The headline is the first (and maybe only) part of your content that people will see when they click through to your article. It’s a critical piece that can make or break your engagement and traffic.
To get the most out of your headlines, consider a few key factors:
Be Clear
Headlines need to be clear and direct. They need to tell the reader what the story is about and make them want to read on.
Be Short
People have short attention spans online and on social media, so you need to keep your headlines concise and clear. If your headline is too wordy, it could lose its impact.
Use Infectious Agents
Your headline should evoke an emotion (curiosity, surprise, anger, sadness, fear) to attract and engage your audience. This will help your content stand out and entice readers to click and share it. To do this, it’s important to know your audience and understand what kind of headlines they will react to best. If you’re unsure, test out your headlines on friends and family and ask for their gut reaction.