Headlines may be short, but they can be powerful tools to make your blogs and articles reach more people. Often, this is the first thing that your audience sees. Hence, they are likely to judge the quality of your article based on how well you write your headlines.

1. Include numbers, figures, and lists

Readers are drawn to things that they can quantify. It is easier for them read an article if it is summarized as a figure or a list. Also, this technique allows readers to have an idea of what they are about to read. For instance, if they are looking for tips to do something, they are more likely to click on a headline that identifies exactly how many tips are listed down.

2. Be descriptive

An effective headline should tell the readers what they should expect from the article. With just a few words, your headline should be able to describe and summarize the post. This calls for finding the right words to encapsulate your thoughts.

Even though the goal is to be descriptive, you should be careful of your headline being too wordy. A wordy headline can be counterproductive to your goal of persuading blog visitors to read your article.

3. Make bold statements

Blog posts are afforded to take a few liberties in writing headlines. Do not be afraid to include bold claims. The bolder the statement, the more interesting it is for the readers. For example, when writing a travel blog post, you can write your headline along the lines of “The Ultimate Travel Guide in this City.” Of course, make sure to follow through with a great article. Make true to the promise that you put forth in the headlines by writing an informative post.

4. Be helpful and educational

Readers visit blogs and websites for help and assistance. They search the web for instructions, tips, and guidance. Hence, make sure that your headline suggests to the readers that by reading the article or opening the link, their concerns and queries will be addressed.

Choose words that evoke knowledge and a helping hand. Make your readers know that you have the answers they are looking for, but do not sound too condescending in your headlines. 

5. Choose strong adjectives

There are countless powerful words that can be used in headline writing. Strong adjectives such as “ultimate,” “surprising,” or “viral,” among many other words, can evoke strong emotions in your readers. These entice them to read the article even more.

6. Ask questions

One helpful technique in writing the headline is to think of yourself as your reader. When searching about something only, they are likely to ask the question to a search engine. By phrasing your headline in a question form, you are making your article easier to be found online. 

The question mark punctuation also helps catch the eye. The punctuation helps the headline stand out and it draws your reader in by subtextually hinting that you have the answers to their questions.