Headlines 101
It doesn’t matter how great your content is.
If you can’t write headlines, no one will click and read.
I’ve spent 3,000+ hours obsessing over how to write irresistible headlines.
Want to know a secret?
The best headlines all use the *exact* same 5 pieces:
It doesn’t matter how great your content is.
If you can’t write headlines, no one will click and read.
I’ve spent 3,000+ hours obsessing over how to write irresistible headlines.
Want to know a secret?
The best headlines all use the *exact* same 5 pieces:
1. How Many?
All "listicle" articles start with a number.
• 6 Ways
• 7 Reasons
• 8 Brutal Truths
• 9 Heartbreaking Movies
Readers love containers.
Numbers and lists make it easy for people to understand exactly what they're getting in return for their time spent reading.
All "listicle" articles start with a number.
• 6 Ways
• 7 Reasons
• 8 Brutal Truths
• 9 Heartbreaking Movies
Readers love containers.
Numbers and lists make it easy for people to understand exactly what they're getting in return for their time spent reading.
2/ The What
This is an essential piece of every headline.
Before the reader clicks, they need to know what it is.
• What are they looking at?
• What's inside this black box?
If your headline doesn't have a clear WHAT, your ability to attract readers shrinks exponentially.
This is an essential piece of every headline.
Before the reader clicks, they need to know what it is.
• What are they looking at?
• What's inside this black box?
If your headline doesn't have a clear WHAT, your ability to attract readers shrinks exponentially.
3/ The Who
When you're writing for a niche there are benefits to naming the audience directly.
For example:
• "How To Start Your First Side Hustle As A College Student"
The 'who' here is "College Students."
They'll click, but others won't.
You win.
When you're writing for a niche there are benefits to naming the audience directly.
For example:
• "How To Start Your First Side Hustle As A College Student"
The 'who' here is "College Students."
They'll click, but others won't.
You win.
4/ The Feel
How do you want the reader to FEEL about the topic?
Compare these two headlines:
• "I Just Ate An Entire Barrel Of Ice Cream."
vs.
• "I Just Ate An Entire Barrel Of Ice Cream. Here's What I Learned About Loving Myself Through My Mistakes."
See the difference?
How do you want the reader to FEEL about the topic?
Compare these two headlines:
• "I Just Ate An Entire Barrel Of Ice Cream."
vs.
• "I Just Ate An Entire Barrel Of Ice Cream. Here's What I Learned About Loving Myself Through My Mistakes."
See the difference?
5/ The Promise
The last part of your headline tells the reader what they'll get in exchange for reading.
• "7 Ways To Cook Healthy Lunches" = Good
• "7 Ways To Cook Healthy Lunches, Lose Weight & Give Up Fast Food Once And For All" = Better
Make the reader a great promise.
The last part of your headline tells the reader what they'll get in exchange for reading.
• "7 Ways To Cook Healthy Lunches" = Good
• "7 Ways To Cook Healthy Lunches, Lose Weight & Give Up Fast Food Once And For All" = Better
Make the reader a great promise.
That's a wrap!
Here are the crucial 5 pieces of every headline:
• How Many?
• The What
• The Who
• The Feel
• The Promise
Use most or all of these, and you’ll get more clicks than you can imagine.
Here are the crucial 5 pieces of every headline:
• How Many?
• The What
• The Who
• The Feel
• The Promise
Use most or all of these, and you’ll get more clicks than you can imagine.
If you're new to writing online (or you've been writing forever but want to level-up your Digital Writing skills), I wrote this book for you:
• Headlines & Hooks
• 1/3/1 Writing Rhythms
• Formatting best-practices
• How to "name & claim" your niche
amazon.com
• Headlines & Hooks
• 1/3/1 Writing Rhythms
• Formatting best-practices
• How to "name & claim" your niche
amazon.com
And if you really want to go down the rabbit hole…
Here's everything you need to start writing, build an audience, and create new career opportunities for yourself online:
startwritingonline.com
Here's everything you need to start writing, build an audience, and create new career opportunities for yourself online:
startwritingonline.com
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