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:

It needs to catch the attention of your target audience.
It must pique the interest of your target audience.
It must evoke the promise of your target audience.

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:

7 Brilliant Ways to Use ChatGPT for SEO
10 Best AI Video Generators in 2023 (6 of them Free)
How to go from 2K to 100K Instagram followers in just 3 months

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:

Can I rank? 12 Signs You Can Easily Hit Page 1 For A Keyword
Do you really need your own blog?

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:

The ultimate guide to blogging for beginners
This is a quick and easy way to create your own online course
Why you should definitely start an email newsletter

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:

Learning WordPress: 59 free tutorials for beginners and advanced users
Learning SEO: The ultimate guide for beginners and professionals
Learning to Blog: The 14 Laws of Incredibly Successful Blog Articles

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:

Power Words: Words that evoke a strong emotion or result, such as awesome, incredible, legendary, ultimate, revolutionary, etc.
Negative Words: Words that address a problem or pain point, such as error, avoid, stop, never, warning, etc.
Positive Words: Words that offer a solution or benefit, such as learn, show, discover, benefit, win, etc.
Curiosity Words: Words that create a gap between the known and the unknown, such as mystery, reveal, surprise, shock, etc.
Urgency Words: Words that create a sense of scarcity or time pressure, such as now, immediately, quickly, limited, etc.

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

How to reach [goal] in [time].
[number] [power word] ways/tips/tricks/strategies/ideas etc. to achieve [goal].
Why You Should [Negative Word] [Problem] (And What You Should Be Doing Instead)
The [Power Word] Secret of [Success]
How to solve [problem] with this simple method
What you need to know about [topic] (but nobody tells you)
How to achieve [goal] (without [negative word])
The truth about [subject]
How I Achieved [Result] (And How You Can Too)

Examples:

How to create your own online course in 10 days
7 Brilliant Ways to Use ChatGPT for SEO
Why You Should Never Make These 10 SEO Mistakes (And How To Avoid Them)
The ultimate secret of successful content marketing
How to cut your WordPress loading time in half with this simple method
What You Need to Know About ChatGPT (But Nobody Tells You)
How to Get More Visitors to Your Blog (Without Spending Money)
The truth about WordPress security
How I Made $250,000 In Sales From Online Courses (And How You Can Too)

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:

10 Best AI Video Generators in 2023 (6 of them Free)
Learning WordPress: 59 Free Tutorials for Beginners and Intermediates (Including Checklists and Cheat Sheets)

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

How to blog in 2023: The ultimate guide for beginners
Learning SEO: The ultimate guide for beginners and professionals
Learning to Blog: The 14 Laws of Incredibly Successful Blog Articles

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:

How to make more money by working less
How to get more visitors by blogging less
How to get more followers by posting less

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

How to get rich blogging (without having a blog)
How to Write Better Texts with ChatGPT (Without Writing Yourself)
How to Build a Website with WordPress (Without Installing WordPress)

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:

“This online course changed my life” – that’s what our participants say
“This blog is a gold mine for content marketing” – Neil Patel
“This e-book is the best I’ve ever read” – Tim Ferriss

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

“Content is king” – Bill Gates
“The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The next best time is now” – Chinese proverb
“Writing is easy. You just have to leave out the wrong words” – Mark Twain

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:

How to Create Your Own Online Course in 10 Days (Or Your Money Back)
The Only WordPress Security Solution You Need (100% Guaranteed)
How to Get Your Blog Popular in 30 Days (Or I’ll Help You Personally)

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

I promise you: After this email training you will love SEO
In this e-book, I’ll tell you the ultimate secret of successful content marketing
This Online Course Will Change Your Life (I Swear)

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:

Can You Answer These 10 SEO Questions Correctly?
Can you complete this online course in 10 days?
Do you dare to share this blog article?

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

Why You Don’t Need Your Own Blog (And What You Should Do Instead)
Why WordPress is the worst platform for your blog
Why you should stop writing blog articles

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:

How to unlock a gold mine for content marketing with ChatGPT
How to Build a Website with WordPress (Without Installing WordPress)
How to find a needle in a haystack with SEO

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

Content marketing is like dating: this is how you win the heart of your readers
WordPress is like Lego: Here’s how to build your dream website
SEO is like chess: this is how you beat your competition

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:

How to Write Better Texts with ChatGPT (Without Writing Yourself)
How to Build a Website with WordPress (Without Installing WordPress)
How to get rich blogging (without having a blog)

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

ChatGPT: The artificial intelligence that will leave you speechless
WordPress: The platform that makes you a star
SEO: The Art That Makes You King

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:

ChatGPT: The ingenious generator for great texts
WordPress: The perfect platform for professional websites
SEO: The simple strategy for more visibility

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

ChatGPT: This is how you write texts in no time
WordPress: How to create websites without the stress
SEO: How to rank better than ever

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:

How to use ChatGPT for your business
How to optimally set up WordPress for your website
How to properly use SEO for your blog

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

ChatGPT for Beginners: The Ultimate Guide
WordPress for advanced users: The best tips and tricks
SEO for professionals: The latest trends and techniques

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:

A/B testing: You show two different headlines to two different groups of visitors and measure which gets more clicks or conversions.
Multivariate testing: You show multiple groups of visitors several different combinations of headline elements and measure which performs best.
Headline Analyzer: You use an online tool that gives you a rating or feedback on your headline.

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

Length: You trim your headline to the optimal length of 50 to 70 characters for full display on Google and social media.
Word Choice: You choose the best words for your headline by using synonyms, trigger words, or formulas.
Format: You properly format your heading by using upper and lower case letters, parentheses and colons, or other characters.

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:

Generate headline ideas: You enter a topic or keyword and the AI text generator suggests several possible headlines.
Improve headlines: You enter an existing headline and the AI text generator suggests improvements or alternatives.
Vary headlines: You type in a headline and the AI text generator rewrites it in different styles or tones.

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.