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Perfecting the art of writing catchy headlines will go a very long way in terms of getting people to read your content.
Catchy headlines are the gateway to traffic, consistent readership, and generating a passive income… without them, no one would read your blog posts in the first place!
In this post, I lay out exactly what a catchy headline is and why it’s important, along with examples, formulas, and steps to write catchy headlines of your own!
What Are Catchy Headlines and Why They’re Important
A catchy headline is an eye-grabbing statement that appears at the beginning of a blog post or article. Not only does it grasp the reader’s attention but it gives some insight into what the content is about.
Think about newspapers or magazines.
What gets you to read a certain article? The catchy headline.
When you’re scrolling through social media, what makes you stop and click on a link? The catchy headline.
What gets you hooked on your favorite blogger’s articles? Chances are, it’s their catchy headlines.
Beyond just reading an article, what motivates you to share something with others or repost it on Facebook or Twitter? Chances are, it’s the headline that grabbed your attention so well that others simply have to see it.
So many bloggers overlook the importance of their headlines but in fact, this is the most crucial aspect of your content.
“On the average, 5 times as many people will read the headline as read the body copy. When you have written your headline, you have spent 80 cents out of your dollar.” – David Ogilvy
Take a second to think about how powerful that is. Your headline has the total control to make or break your article… and it’s only read with a single glance!
Ultimately, all blog traffic comes from getting people to actually click on your article.
In our Blogging Fast Lane course, we teach our students to build their organic traffic through Google. And in terms of organic search, having the right headline can make all the difference.
It’s estimated that Google receives more than 3.5 billion searches per day so how can you convince readers to click on your article when it shows up in Google?
It’s your catchy headline that will allow your article to stand out in search engine results, grab reader’s attention, and ultimately drive traffic to your blog.
The bottom line: headlines are the most compelling tool bloggers have in their toolboxes.
Catchy Headlines Examples
There isn’t a single perfect way to write a catchy headline. You’ll quickly find that there are actually lots of methods for writing headlines that will hook readers and get your content in front of their eyes.
Here’s a rundown of the most common catchy headline examples and why they work so well!
Headlines With Numbers
Numbers are one of the best attention grabbers out there. Our eyes naturally gravitate towards numbers in magazines, newspapers, and in online content because they stick out from walls of text. This makes them an effective agent of catchiness in headlines.
Examples of using numbers to create catchy headlines are:
- 25 Blogging Books That Will Change Your Blogging Business
- 15 of the Best Beaches in Thailand That You Need to Visit
- 100 Knitting Patterns That Anyone Can Follow
- 37 Photography Tips to Take Better Photos
When using numbers in headlines, always remember to use numerals (7) rather than spelling out the number (seven) as it grabs people’s attention much more effectively when they scan a page.
It’s also worth noting that odd numbers tend to perform better than even ones – especially the number 7.
Do keep in mind though that if you choose to use numbers you have to stick by your word! Don’t write a headline boasting 100 options if your article only lists 50 things. Being honest will work to your advantage!
How-to Headlines
Another way to draw people’s attention is with how-to headlines.
Think about the phrases you type into Google. Oftentimes, you’re probably writing “how to” in the search bar without even noticing it!
How to get from one place to another, how to fix something around the house, how to put your kid to sleep… I mean, the list goes on and on.
Since people are headed to the internet in search of answers, let them know that you have exactly what they need. With “how to” in your headline, you’re catching people’s attention by giving them what they’re searching for!
Examples of using how-to to hook readers are:
- How to Write a Killer Blog Post That People Will Keep Reading
- How to Get to Pai From Chiang Mai (Plus Tips on How to Book Tickets)
- How to Cook Healthy Meals That Your Kids Will Love
- How to Sculpt Abs With a Home Workout Plan
Headlines With Questions
Questions are a powerful driving force behind crafting catchy headlines. They spark people’s curiosity and make them hungry for answers. I mean, who can resist an unanswered question?
Here are some catchy headlines that use questions to capture readers’ attention:
- Keysearch Review: Is This Affordable Keyword Research Tool Worth It?
- Is Traveling to Myanmar Safe?
- Do You Have What it Takes for This Insane Workout Plan?
- Fall Outfit Ideas: What’s Your Autumn Style?
Headlines with questions are meaningful and effective because they can show an understanding of a problem your readers may have and let them know that you have the answers in your article.
Headlines for Resource Articles
Resource articles are a super common type of content and found on most blogs. They can be used for anything, from explaining a concept to outlining the best purchase options.
Resource articles or “guides” are typically targeted towards a specific group of people, making it simple to call them out in a headline.
Some examples of this in action are:
- The Ultimate Guide to Finding a Profitable Blogging Niche
- Philippines Beaches: A Guide to the Best Islands From a Local
- Embroidery 101: An Insider’s Guide to the Best Patterns
- The Definitive Guide to Finding Premium Shoe Deals Online
Reader-Centered Headlines
One last way to craft a catchy headline and get readers to click on your article is by involving them and making the headline personal.
Center the reader in your headlines by using the words “you” and “your”. This evokes emotion in people searching on Google and makes them more inclined to click because they believe your article directly applies to them.
You can use “you” and “your” in a variety of ways:
- 100 Motivational & Hustle Quotes to Inspire You to Get More Done
- Best Beaches in Greece to Add To Your Summer Itinerary
- The Ultimate Chicken Parm Recipe Your Family Will Love
- Why You Need These Unbreakable Tools (That Will Last Your Entire Life!)
How to Write Catchy Headlines: 4 Things You Need to Know
Now that you see what a huge variety catchy headlines can have, it’s time to learn how to write them yourself!
1. Learn the Formulas of Catchy Headlines
As you can see from the examples above, catchy headlines can be written in a huge variety of ways and there’s no one right way to do it!
But if you’re feeling stuck, you can try out a simple formula to come up with something eye-catching. While not all of the headline examples above follow this to a tee, you’ll find that most of the components are in there, no matter what the headline is about.
Give this a go:
Number or Question Word + Descriptor (adjective) + Keyword + Guarantee
Let’s say we want to write a headline for an article about eyeshadow palettes. A bland headline would be something along the lines of “Best Eyeshadow Palettes to Buy” but we can make it catchy by following the formula above.
With this formula, we can come up with a headline like “23 Unforgettable Eyeshadow Palettes That Are Sure to Impress.”
We start with a number to capture the reader’s attention, then we use an adjective more interesting than “best” to evoke emotion in the reader. Then we have the keyword and a guarantee that the eyeshadows on this list will “impress”.
This creates a more compelling headline and makes the reader more inclined to click on your article and learn more.
A variation of the formula that’s also effective is:
Adjective + Keyword + Benefit
This is especially handy if it doesn’t make sense to include numbers in your headline.
Let’s take the subject of homegrown veggies as an example here.
Instead of creating a simple headline like “Homegrown Veggies to Eat” we can spice it up and make it appeal to the reader on an emotional level… something like “Easy Homegrown Veggies Your Family Will Love.”
We start with the adjective “easy” because that appeals to lots of people who are starting a home garden. We follow this with the keyword “homegrown veggies” to get it front and center. Then we end up with a benefit that will appeal to the reader – “your family will love”.
See, it doesn’t have to be too hard. Just keep these formulas in mind as you move forward crafting your catchy headlines!
2. Evoke Emotions in Your Headline
The main point of a catchy headline is to get your readers to click on your article to read more. As such, the best way to do this is to appeal directly to your readers!
Your headlines should be engaging. They should make readers feel like they’re missing out if they don’t click on your article. What can you offer them that they won’t be able to find anywhere else?
Catchy headlines should also pique curiosity. How can you tempt readers to click on your article without giving everything away?
The best headlines should also offer solutions to the reader’s problems. How can you help your readers if they click on your article? What problems does your article solve?
You can evoke emotions using certain words or phrases like effortless, unforgettable, ultimate, amazing, incredible, essential… The list goes on and on.
Take these two headlines for example:
5 Effortless Makeup Looks for an Unforgettable Night
vs.
5 Makeup Looks for Nighttime
Which one is more compelling? Which one makes you feel something?
The first one uses the word “effortless”, which makes it seem like these makeup looks will be easy (sigh of relief), as well as the phrase “unforgettable night” which leads the reader to believe these makeup looks will bring something special to the evening.
While that’s not necessarily true, it’s all about leading the reader to feel something with your headline.
The point here is these descriptive words will tug at the emotions of readers, making them more likely to click on your article to find out what unforgettable, amazing, and incredible things they need in their lives.
Using these tactics, you can really get into the mind of your readers and craft headlines that will be irresistible.
3. Check Out the Headlines of Ranking Articles
A great jumping-off point, or even somewhere to turn to if you’re feeling stuck, is the headlines of ranking articles.
What headlines are other people using for similar content? What’s working well for them?
By checking out the competition and scoping out what headlines are getting people to click on articles, you have the ultimate insight as to how to craft your own catchy headline.
I’m by no means encouraging you to go out there and copy competitor’s headlines word for word, but see what’s out there and what’s working and then improve it on your own.
Let’s say you’re trying to come up with a catchy headline for an article about things to do in Paris. Head over to Google, search for things to do in Paris and see what comes up.
This is from the first page of Google and there are a few valuable things we can learn here:
- 6 out of 8 of the top results use numbers first
- 7 out of the 8 top results use an adjective like “best” or “top” or “ultimate,” rather than just “things to do in Paris”.
- 3 out of the 8 headlines here include France after Paris
As you can see, with a quick search, there is a lot you can learn about the structure of a headline for any given article and the direction to take with your own. It’s that easy.
So when you’re brainstorming your own headline for our Paris article, keep in mind what style of headline works and find ways to incorporate those elements (or even make it better!).
4. Optimize Your Headline for Keywords
Finally, you should make sure that your headline is optimized for keywords.
Always remember to include your main keywords in your headline, front and center, so that there’s no mistaking what your article is about.
When the main keywords are in your headline, readers know at a single glance whether your article is going to be what they’re looking for or not. Make it extra easy for them to understand that your article is what will help them!
Optimizing headlines for keywords also goes a long, long way in terms of SEO because search engines will easily be able to determine what your content is about.
And if the topic of your article is clear to search engines, it has a better chance of ranking and getting in front of the eyes of eager readers.
Final Tip for Crafting Catchy Headlines: Write Lots of Them
The last bit of advice I have when it comes to crafting catchy headlines is to write a lot of them. Seriously, brainstorm a ton, scratch down all your ideas, and really take the time to come up with something that will make your article stand out.
It’s great to have lots of variations to choose from before deciding on the winning headline. Just take the time to find what sounds best.
With lots of practice, writing headlines will begin to come naturally as you start to understand what makes something catchy.
After reading this, hopefully you feel much more confident when it comes to crafting catchy headlines. Remember, catchy headlines are what gets people to read your articles, so don’t count them out!
So long as you keep in mind the steps I laid out, you’ll find that writing catchy headlines just gets easier and easier… all you need is a bit of practice!
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