Writing a headline that makes readers stop scrolling isn’t easy. Whether it’s for an article, blog post title, email subject line or social media caption, you need something that grabs attention, inspires curiosity, and convinces readers to read on. Fortunately, there are a variety of proven headline strategies and formats that can improve click-through rates and drive measurable results.
One of the best ways to get more clicks is to provide clear benefits in your headlines. This satisfies readers’ desire to know what they will learn or gain from the content, while also helping search engines determine if the article is relevant and useful.
This example from CoNatural uses impact words like “healthier” and “productive” to appeal to readers’ emotions. The resulting curiosity will make them want to learn how to be a healthier and more productive version of themselves.
Listicles are a popular format for online content. They use a numbered or bulleted list to promise readers a structured and organized read, which is attractive for online readers who often skim content.
Longer headlines can also boost engagement, especially for Facebook posts and LinkedIn ads. A 2020 study by Semrush found that headlines containing 10 to 13 words had the highest average engagement on Facebook and doubled the amount of click-throughs compared to shorter titles. To increase the effectiveness of your longer headlines, focus on front-loading them with impact words to ensure they appear in the search bar and in the first few lines of the ad copy to boost visibility and click-through rates.