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16 Simple Tips For Writing Dramatically Better Headlines

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 16 Simple Tips For Writing Dramatically Better Headlines
          

The headline is the first thing your potential readers will see. It decides whether they click on your article or not. And it also influences how well your article ranks on Google.

No wonder, then, that the headline is one of the most important factors in the success of your blog article.

But how do you actually write a good headline?

A good headline must do three things:

In other words, a good headline needs to arouse curiosity, provide value, and generate expectation.

This may sound simple, but in practice it is not that easy.

So, in this article, I’ve put together 16 simple tips that will help you write dramatically better headlines.

Are you ready? Then let’s get started!

Table of contents
  • Tip 1: Use numbers and lists
  • Tip 2: Use questions and answers
  • Tip 3: Use adjectives and adverbs
  • Tip 4: Use keywords and synonyms
  • Tip 5: Use trigger words and formulas
  • Tip 6: Use brackets and colons
  • Tip 7: Use contrasts and paradoxes
  • Tip 8: Use testimonials and quotes
  • Tip 9: Use guarantees and promises
  • Tip 10: Use challenges and provocations
  • Tip 11: Use metaphors and analogies
  • Tip 12: Use humor and puns
  • Tip 13: Use alliteration and rhymes
  • Tip 14: Use personalization and segmentation
  • Tip 15: Use testing and optimization
  • Tip 16: Use an AI text generator
  • FAQ

Tip 1: Use numbers and lists

Numbers and lists are a tried and tested trick to make your headlines more attractive. Why? Because they are specific, offer an overview and promise a clear structure.

Studies have shown that headlines with numbers get more clicks and shares than those without numbers. And this applies not only to round numbers like 10 or 20, but also to odd numbers like 7 or 13.

Examples:

Tip 2: Use questions and answers

Questions are another effective way to make your headlines more engaging. Why? Because they stimulate the curiosity of your readers, allow a direct approach and suggest a solution.

You can either ask an open-ended question that your article answers, or you can ask a rhetorical question that your article confirms or refutes.

Examples:

Tip 3: Use adjectives and adverbs

Adjectives and adverbs are words that describe or reinforce other words. They can make your headlines livelier, more emotional, and more persuasive.

However, you should not use too many or too weak adjectives and adverbs, otherwise your headline will appear implausible or boring.

Examples:

Tip 4: Use keywords and synonyms

Keywords are the words or phrases that your audience searches for on Google. When you use these keywords in your headlines, you signal to Google and your readers that your article is relevant to their search.

However, you should not only use the main keyword, but also synonyms or related terms. This way you avoid keyword stuffing and increase the chance of ranking for more searches.

Examples:

Tip 5: Use trigger words and formulas

Trigger words are words that elicit a specific reaction or feeling from your readers. They can make your headlines more interesting, curious, or urgent.

There are different types of trigger words, such as:

You can also combine these trigger words with specific formulas to make your headlines even more effective. Here are some examples of such formulas:

Examples:

Tip 6: Use brackets and colons

Parentheses and colons are characters you can use to expand or add to your headings. They can make your headlines more informative, specific, or attractive.

For example, you can use parentheses to add an addition or explanation to your headline, such as:

You can also use colons to add a subtitle or supplement to your headline, such as:

Tip 7: Use contrasts and paradoxes

Contrasts and paradoxes are rhetorical devices you can use to make your headlines more surprising or provocative. They can make your readers curious about how you justify or resolve your statement.

For example, you can create a contrast between two opposing terms or ideas, such as:

You can also use a paradox that contains a seemingly contradictory or impossible statement, such as:

Tip 8: Use testimonials and quotes

Testimonials and quotes are statements from other people or sources that you can include in your headlines. They can make your headlines more believable, authoritative, or inspirational.

For example, you can use a testimonial from a satisfied customer or a well-known expert to support your service or offer, such as:

You can also use a quote from a famous author or personality to reinforce your message or topic, such as:

Tip 9: Use guarantees and promises

Guarantees and promises are statements you put in your headlines to guarantee or promise your readers a specific outcome or benefit. They can make your headlines more enticing, safer, or more trustworthy.

For example, you can use a guarantee to reassure your readers that they are not taking any risks or that they will get their money back if they are not satisfied, such as:

You can also use a promise to show your readers that you have something valuable or unique to offer them, such as:

Tip 10: Use challenges and provocations

Challenges and provocations are statements you put in your headlines to challenge or provoke your readers. They can make your headlines more exciting, polarizing, or motivating.

For example, you can use a challenge to give your readers a task or goal that you want them to achieve or prove, such as:

You can also use a provocation to present your readers with an opinion or a claim that surprises or contradicts them, such as:

Tip 11: Use metaphors and analogies

Metaphors and analogies are linguistic images that you can use to make your headlines more original or descriptive. They can intrigue, inspire, or entertain your readers.

For example, you can use a metaphor to compare something abstract or complex to something concrete or simple, such as:

You can also use an analogy to show a connection or difference between two things, such as:

Tip 12: Use humor and puns

Humor and puns are forms of wit and wordplay that you can use to make your headlines funnier or cleverer. They can amuse, impress, or relax your readers.

For example, you can use humor to make an ironic or sarcastic statement that will make your readers laugh or smile, such as:

You can also use wordplay to create double meaning or a sound that will make your readers think or wonder, such as:

Tip 13: Use alliteration and rhymes

Alliteration and rhyme are stylistic devices you can use to make your headlines more harmonious or memorable. They can captivate, excite, or delight your readers.

For example, you can use alliteration to join multiple words that start with the same sound, like this:

You can also use rhymes to connect multiple words with the same final sound, such as:

Tip 14: Use personalization and segmentation

Personalization and segmentation are techniques you can use to make your headlines more individual or specific. They can engage, engage, or persuade your readers.

For example, you can use personalization to make your readers feel like you’re talking to them directly or that you know them, like:

You can also use segmentation to show your readers that your article is appropriate for their situation or level, such as:

Tip 15: Use testing and optimization

Testing and tweaking are processes you can use to improve or refine your headlines. They can help you find the best headlines for your audience or goal.

For example, you can use testing to try and compare different versions of your headlines, such as:

You can also use Tweak to customize or change your headings, such as:

Tip 16: Use an AI text generator

An AI text generator is an online tool that uses artificial intelligence to automatically create or complete text. You can use it to make your headlines more creative or original.

For example, you can use an AI text generator to:

FAQ

Here are some frequently asked questions about headline writing and my answers to them. If you have any other questions, please leave me a comment or email.

How long should a headline be?

There is no hard and fast rule for the optimal length of a headline. But as a rule of thumb, you can use the following guidelines as a guide:

  • For Google: Your headline should not be longer than 70 characters in order to be fully displayed in the search results. If your headline is longer, it can be truncated and lose important information.
  • For social media: Your headline should be no longer than 50 characters in order to be fully visible on social media. If your headline is longer, it can appear cluttered or boring and get fewer clicks.

Of course, you shouldn’t be slavish to these numbers. Sometimes a longer or shorter headline can work better.

How many headlines should I write for a blog article?

There is no hard and fast rule for how many headlines you should write for a blog article. But as a rule of thumb, you can use the following procedure as a guide:

  • Write at least 10 different headlines for your blog article. This way you can try different ideas, words and formulas and boost your creativity.
  • Pick the top 3 to 5 headlines from your list. This way you can improve the quality of your headlines and weed out the worst ones.
  • Test the selected headings with a tool or method of your choice. This allows you to measure the effectiveness of your headlines and find the best one for your audience or goal.

Of course you can also write or test more or fewer headlines. The important thing is that you take the time to tweak your headlines and don’t pick the first one that comes to mind.

How can I make my headlines more creative?

There are several ways you can make your headlines more creative. Here are some tips that may help you:

  • Use an AI text generator: An AI text generator can help you come up with new ideas or phrases for your headlines. For example, you can use ChatGPT to automatically generate or improve multiple suggestions for your headline.
  • Use humor and puns: Humor and puns can make your headlines funnier or cleverer. For example, you can make an ironic or sarcastic statement, or create a double meaning or sound.
  • Use metaphors and analogies: Metaphors and analogies can make your headlines more original or descriptive. For example, you can compare an abstract or complex fact with something concrete or simple, or clarify a connection or a difference between two things.

Of course, don’t overdo it or be inappropriate. It is important that you make your headlines creative but also relevant and credible.

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