Top Headlines – How to Craft Attention-Getting Headlines That Get Readers to Click Through

A headline is the first thing a reader sees and can be the difference between scrolling past your content or clicking through. Having an attention-grabbing headline is crucial to turning readers into customers and boosting your SEO rankings. But not all headlines are created equal. A great headline will capture a reader’s interest, set the tone for your article, and promise some kind of benefit to encourage them to click through.

This type of headline takes an existing, popular belief or norm and turns it upside down with an alternative view. It’s a great way to grab a reader’s attention by making them do a double-take. It’s also a great way to generate curiosity and intrigue, especially when you use finality style words (power) like ultimate, best, guaranteed et cetera.

This is a simple headline formula that works well for both SEO and reader psychology. The keyphrase at the beginning of the headline provides perfect keyword prominence, while the “how to” part leverages human psychology by introducing a clear action that the reader can take. This format is especially effective for h1> tags and social media post titles, where truncation doesn’t occur. However, it doesn’t work for subject lines in email or for Google search results.