5 Best Tips for Creating Attractive Headlines That Boost Engagement
When it comes to digital marketing, it has been said hundreds of times that content is king. This is still true today. But what most marketers fail to grasp is that headlines are just as crucial, if not more, important than the content itself in terms of conversions.
According to a recent study, on average, 70 % view the headline of a post before clicking on it, with only 30 % of those people actually reading the content of the post.
The question is, what makes for a successful marketing headline? The norms of headline writing have remained mostly the same over time, but digitization has introduced some new guidelines to help headlines appeal to online readers. In order to help your content receive the attention and interaction it deserves, here are some pointers on how to write a compelling headline.
The Physiology of a Great Headline is a fantastic read
Several studies have been conducted to determine what makes a headline a great headline. Precision and emotion are the two most typical features of a good headline, and they are both important.
Precision simply refers to the fact that the headline has been written with your intended audience in mind. When writing a headline, you want your target audience to feel as though it was created specifically for them. To that end, the word “you” is thought to be one of the most compelling words in the English language on its own, which once again highlights how vital it is to have your target audience in mind when writing.
When it comes to creating compelling headlines, emotion is the second most crucial factor to consider. Headlines that elicit an emotional response not only get more hits but also generate more shares on websites and social media platforms.
We’ve talked a lot about incorporating emotions into headlines, but we haven’t talked nearly enough about how to do it effectively.
1. Question about something
What better approach to capture your readers’ attention than by posing a compelling question to them?
When you say something like this, they will sit up and pay attention because they will believe that you genuinely understand what they are going through.
2. Pay attention to the “how-to” Crowd
How To formatted headlines are incredibly effective, mainly when they are targeted towards a particular solution to the issue or a specific activity to do.
As an example, “How to hit the New York Times blockbusters list with your first book!” is directly aimed at the first-time author who hopes to be a success but does not yet have a substantial client list of books (or any backlist at all). Make your how-to headlines as direct and targeted as possible!
3. Long-tail keywords with a high search volume should be used
Focusing relevant keywords with three to five words, rather than simply one, results in a highly particular search engine. The more precise your targeted keywords are, the more likely it is that you will be able to provide exactly what your audience is looking for.
Additionally, your selected keywords should have a high amount of searches to be effective. This guarantees that your headline is just something that your target audience is actively searching for in search engines. It is optimized to deliver targeted organic traffic to your website. -
The Google Ads Keyword Planner is a fantastic tool to have at your disposal. Other free options include Word Stream’s Free Keyword Tool and Keyword Tool, both of which are available online.
4. Involve digits and lists
In the same way, humans are naturally drawn to specific colors, and we are also easily attracted to numbers and lists because they are simple for our brains to learn and accept. Listicles (i.e., articles written in the form of a list) are helpful in the context of digitization because they provide readers a better indication of the length of the content and whether it is a short and scan-friendly read.
However, while it has been discovered that people seem to prefer odd-numbered lists, it is not a terrible idea to experiment with even-numbered lists as well. Alternatively, headlines such as “12 Essential SEO Tricks for Your Business” can be equally effective. The most important thing to remember is that whatever number you go with your list must contain relevant and meaningful content. You should celebrate if you chance to get at an odd number, but you should avoid creating less useful content in order to get there.
5. Guide to Using Cheat Sheets (Power Words).
Here are some powerful words typically seen in compelling headlines and advertisement copy as a starting point. At least one of the following words will appear in the majority of high-converting headlines:
Mystery Words: Insider, Confirmed, Expert, Revealing, Unlocking, Uncovering, Announcing, Rare, Unusual, Exploring, Discover, Unique, Private
Savings, Save, Bonus, Quick, Lifetime, Special, Unleashed, Ultimate, Maximum, Exceptional, and Powerful are some of the exhilarating triggers.
Rush, immediately, instantly, limited-time, temporary, last-minute, and urgent are examples of urgency words.
Power Words: Boost, Grow, Prosper, Expedite, Turbo Start charging, Assured, Tested, Profitable, Believed, Amazing, Stunning, Phenomenal, Incredible, Unbelievable, Jaw-Dropping, and Sensational.
Easy, simple, fail-proof, and foolproof are just a few of the words that come to mind. Other words that come to mind include effortless, child’s play, less stressful, easy-going, and laid back.
Final Thoughts
David Ogilvy was a brilliant copywriter, and we can all learn a great deal from him in this day and age. His idea was that the cornerstone of any great marketing effort starts with a killer headline that speaks directly to our target audience.
Fortunately, by following in the footsteps of copywriting legends before us, we are provided with a straightforward formula that has been proven time and time again to be effective.
And don’t forget that practice makes perfect! Every day, work on your headlines and research what other people use to get results. Maintain a constant pulse on your audience and become familiar with their lingua franca. In the words of David: “Never stop testing, and your marketing will never stop getting better.”
Consider compiling an extensive swipe file of phrases and terms that have been acquired from various sources within your niche market and using that as inspiration when writing your ad text. This will be of great help!
