You’ve heard the saying: “The headline is the most important part of any piece of writing.” And it’s true. A compelling headline can make or break your content. It’s the first thing your reader will see, and if it’s not catchy enough to draw them in, they won’t continue reading.
So how exactly do you write a headline that will draw in your readers? What can you do to make a headline more compelling?
Using the right tips and strategies, you can craft an attention-grabbing headline that will make your readers stay and keep reading.
Here are 11 ways to help you craft an attention-grabbing headline:
Understand Your Audience:
The first step in crafting a compelling headline is to understand your audience.
- Who are you writing for?
- What do they care about?
- What do they need to know?
Knowing your audience is essential to writing a headline that will draw readers in and make them want to click.
Write a headline that keeps the reader in mind and how your article caters to their need.
Make It Concise:
Keep your headline short and to the point.
Your headline should be concise, meaning that it should not exceed a few words. If you try to cram too many words or ideas into your headline, it will be too long and readers won’t bother to read it.
Try to keep it to about 7 to 10 words for the best results, but shorter is better as long as it gets the message across effectively.
Use Powerful Language:
Make sure to use powerful language in your headline. Use words like “discover” and “learn” to create a sense of intrigue and mystery.
Words like these will entice readers and make them want to learn more.
Make sure not to overdo this though – you don’t want your headline to sound overly dramatic or cheesy.
Include Numbers:
Using numbers in your headline can be a great way to grab your reader’s attention.
Including numbers such as “5 steps” or “10 tips” can make your headline more specific and actionable, which can be more attractive to readers.
Numbers have been shown to increase the clicks on articles.
Put the Most Important Words at the Beginning:
When crafting a compelling headline, it’s important to put the most important words at the beginning.
This ensures that readers know what your content is about and will make them more likely to click.
You are aiming to give your reader a good idea of what your article is about before they even click to read the rest of the article.
Focus on Benefits:
Instead of talking about what your content is about, focus on the benefits of your content instead.
For example, instead just of writing “How to Write an Effective Blog Post,” write “How to Write a Blog Post that Gets Results.”
The benefits of your headline will entice readers and make them want to read your content.
What are they going to get out of reading your article versus somebody else?
Use Action Verbs:
Using action verbs in your headline is a great way to get your readers to take action.
They’ll see words like “Learn” and “Discover” in your headline and will be encouraged to click to read the rest of your article.
Using action verbs in your headline is a great way to draw readers in and make them want to read your content.
Add Urgency:
Adding a sense of urgency to your headline can be a great way to grab readers’ attention and make them want to read your content right away.
For example, instead of writing “How to Write an Effective Blog Post, ” write “How to Write a Blog Post that Gets Results Before You’re Too Late. “
Including a sense of urgency in your headline can entice readers and make them want to read your content right away.
Use Keywords:
Using keywords in your headline is a great way to make your content more searchable in search engines like Google.
By adding keywords to your headline, you also make it easier for your readers to find your content online.
Include the specific purpose, e.g. the search phrase or keywords you are targetting, in the headline if possible to reduce people skipping you.
Remember, most people are clicking based on the headlines alone.
Use Question Headlines:
Writing a question in your headline is a great way to get your readers to take action and increase your engagement rate.
For example, instead of writing “Write a Blog Post That Gets Results, ” write “How Do You Write a Blog Post that Gets Results? “
Including a question in your headline is another way to get your readers to take action and increases your engagement rate.
Use the Right Type of Content:
The type of content you write will greatly affect the way you write your headline.
For example, a headline for a list post will look different than a headline for a long-form article or blog post.
Make sure you understand the type of content you’re writing so you can craft a compelling headline that will draw readers in and make them want to read your content.
Final thoughts
By following and combining these tips and strategies, you can craft an attention-grabbing headline that will make your readers stay and keep reading. The right headline can draw in your audience and make them want to learn more about your content.
Reader your competitor’s headlines and make sure to take some time to craft something that stands out from theirs in the search results.
You only get one chance to get that click!