It’s all in the headline – we all know that. But how do I write a headline that will get clicks but is not clickbait? 5 ways to create a powerful headline that gets results the right way.
One of the most important parts of any article or blog you write is your headline. When I first started writing for the internet I under-valued the importance of this essential part of anything I wrote. I would write the content first and then the headline, almost never giving it more than a few seconds of consideration.
Now I know better.
I started learning the dynamics and psychology of writing a good headline and how it is so important that it is thought out and not just a quick summary of the article. I knew to stay away from clickbait headlines because even if they provide short-term benefits, they can create long-term mistrust.
But I also do want a headline that will catch my readers attention and actually entice them to read my article, right? And so I realized there is this fine balance between writing a headline that resonates with my readers and something that is just clickbait. The former establishes you as a legitimate expert in your field.
First things first: If your content delivers on the promise you made in your headline, it is not clickbait.
Here are five ways to make sure you craft an attention grabbing headline in a legitimate way.
5 Steps to Crafting a Legitimate Clickable Headline
1. Identify Your Reader and their Pain Points
Like any piece of content, you always want to keep your readers in mind. But this is especially important when you craft a headline that encourages readers to click on your article. If you start to see things from their perspective and what their pain or pleasure points are you will be able to draft headlines that appeal to them. This can be an aha moment for content creators who feel like things aren’t hitting with their audience.
Take the time to think what is going on in the head of your target audience, what they could benefit from, what they are struggling with, what are they reading. What emotion and power words would appeal to them?
2. Highlight Exactly what You Are Going to Provide
Your headline should right away tell your audience what you are going to provide for them. No matter what anyone says, people are here to learn, to get answers and solutions. They are turning to you for that.
Give it to them.
Your headline should clearly state what you are providing and how. This does not mean it should not be interesting, creative or even intriguing. It can all be those things and yet legitimate. Find your readers biggest struggles and your solutions and include it in the title.
3. Deliver It Upfront and Straightforward
Now that you have understood your target audiences pain points you need to be ready to deliver solutions upfront. This is especially important because readers are not going to read through your entire article to figure out what you are trying to say.
Get to it and do it in the beginning. Make it clear what you are suggesting and providing. Don’t be vague because it only confuses readers. If you have some tips and suggestions, just come out with it.
Remember disappointing your readers will only result in less return visitors.
4. Stamp it With your Authority and Numbers
If you are a new writer, use a headline that shows why readers should trust your expertise. If you are a qualified dietician and are writing an article about diet plans for individuals with Diabetes you could draw from your personal experience:
When Working with People with Diabetes I Learned This Remarkable Fact
This headline sounds more legit because immediately readers know that you come from a position of authority and have professional experience. Writing from a place of expertise builds trust amongst your readers and also lets them know that you know what you are talking about.
In addition to this, use numbers in your headlines to tell readers the value you are giving them. The headline How to Choose the Right Niche in 5 Steps for example tells readers that there are certain actionable steps you are going to be giving. Reading the article won’t be a waste of time because after they read it they will learn 5 steps that they can use to choose their writing niche.
This is solid advice and organized in a structured manner.
We do all of this to build a relationship of trust and eventually our readers will come back and continue to read our content because we have taken the time to build this relationship.
5. Test Your Headline
The last piece of advice I am going to give is this: If you aren’t sure about your headline, test it. There are some great free tools you can use to make sure you are headline will drive traffic. And when you are really going out of your way to craft a legitimate headline, this tool might just be your best friend.
Because you aren’t going to rely on clickbait language and words you may need to make sure your headline isn’t bleh. This is the fastest and easiest way to do just that. There are a lot of great options but I like AIOSEO.
Deliver on Your Promise
In the end after crafting your perfect headline, you need to deliver on your promise. This as mentioned earlier needs to be succinct, clear and actionable advice structured so it can be read easily.
Your readers will long remember the time you took to create content that actually provides something they can use in their professional life, personal life or whatever. What they will want to forget, is clicking on an article thinking it was about something else only to discover it was a waste of time.
Don’t waste people’s time, and avoid clickbait. It’s bad for SEO as detailed in this Semrush blog article.
But most importantly, its bad for your brand and business.
There you have it, a quick summary of how to write a headline that is defintely clickable but not necessarily clickbait.
How do you write your headlines? Do you write your content first and then your headline or vice versa?
What free tools do you use if any to vet your headline? I would be interested to learn more tips and tricks and if I am missing anything.
Remember: The more you practice writing headlines, the better you get. So don’t despair if it doesn’t come together in the beginning.
What is important is to stay focused and believe in yourself, take a deep breath, and write.
Originally published for New Writers Welcome on Medium on September 16, 2023.
Freelance Content Writer, SEO Blogger, Ghostwriter - squareONE 
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