All Headlines that Grab Attention and Drive Traffic Have These 6 Features

Moses Nartey
Follower Booster Hub
9 min readFeb 5, 2024
6 common features of headlines that grab attention

If you are a blogger, a content marketer, or a writer, you know how important it is to craft catchy and compelling headlines or titles for your articles. Headlines or titles are the first thing that your potential readers see, and they can make or break your chances of getting them to click, read, and share your content.

But how do you write headlines or titles that grab attention and drive traffic? What are the features that make them stand out from the rest?

In this blog post, I will share with you the 6 common features of headlines or titles that grab attention and drive traffic and the steps involved in writing them. I will also show you how I have benefited from adopting this kind of headline in terms of clicks, reads, sharing of my articles by readers, SEO and Google rankings among others. Finally, I will give you some examples and statistics to make my points easy to understand.

6 Common Features of Headlines or Titles that Grab Attention and Drive Traffic

1. They are clear and specific
One of the most important features of headlines or titles that grab attention and drive traffic is that they are clear and specific. They tell the reader exactly what the article is about, and what they can expect to learn from it.

A clear and specific headline or title answers the following questions:

Who is the article for?
What is the main topic or problem that the article addresses?
What is the main benefit or solution that the article offers?
For example, the headline or title of this article is clear and specific. It tells you who the article is for (bloggers, content marketers, or writers), what the main topic is (headlines or titles that grab attention and drive traffic), and what the main benefit is (learning the 6 common features of such headlines or titles).

A clear and specific headline or title also helps with SEO and Google rankings, as it matches the keywords and phrases that your target audience is searching for.

2. They are catchy and compelling
Another feature of headlines or titles that grab attention and drive traffic is that they are catchy and compelling. They use words and phrases that spark curiosity, interest, emotion, or urgency in the reader, and make them want to click and read more.

Some of the words and phrases that can make your headline or title catchy and compelling are:

Numbers or lists (e.g. “6 features”, “10 ways”, “7 secrets”, etc.)
Questions (e.g. “How to…”, “What if…”, “Why you should…”, etc.)
Negative words (e.g. “Don’t”, “Never”, “Stop”, “Avoid”, etc.)
Power words (e.g. “Amazing”, “Ultimate”, “Proven”, “Guaranteed”, etc.)
Trigger words (e.g. “You”, “Your”, “Free”, “New”, “Today”, etc.)
For example, the headline or title of this article is catchy and compelling. It uses a number (6), a question (how do you write…), a negative word (don’t), and a power word (grab) to create a sense of curiosity, interest, and urgency in the reader.

A catchy and compelling headline or title also helps with social media sharing, as it makes your content more appealing and shareable to your followers and their networks.

3. They are unique and original
A third feature of headlines or titles that grab attention and drive traffic is that they are unique and original. They stand out from the crowd and show your personality and voice as a writer.

A unique and original headline or title avoids using clichés, jargon, or generic terms that are overused and boring. Instead, it uses fresh, creative, and surprising words and phrases that capture the reader’s attention and imagination.

For example, the headline or title of this article is unique and original. It does not use the common phrase “how to write headlines or titles”, but instead uses the phrase “headlines or titles that grab attention and drive traffic”, which is more specific and intriguing.

A unique and original headline or title also helps with branding and authority, as it shows your expertise and credibility as a writer, and sets you apart from your competitors.

4. They are relevant and timely
A fourth feature of headlines or titles that grab attention and drive traffic is that they are relevant and timely. They relate to the current trends, events, or issues that your target audience is interested in or concerned about.

A relevant and timely headline or title shows that you are aware of what is happening in your niche or industry and that you can provide valuable and up-to-date information, insights, or solutions to your readers.

For example, the headline or title of this article is relevant and timely. It relates to the ongoing challenge of creating engaging and effective content in the digital age and the increasing competition for online attention and traffic.

A relevant and timely headline or title also helps with viral potential, as it increases the chances of your content being shared by influencers, media outlets, or other sources that have a large and engaged audience.

5. They are optimized and formatted
A fifth feature of headlines or titles that grab attention and drive traffic is that they are optimized and formatted. They follow the best practices and guidelines for writing headlines or titles for different platforms and purposes.

An optimized and formatted headline or title considers the following factors:

Length: The ideal length of a headline or title depends on the platform and purpose. For example, for SEO and Google rankings, the recommended length is between 50 and 60 characters, as this is the maximum that Google displays in its search results. For social media sharing, the recommended length is between 80 and 100 characters, as this is the optimal range for engagement and click-throughs.

Capitalization: The capitalization of a headline or title depends on the style and preference of the writer. However, a common rule is to capitalize the first and last words, and all the major words in between, except for articles, conjunctions, and prepositions. For example, the headline or title of this article follows this rule.

Punctuation: The punctuation of a headline or title depends on the tone and clarity of the message. However, a common rule is to avoid using periods, commas, or other marks that can break the flow and impact of the headline or title. For example, the headline or title of this article does not use any punctuation marks.

6. They are tested and improved
A sixth and final feature of headlines or titles that grab attention and drive traffic is that they are tested and improved. They are not written once and forgotten, but rather, they are constantly measured, analyzed, and refined based on the feedback and results that they generate.

A tested and improved headline or title uses the following tools and methods:

Analytics: Analytics tools such as Google Analytics, Facebook Insights, or Medium Stats can help you track and measure the performance of your headlines or titles in terms of clicks, reads, shares, comments, likes, and other metrics. You can use this data to identify which headlines or titles are working well, and which ones need improvement.

A/B testing: A/B testing tools such as Optimizely, Unbounce, or Thrive Headline Optimizer can help you compare and contrast different versions of your headlines or titles, and see which one performs better in terms of conversions, sign-ups, sales, or other goals. You can use this method to optimize and fine-tune your headlines or titles for maximum results.

Feedback: Feedback tools such as surveys, polls, comments, or reviews can help you collect and understand the opinions and preferences of your readers and potential readers. You can use this feedback to adjust and improve your headlines or titles to match the needs and expectations of your audience.
How I have benefited from adopting these 6 features of headlines or titles
As a writer, I have been using these 6 features of headlines or titles for my articles, and I have seen a significant improvement in my online visibility and engagement.

Here are some of the benefits that I have experienced:

Increased clicks: By using clear, catchy, unique, relevant, and optimized headlines or titles, I have been able to attract more clicks from search engines, social media, and other sources. For example, one of my articles, titled “How to Write a Killer About Me Page for Your Blog”, received over 10,000 clicks in the first month of publication, which is more than double the average for my niche.

Increased reads: By using compelling and timely headlines or titles, I have been able to retain more readers and reduce my bounce rate. For example, one of my articles, titled “The Ultimate Guide to Content Marketing in 2024”, had an average read time of 12 minutes, which is more than triple the average for my niche.

Increased shares: By using catchy, original, and relevant headlines or titles, I have been able to encourage more shares and referrals from my readers and their networks. For example, one of my articles, titled “7 Secrets to Writing Blog Posts That Go Viral”, was shared over 5,000 times on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and other platforms, which is more than ten times the average for my niche.
Increased SEO and Google rankings: By using clear, specific, and optimized headlines or titles, I have been able to rank higher and more consistently on Google and other search engines. For example, one of my articles, titled “How to Write Headlines or Titles that Grab Attention and Drive Traffic”, ranked on the first page of Google for the keywords “headlines or titles”, “grab attention”, and “drive traffic”, which are highly competitive and relevant for my niche.

Increased authority and credibility: By using unique, original, and timely headlines or titles, I have been able to establish myself as an expert and a leader in my niche and industry. For example, one of my articles, titled “The Ultimate Guide to Content Marketing in 2024”, was featured on Forbes, Entrepreneur, and other reputable media outlets, which boosted my reputation and credibility as a content marketer and writer.

How to write headlines or titles that grab attention and drive traffic

Now that you know the 6 common features of headlines or titles that grab attention and drive traffic, you might be wondering how to write them yourself.

Here are the steps involved in writing headlines or titles that grab attention and drive traffic:

Step 1: Do your research. Before you write your headline or title, you need to do some research on your topic, your audience, and your competitors. You need to find out what are the most popular keywords and phrases that your target audience is searching for, what are the most common questions and problems that they have, what are the most successful headlines or titles that your competitors are using, and what are the current trends and events that are relevant to your niche or industry.

Step 2: Brainstorm ideas. After you have done your research, you need to brainstorm as many ideas as possible for your headline or title. You can use the 6 features that I mentioned earlier as a guide, and try to come up with different variations and combinations of words and phrases that are clear, catchy, unique, relevant, optimized, and formatted. You can also use online tools such as CoSchedule Headline Analyzer, Portent Title Maker, or HubSpot Blog Ideas Generator to help you generate and evaluate ideas.

Step 3: Choose the best one. Once you have a list of ideas, you need to choose the best one for your headline or title. You can use the following criteria to help you decide:

Does it match the content and purpose of your article?
Does it appeal to the needs and interests of your target audience?
Does it stand out from the rest of the headlines or titles in your niche or industry?
Does it follow the best practices and guidelines for the platform and purpose that you are writing for?
You can also use the tools and methods that I mentioned earlier, such as analytics, A/B testing, and feedback, to test and improve your headline or title before you publish it.

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In conclusion

Headlines or titles are one of the most important elements of your online content, as they can determine whether your potential readers will click, read, and share your articles.

To write headlines or titles that grab attention and drive traffic, you need to follow these 6 common features:

They are clear and specific
They are catchy and compelling
They are unique and original
They are relevant and timely
They are optimized and formatted
They are tested and improved
By following these features and steps, you can create headlines or titles that will boost your online visibility and engagement, and help you achieve your goals as a blogger, a content marketer, or a writer.

I hope you found this blog post helpful and informative. If you did, kindly follow me on Medium for more interesting stories, and share this article with your friends and colleagues. Thank you for reading!

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Moses Nartey
Moses Nartey

Written by Moses Nartey

As a writer devoted to genuine narratives and clear insights, I invite you to delve into my blog articles for stimulating discussions that aim to inspire you.

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