5 Easy Tricks To Help You Write Catchy Headlines
In a world full of noise, how do you get people to read what you write? It takes more than good content or great design. The most important part of writing an article is the headline.
The same principle applies to blog posts, book chapters, and so on: The title is where your focus should be. You should begin and end every article with the question: “Would this make me want to read on?”
If not, don’t publish until you’ve got a catchy headline. Concentrate on this, and you’ll get more readers, more buzz, and more love.
How to write catchy headlines
Too often the headline is the most neglected part of writing an article. People just gloss over it without taking much time to consider it. In their minds, it’s the cherry on top. No, friends; it’s not. The headline is the sundae.
I sometimes deliberate over titles for 30–60 minutes before settling on one that works. And I often go back and change them. This is what it takes to write a good headline.
– Use numbers to give concrete takeaways
– Use emotional objectives to describe your reader’s problem
– Use unique rationale to demonstrate what the reader will get out of the article
– Use what, why, how, or when
– Make an audacious promise
1. Use numbers to give concrete takeaways
There’s a reason why so many copywriters use numbers in their headlines. It works.
Do an experiment: Go to the grocery store, and scan the magazines in the checkout lane. Look at the front-page article headlines. It doesn’t matter if it’s a fitness magazine or a tabloid; many of them will be using numerals to start off the headline.
There aren’t really any rules (as far as I know) regarding what numbers work best, but people typically only remember three to five points. That said, sometimes a really obscure number like 19 or 37 can catch people’s attention.
Warning: don’t overuse numbers or use them arbitrarily. If your article clearly has some key takeaways, adding a number to the headline can help make the takeaways more digestible. But if the article doesn’t, don’t force it.
2. Use emotional adjectives to describe your reader’s problem
Here are some examples:
– Effortless
– Painstaking
– Fun
– Free
– Incredible
– Essential
– Absolute
– Strange
3. Use unique rationale to demonstrate what the reader will get out of the article
If you’re going to do a list post, be original. For example consider the following:
– Reasons
– Principles
– Facts
– Lessons
– Ideas
– Ways
– Secrets
– Tricks
If possible, never use things. Please, for the love of Pete, don’t use things. You can do better than that.
4. Use what, why, how, or when
These are trigger words. I typically use “why” and “how” the most, because I’m often trying to persuade or enable someone. Typically, you’ll use either a trigger word or a number. Rarely does it sound good to do both.
5. Make an audacious promise
Promise your reader something valuable. Will you teach her how to learn a new skill? Will you persuade her to do something she’s never done before? Will you unlock an ancient mystery?
What you want to do is dare your reader to read the article. Without over-promising, be bold. Be seductive (in the most innocuous way possible, of course). Be dangerous. And then deliver what you promised.
Try this formula
Here’s a simple headline-writing formula:
Number or Trigger word + Adjective + Keyword + Promise
Example: Take the subject “bathing elephants.” You could write an article entitled, “How to Bath an Elephant” or “Why I Love Bathing Elephants.”
Or you could apply this formula and make it: “18 Unbelievable Ways You Can Bathe an Elephant Indoors”
Another (more serious) example: Take a bold promise like “selling your house in a day.”
Apply the formula and you get: “How You Can Effortlessly Sell Your Home in Less than 24 Hours”
Here are some examples of my most popular articles and the headlines behind them:
10 Ridiculously Simple Tips for Writing a Book
8 Tips for Waking Up Early & Conquering the Alarm Clock
The Short Guide to Launching a Self-hosted Blog in 8 Minutes
How to Overcome Writer’s Block: 14 Tricks That Work
4 Essential Elements to Writing a Great Blog Post
When in doubt, be clear
People don’t want to be tricked into reading something boring; they want to be drawn into something exciting. Make it worth their while.
Take extra long time to consider what headline will grab people’s attention the most, and make sure that it describes your content in an honest, but attractive, way. They won’t regret it, and neither will you. 
