It is no secret and there is no debate that if you want something read, you have to write a great headline. Your headline is your gatekeeper. It either invites someone in or stops them dead in their tracks.
Here are three powerful hacks that will turn your headlines into real winners.
#1 Power in Numbers
People love headlines that start with a number. Lists work great. They’re easily digestible and easy to follow. People love to read, but they don’t have the patience to read to the end if they don’t know where the end is. A numbered list takes care of this problem.
Use the number not the word for the number. And put the number at the front of the headline like I did with the title of this post and almost every other post I’ve ever written (seriously, go check).
#2 Be the Teacher
We all want to learn something new. So try using words like these in your headlines:
- The Beginner’s Guide to…
- …In 5 Minutes
- How to…
- DIY…
- Introduction to…
When using this technique, be very specific about what the lesson will be teaching. Don’t be vague or general because those folks who want to learn are likely smart enough to know they can’t learn “Everything There is to Know About Marketing in 5 Minutes”.
#3 Try What’s Proven
There are certain key words that have been proven to spread like wildfire in social media circles. Try each of them out in your headlines and see if they vibe well with your particular audience. Here’s the list:
- History
- Surprising
- Hacks
- Smart
- Science
- Critical
- Huge
- Big
Now go write the world’s next killer headline!