Headlines capture attention, direct readers to your content, and serve as the foundation for search engine optimization (SEO) results. They should be concise, convey a big idea, and pique interest so that your reader wants to keep scrolling. Great headlines are both clear and compelling, and they make your audience feel like you understand their concerns.
This article outlines best practices for creating effective headlines that deliver an engaging and enjoyable experience for your readers. By focusing on the benefits that your content provides, you can create headlines that inspire action, resulting in high click-through rates and conversions.
Plant a sense of urgency in your readers to encourage them to act quickly and immediately engage with your story. This method of boosting engagement can be particularly helpful for converting website visitors, email subscribers, or customers.
Ask your reader a question or pose a doubt to tap into their curiosities and concerns. This technique is particularly effective for eliciting a strong emotional response from your audience, encouraging them to continue scrolling to discover the answer.
Question headlines work well for generating social shares, especially when the questions are relatable to your target audience. For example, CoNatural’s “Are You Ready to Be Healthier and More Productive?” piques the curiosity of its target audience of individuals who are looking for non-toxic lifestyle tips. This headline also uses adjectives such as “healthier” and “productive” to evoke a positive emotion in the reader, adding to its effectiveness.