Most Writers Struggle For Readers. 7 Keys To A Compelling Headline

How to be appealing (without annoying readers with clickbait)

It’s hard to get people to click on your article.

You invest hours in researching and writing. You think what you’ve published is worth reading. But then the views are crushingly low.

You feel devastated.

The problem is people have so many choices on how to spend those 4 minutes. Your title is a tough task. It needs to get people to stop scrolling. And push them to take that extra step & click. But all those hours of writing are a waste. Unless your title grabs attention.

No one used to click on my writing. The titles were awful. I’ll be honest. I don’t viral every day. But regularly publish $100+ articles.

Here’s the 7 tactics I use so people can’t resist clicking.

1. Use this process to find a brilliant title

I used to pour all my energy into my article.

Then exhausted & empty I’d quickly think of a good title and click publish. I’d be deflated. Almost zero views. This made me reevaluate how I use my time. Writing a title that gets clicks is hard. A good title is not enough. You need an irresistible title. This takes effort.

Spend 15 minutes crafting a title.

You also need an effective process.

A professor divided his class in half and gave each group different instructions.

Group 1 was asked to take the best photo they could in 60 minutes.

Group 2 was asked to take as many photos as possible in 60 minutes. And then pick the best one.

Those in Group 2 produced better photos.

Generating lots of titles is the easiest way to create 1 brilliant title.

Here’s a simple process to follow:

• Force yourself to write 7 titles
• Look at the titles of top authors for inspiration
• Then write 3 more titles
• Pick the best from the 10 you’ve generated

2. Know what gets clicks

People click if they want to read your article.

And they’ll want to read if they:

• like the topic
• think it’s for them
• desire the benefits

Your goal is not clicks but the right clicks. You want your target readers to click. This means being clear on what your article will cover. Don’t try to be clever using puns or trendy ideas.

If you are writing about money. Is it for people with no income? Or those who spend too much? Is it for those who are too scared to think about money?

Clarifying your target reader is crucial. Write for everyone and you write for no one. Once you’re clear.

You need to create desire.

3. Boost the benefits

A classic mistake new writers make is to focus on the information they provide.

The truth is you need to do something for the reader. You need to convey a promise. When people click what will they gain? This will stimulate their desire to click. The stronger this is the more enticing your writing will be.

Some are uncomfortable doing this they don’t want to be too clickbaity. Clickbait means being irresistible to click. But having an offer that can’t be delivered on.

Examples of clickbait titles:

One money hack to make you rich beyond your wildest dreams.

5 writing habits that will give you a best seller

Do this to make you irresistible to women

The promises in these articles are ridiculous. No writing can fulfill these claims. Clickbait might get you clicks but it loses you respect. You won’t grow with this approach.

Instead, make an offer that your article delivers:

10 Templates anyone can use to quickly craft an enticing headline.

There are 3 promises here: (notice how I’ve cranked up the offer here)

• anyone can use
• quickly
• enticing headline

These are realistic but attractive benefits

9 incredible tools for writers (save time, grow more with less effort)

Again I’ve gone for a triple offer:

• save time
• grow more
• less effort

This article is strong because it’s backed by my personal experience of these 3 gains.

Stack up your offer for a punchy headline.

4. Get your length right

I made the mistake of short titles.

I thought my article should read like a book title. Sharp and short. Turns out I was wrong. If your title doesn’t answer the 3 questions in points 1 & 2. It won’t get clicks. This means it needs to be longer. Typically 2 lines.

There are a few tricks you can use to keep it sharp even though it is longer.

Use brackets

My Tweet Accidentally Went Viral (5 Tricks Writers Can Steal From It)

Question & answer

Struggling To Find Time To Write? The Answer Is Within Reach

The two-parter

New Writers Have Been Sold a Lie. The Hardest Part Isn’t Getting Started

5. Use numbers

Numbers are the easiest way to upgrade your title.

They clarify the article.

• 9 = lots of info but each point won’t be detailed
• 1 key = suggests a deep dive with a specific focus

Numbers create curiosity and make a title very appealing. Odd numbers work better than even numbers (unless it is 10).

Numbers make the article specific. Which is our next tip.

6. Be more specific

Being more specific makes your article more attractive.

We think being specific will exclude people. But it makes it more appealing.

For example:

Topic — Personal development

• more specific — productivity
• more specific — resisting distractions
• more specific — using your phone less

As your topic gets more specific you can see how it gets more appealing. Because your reader can more clearly visualise your content. Vague is boring.

You can do the same with your audience.

Audience — everyone

• more specific — online creators
• more specific — writers on medium
• more specific — writers on medium who feel they are failing

Aiming for a more specific audience will draw them like a magnet.

You can name your audience in your title:

How I gained 2 writing contracts in my 1st year (3 tips for new writers)

Audience = new writers

But sometimes your audience is implied:

How to get your first 500 newsletter subscribers in 3 months

Audience = those with less than 500 subscribers

Be more specific on the topic and audience to magnetise your headline

7. Upgrade your language

I find myself using the same words all the time

Here’s a few favourites:

• Increase
• Improve
• Find
• Get more
• Add

This gets boring.

Use a thesaurus to inject more excitement into your writing

• Increase = explode
• Improve = upgrade
• Find = discover
• Get more = attract
• Add = inject

Keep your writing simple and understandable. Don’t make it look like you’ve swallowed a dictionary. But before you click publish. Try to freshen up any of the boring words. Notice which words you always turn to. And find alternatives.

These 7 tips take time and effort. But I promise you that the results are worth it

Don’t waste a great article with a poor title.

Learn how to write a compelling article with my 5–Step writing system. Join 609 writers and sign up here: