to find the pain your readers want to heal |
| 88 | Is it better to remove the knife that causes your customer’s pain, or twist it? |
| 89 | Everything I learned about empathy, I found on Amazon |
| 90 | Pull blog topics directly from your writer’s head |
| 91 | I know what you’re afraid of (and I promise to use this knowledge only for good) |
| 92 | How to find blogging treasure amongst the comment trolls and douches |
| 93 | Everything you need to write about is already written (and why that’s a beautiful thing) |
| 94 | The painful truth about finding good blog topics |
| 95 | Where to find the blog topic inspiration on the internet (without getting a virus) |
| 96 | 3 Tips to steal your customer’s inner monologue |
| 97 | Kicking your customer when he’s down is profitable (but should you do it?) |
| 98 | Here’s a quick way to make an old douche ad better |
| 99 | Sticks & stones have nothing on words: How your writing can break a person |
| 100 | The dark side makes for powerful blogging |
Overall: Insanely tough challenge, but I think I did alright! There are a lot of good lines here. Even some she didn’t like, I kind of do. More on that below…
Lessons: The original headline is fantastic. As with Doug’s & Hillary’s posts, I tried not to copy it too closely—but it’s such a strong theme! So it pops up from time to time. Also, I like how Alaura called out the negative lines for being off-brand. While I like some of them, and I might’ve used them, it was interesting/obvious to see that she wouldn’t.
- I love how all 3 of the writers I’ve approached prove great headlines don’t need to be click-bait. They use their talents for good, and I dig that.
- Writing lines for other people’s blog content is physically and emotionally draining. Way different than site copy. I need to take a break from it.
- Mad respect for Alaura’s style. Follow her on the tweeters to make yourself smart.
- Follow me too (no promises on the smart)
- I still want geniusly to be a word.
Time: Well over 2 hours with a few mental health breaks in-between.
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