Writing

5 Incredibly Easy Ways to Write Irresistible Headlines

Are these missing from your writing routine?

Like any first impression, headlines are what set us apart from the herd or lump us in with the sheep. A subpar headline can send the best story plummeting to an early grave. But a great headline… a great headline can birth a star.

As a blossoming writer, I’m embarrassed to say that for many years I was pretty oblivious to the intricacies that make or break a headline. I thought that writing a heartfelt or quirky title was as good as it got. I’d labor for hours over a story only to have it tank.

Until one rainy Saturday changed everything.

“The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now.”

— Chinese Proverb

A little research and elbow grease

Outside was soggy and thunder rumbled all throughout that day.

It was Saturday and I was wallowing in my own self-defeat.

My articles were gaining praise from the few souls who stumbled upon and read them, but for the most part, I wrote unnoticed. My confidence and motivation were taking quite the hit.

I decided to stop writing until I figured out what was holding me back. That day I dedicated myself to examining the writers I admired most. What did they bring to the table that I just wasn’t emanating?

“Ideas are cheap. It’s the execution that is all important.”

— George R.R. Martin

Genuinely looking for guidance, I wrote to the writers whose work spoke deepest to me. To my elation, some not only wrote back but gave me indispensable technical advice. It’s so easy to feel alone as a freelance writer. To reach out into the abyss and have another hand throw you a lifeline can be pivotal. I was excited and honored to think that someone would take the time and effort to pull me up from my disheartened gloom. My heart smiled.

All that Saturday I crawled through websites, resources, and apps. One great lead led to another. My motivation had been reignited and I absolutely couldn’t wait to test out the new tools I had been shown.

I feel compelled to share what I learned with others who may need guidance. Below is a breakdown of the five best headline writing tips and tricks I’ve ever gotten.

Writing the perfect headline

Steal all of these ideas! Seriously, take every single one. Play around with them, take notes, and have fun! These five easy tips and tricks will get your stories ranked higher in search engines, raise the quality and readability of your headlines, and make it easier for readers to find your work.

1 Headline analyzers are a gift from the heavens. If you’ve not tried one, you’re missing out! Type your headline into one of these nifty little websites and watch as they break down the overall rating of your headline on a scale of 1–100. Most of these tools will grade you on optimal word count, character count, sentiment, skimmability, and word balance.

Headline analyzers will tell you if you need more emotionally charged words or if you’re using too many common words. It’s an incredibly handy assistant. I was surprised to find nearly all the writers I reached out to use one of these on a daily basis.

Most headline analyzers are free and a few offer paid versions. Ones I would recommend trying out to start would be Coschedule and Sharethrough.

2 Title capitalization tools are my second favorite resource! One of the largest headline hurdles for both beginner and seasoned writers is knowing when to capitalize in a headline.

The devil is in the details.

Remember that.

Never think you’re too good to let something as simple as title capitalization slip through your watchful eye. Simply copy and paste your headline into a capitalization tool and let it convert it into any capitalized style you desire including APA, MLA, AP, Chicago, and more.

A few of my go-to capitalization tool sites include Capitalize My Title and Prospercircle. Both of these are free to try out.

3 Ask a thought-provoking question. This one draws on human nature and curiosity. We can’t help it. If we’re confronted with a question that we don’t have the answer to… we need to have a look. Draw the reader in with the promise of enlightenment.

4 Use numbers! Numbers tell a reader what to expect from an article. Numbers are quantifiable. They also help the reader navigate more easily through the piece. It’s not difficult to get lost in a barrage of lengthy paragraphs. Segmenting an article up into numbered sections breaks up the monotony giving the readers eyes places to rest.

“I don’t want just words. If that’s all you have for me, you’d better go.”

— F. Scott Fitzgerald

Lead the way.

A headline that boasts the “10 Best” or “8 Most” of something promises the reader that they’ll gain specific insight in a specific number of ways or steps. Because most people are drawn to easily accessible organized information, they can’t help but take a look.

5 Grammer and spelling count. I know this one ought to be obvious, but It’s too important to leave out. Don’t assume your Microsoft spell checker is cradling you in a warm safe cocoon of errorless bliss. In fact, I’ve found that most writers run their work through two or three editing applications and tools.

In an environment as competitive as writing, you can never be too careful with spelling and grammar. One simple misspelling could be the reason why the next person in line got their story published instead of you. If you want to be the best, use multiple safety nets.

I have several keys on my laptop that like to stick. I’ll be writing feverishly for pages only to find once I reach the end that the last five paragraphs have no letter L’s! Very frustrating. Thank goodness for Grammarly. It’s an online text editor, browser extension, and mobile app with a grammar checker, plagiarism detection, and spell checker.

Grammarly isn’t the only game out there. If you’re looking for a little diversity try checking out ProWritingAid. The major benefit of Grammarly is that it offers a free version as well as an advanced paid option. ProWritingAid is an excellent tool but charges a monthly or annual fee.

Writing is an awesome journey

Have fun exploring these five routes to creating irresistible headlines! The more I write… the more I love it. There are always things to be learned and amazing tales to be uncovered. It’s my most sincere hope that these tips bring you closer to getting your story out to the readers just waiting to find it.

My name is Jamie Golob. I’m a writer, artist, and lover of life, motivated by the collective experiences and stories of the creative community. My mission is to illuminate and preserve the beautiful complexities of what it means to be human. Sign up for my Living Wanderfully newsletter for more great content like this delivered straight to your inbox each month.

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