Your article’s headline is your one big chance to grab the attention of your audience. Whether you’re writing a blog post or running a Google ad, a great title will make your content go further.
Use words like’must-have’, ‘only’, and’secret’ to develop urgency in your headlines. You can also try using specific information to create intrigue.
1. Make it Short and Sweet
A witty subject line or headline is the perfect way to capture attention and lure readers into your content. Keeping the headline short and sweet will help ensure that readers don’t get bored or confused before they even finish reading your article.
Asking a question in the headline can also be an effective technique for grabbing reader attention. Questions engage readers and encourage them to read the article to find out the answer to the question.
Using numbers and statistics in your headline can also be a great way to grab reader attention. People are drawn to numbers and statistics because they provide a more compelling and convincing argument than just words alone.
2. Make it Unique
The most successful attention-grabbing headlines are unique and reflect the article’s content. They tell readers exactly what the story is about, and give them a reason to read. This can include a promise of useful information, a solution to a problem or an opportunity for growth.
Using keywords in the headline is another way to catch people’s eye and improve SEO. However, make sure that the keyword doesn’t detract from the overall impact of the headline.
Using words like “must-have,” ”only,” and ”secret” to create urgency in the reader are also effective copy elements. This helps to convince them that they will miss out if they don’t click on the article. This strategy can be especially effective when used in a press release headline or in the subject line of a media pitch.
3. Make it Catchy
A catchy headline is the best way to pique a reader’s interest. People use aggressive attention filters when they scan headlines, so if yours doesn’t grab them, they’ll quickly move on to another article.
Incorporate keywords into your headlines to help them rank on search engines and pique readers’ curiosity. Keep in mind that keywords are only effective when they match the tone of your content. For example, a witty headline about the Supreme Court’s 4-4 split decisions wouldn’t work for an academic-style article about the topic.
Using numbers and statistics in your headlines also helps draw in readers. Studies have shown that our brains process these types of details as more important, and they are easier to remember than words. Odd numbers, in particular, seem to stand out more and be deemed more trustworthy than even ones.
4. Make it Relevant
Writing for search engines is a good idea, but you should also be focusing on what will grab the attention of your readers. Power words like urgency and scarcity can help, but they are most effective when the audience feels connected to the content.
A headline is the first (and often only) look your content will get from a potential reader. It’s your opportunity to draw them in and lure them into the lead, where they’ll find out what the article is about and how it can help them.
Summarize the subject or purpose of your article, and use a number where possible (odd numbers work best) to boost engagement. Make sure your title doesn’t exceed 60 characters, because Google truncates longer titles in search results.
5. Make it Attention-Grabbing
A great headline is a key part of your content’s success. It entices readers to click and read the article, whether it’s a blog post, email newsletter or social media update.
A strong headline is also an effective SEO tool. Including keywords and leveraging numbering in your headlines can help your content rank higher in search results.
Using odd numbers in your headlines is especially effective, according to research. They are more enticing to the brain than even numbers, and can generate better click-through rates.
Including the why in your headlines can also be an effective way to attract attention. For example, writing “man launches inflatable ramp after paralysis” shows human interest and helps grab the attention of journalists. Just be careful not to create clickbait titles that are misleading or deceitful – those will only drive traffic away from your content.
