No matter what type of content you are writing, whether it is a blog post, article, status update, press release or even an email, the Headline is one of the most crucial parts. A good headline will grab your readers’ attention and encourage them to read on. A less than fabulous headline can have similarly detrimental results. However well written your content is, if the headline doesn’t capture attention, chances are you will be wasting your time.

Fortunately you don’t need to be a tabloid journalist to write Headlines that grab attention and encourage the reader to click through to your content.

Here are a few easy techniques you can use to help you produce compelling and engaging headlines, which will make your audience want to find out more.

Give them what they want

Everyone wants something, and if your headline promises to give people what they want, they are highly likely to read the rest of the article. When you are writing a piece of content, consider what the outcome will be for the reader. Will they make money, improve their looks, or feel healthier? Whatever it is, make sure it is clearly stated in your headline.

Teach them how to do something

Showing someone how to solve a problem or carry out a task can improve their life and alleviate an issue they might be suffering from. It can also help build trust between you and them. ‘How to’ style headlines can be very effective as they offer an immediate solution to a problem your reader might be experiencing.

Provide valuable knowledge

Mentioning facts and statistics can be a good way to encourage readers to spend time looking at your content. People like interesting statistics they can drop into conversation, and if your headline promises valuable or interesting information they will generally want to read more of your content.

List style

List style headlines work well because they are specific and they usually promise the solution to a problem in a set number of steps. Depending on the length of the article, you can choose the number of points on your list from five to 100. An example of a list style headline would be “Top 100 ways to build a customer database”.

Positive and negative

Headlines that are overwhelmingly positive or negative can be compelling for readers. If you say something is the best, they may be intrigued enough to read on, and if you offer a dire warning in the form of a list of don’ts, this can also appeal. These headlines need to be used sparingly though, or you run the risk of sounding sensationalist or overly negative.

Predicting something

Everyone wants to be the first one to know about a new trend or development. Headlines that promise insider information about trends or predictions for the future can be a highly effective way of drawing people in.

It can take practice to write effective subject lines that will naturally flow onto other styles of writing. Just remember that whatever format of headline you choose, your content needs to live up to its promise.

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