A lesson in online headline writing

That awful exercise as a student.You have written a good story and it's time to think of a headline.Of course in the real world this will be left to the subs but for that portfolio that has to be in you need a good headline.

It is not one of my hot topics so I was interested in this from Tom Whitwell Assistant Editor of Online at The Times (Ht-Martin Stabe) who says

with the birth of the internet headlines became more important as everything depends on the it. Headlines were separated from stories and hence their importance as without a good headline people won’t click through to read.

These are some of his don'ts

Don’t try to be clever or funny
Play to your niche and don’t over simply or patronise in the headline.
Remember: Print and internet headlines require a different style…some just work in print and others just on the internet.
Right headline will also contribute to people finding it on the net