Whether they’re news, blog, or ad headlines, effective headlines make your content easier to digest and more enjoyable for readers. They also help your content rank higher on search engines and improve reader engagement. Using a few key headline strategies, you can write the perfect headline every time.
Keeping an eye out for great headline ideas is just as important as coming up with them. Creating a process for capturing your best headlines, or even just having a place to store them (like your inbox or Evernote), can prevent writer’s block. You can then revisit them and pick the best one when you’re ready to write.
The top headlines of 2017 showcase a variety of events, from Trump threatening nuclear war to protesters taking a knee during the national anthem to natural disasters wreaking havoc across the country. There were also a few moments that stood out for their impact on society, like Robert Mugabe’s ouster.
To make sure your headlines are effective, they should align with the article content and be relevant to readers’ needs and expectations. This avoids clickbait, which may generate high click rates but ultimately erodes trust over time. It’s also important to avoid making grand claims or promises in your headlines. While these headlines might catch the attention of readers, they won’t stand out as memorable.