Your headline is the most important part of your article. It’s important to write your compelling headline before you write your story so that you get more views.

Why?

It’s your “north star” for your article. It’s the most important sentence or statement of your entire 1,000-, 2,000-, or 3,000-word article.

The second most important sentence is your sub-headline or sub-title.

Writing compelling headlines is critical to getting views and reads of your content.

If you have a crappy headline, you are going to have a crappy article.

Sometimes, you can get away with a bad headline, but that’s only if your article is written well.

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How to write compelling headlines that get views

Here are five simple yet powerful tips. These will guide you on how to write headlines. They will make sure you get the views and reads you deserve.

1. Think differently

To stand out within a sea of articles published on the Internet, you must grab your audience’s attention. The best way to do this is to challenge yourself and your readers to think differently.

Take a strong stance on a topic.

First impressions matter.

What we see, hear, or feel in someone’s headline affects how we process the rest of it.

How you craft your headline can shift the reader’s perception. How you compose your headline can influence your readers’ mindset. If they remember your headline, they are more likely to remember sections of your article.

Do your research to find what’s different. Write your headline and then copy and paste it into Google.

• Is it like other headlines?
• Is it different?
• If it is similar to other headlines, how can you make it stand out?

“Strength lies in differences, not in similarities.”

Stephen R. Covey, an American educator, author, businessman, and speaker

2. Steer clear of clickbait

The definition of clickbait is content that attracts attention. It encourages readers to click a link to content of dubious value.

The reason clickbait became popular is that it drives views but leaves readers empty.

Here are some examples, according to Merriam-Webster dictionary:

• You’ll never believe what happened when …
• This is the cutest thing ever …
• This is the biggest mistake you can make …
• Take this quiz to see which character you are …

The reason clickbait is bad is that it’s not deep and useful content. Readers click but don’t stay for long. To avoid clickbait, narrow the topic.

Your story needs to back up your headline and should avoid grand promises. It’s important to toe the line.

For example, don’t say, “This is the best article of all time.” Instead, say, “this article is one of the best articles.”

If you think the headline is too much, then your readers will think it is too much. Go with your gut and act like your reader.

Don’t go over the top and make grand claims.

It’s important to pique the interest of your readers with your headline. You should leave them satisfied at the end of the article.

That’s not clickbait. If you don’t mislead and falsify information, you’ll steer clear of being clickbait.

3. Have a process for writing headlines

You never know where your perfect headline will happen in your brain. Most likely, it will happen in the shower.

However, it can happen during a work meeting, during exercise, or while you are eating. So, it’s important to have a process for collecting your headline ideas.

You can email headlines to yourself. This will help you capture them right away and keeps your ideas at the top of your mind.

You can use your email inbox as a place to store your great headline ideas. Then, when you write, you have headlines ready to go.

You can also use the note-taking app, Evernote, to keep track of headline ideas. Your creative process of capturing headline ideas is as important as coming up with the ideas.

What are your processes for writing and capturing headlines?

Whatever it is, it’s important to record and keep track of your headline ideas. Writing your headlines before composing the entire article prevents writer’s block.

4. Let your headline marinate

It’s important to come up with a headline and then let it marinate.

Marination is the process of soaking foods, such as chicken, in seasoned liquid before cooking them on the grill. It adds flavor to the food before you cook it, making it taste better.

Do the same thing with your headlines. Write them, let them sit, and then come back to them hours or days later. How can you tweak them to improve them?

If your headline is …

• vague, make it specific
• doesn’t have structure, add a number
• not taking a risk, take a calculated risk

In addition to Googling your headline, you can use the Co-Schedule Headline Analyzer tool. This will help you see where you score. Then, you can tweak it.

Also, make sure you write the headline for one person.

For example, try to include “you” in every headline.

If you are struggling to let your headline marinate, look at the first and last sentences of your story.

Those sentences usually sum up your story nicely. You can use some of those words for your headline.

5. Write headlines every day

Write headlines every day. It should become part of your regular writing routine. Write down four to five headlines every day.

When you write a headline, make sure it focuses on the readers. The headline should include most of the article’s takeaways.

If your headline sucks, your story is going to suck. Nail the headline first. Then the rest of the story will follow. 

For example, you can copy and paste your headline into the body of the story. This way, it serves as a constant reminder of the story’s purpose.

Don’t forget that your story needs to deliver on the promise of the headline.

Your headline is what you are trying to say in one sentence. It should be the best part of your article. It will guide you on how you are going to write your story.

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Bringing it all together

If potential readers are not enticed by your headline, they will not click on it.

That means all those written words won’t be seen. First impressions matter, and you’ll be judged on your headline, sub-headline, and image.

To help you write compelling headlines that get views, follow these five simple yet powerful tips:

• Think differently
• Steer clear of clickbait
• Have a process for writing headlines
• Let your headline marinate
• Write headlines every day

The hardest and most important part of your writing is a compelling headline that captures your audience’s attention.

The right headline can make or break your story, so spend more time on it.

In today’s competitive world of content, if your headline is not compelling enough, you’ll lose views.

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