Headlines are important. They’re so important that if your headline doesn’t grab your reader, your article or post won’t get read.
Your headline is the first line of words on your page. It is the door to your copy and arguably the most important part of your finished package.
Research shows that on average 8 out of 10 people will read headlines but only 2 out of 10 will go on to read the rest. So don’t dismiss their importance.
Your headline must stop the reader in their tracks and make them want to read further. It needs to tempt your reader into your article – or persuade them to click through to your blog post.
A headline is a bit like an advert. It’s a teaser which makes you stand out from the crowd.
So how do you go about writing that reader-grabbing headline?
These points below should get you started:
Ask yourself: What’s the story about?
Who are you writing for? Who is your audience?
Where will your words appear – print, online or blog? This can make a difference to the tone of your headline. Print is often more formal than online.
Get the key words of your story into your headline. Pull out the emotion from your story – or the fun, if you’ve written a light-hearted piece.
Keep your headline short.
Keep your headline relevant to your article. A pun in a headline will not always be suitable.
Do not cheat your reader by making the headline more than your article is worth.
Numbers, data and statistics work well in headlines. ‘How to’ and ‘Why’ also work. Lists are popular eg 7 Reasons to Eat Cake on Sunday
Ask yourself if your headline makes you want to read the article?
Don’t take the first idea that comes to mind. Work on your headline as you worked on your article.
Read published headlines and ask yourself whether or not they worked for you, and why.
A headline needs to be compelling, engaging and have the right tone for its audience.
The best headlines are short, simple and memorable.