5 Tips To Write Engaging Headlines

Your headline is what will pull a reader in or push a reader away. It must be engaging, interesting and targeted. You have to make it so that readers WANT to read further, so that they think that they think that you will provide quality content. This is easier said than done. Whether you are doing this for blog posts, press releases or for social networking, engaging headlines to maximize your exposure.
Make it a Question
People respond to headlines that pose as questions. When we have questions, we often run a search on Google or Firefox for those answers. That’s why people respond to it well on headlines. Opinion pieces or blog posts work well in question form. A headline in the form of a question lets the reader know that in fact, you are the expert and you have the answers!
Use Numbers
Using numbers in headlines almost always works to attract attention from readers. Make sure that you vary it up so that not every one of your headlines sounds the same. When you incorporate numbers, such as 6 Ways or 6 Secrets to do something, it gives a promise to readers about what they will learn. It makes people want to click further. Period.
Keep it Short
Reading on the web is vastly different than reading print media or books. People scan and read things quickly. They want to get to the point. That’s why you need to keep your headlines short and sweet. This doesn’t mean that you can’t occasionally use long headlines. Just keep most of them 10 words or less.
What’s In It for Them?
As I mentioned earlier, people read articles when it benefits them. They also want to know how to do things or why someone would do something. Start headlines with “How to” or something similar. Consider what you would search for if interested in the topic. Effective marketing means that you have to climb into the heads of consumers.
The World Wide Web is filled with great information. You are competing with countless sites and writers that are similar to yours, no matter the subject. Put yourself in a prime position and get your content out there and visible. The actual content in your articles or blog posts is crucial as well. A well-crafted headline will draw people in but your content must keep them interested. Once you hook in a reader, the real challenge is getting them to come back.