• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Social Media Examiner | Social Media Marketing

Your Guide to the Social Media Jungle

  • 🔥 Free Newsletter
  • ☀️ Web3 Conference
  • 🔎 Find Marketing Help
  • ⚙️ Tools
  • 🗓️ Events
  • 🎧 Shows
    • Social Media Marketing Podcast
    • Social Media Marketing Talk Show
    • Crypto Business Podcast
    • Our YouTube Channel
  • Content
    • Articles
      • Web3
      • How To
        • Instagram Marketing
        • Facebook Ads
        • Facebook Marketing
        • YouTube Marketing
        • YouTube Ads
        • LinkedIn Marketing
        • TikTok Marketing
        • Clubhouse
      • View Points
      • Expert Interviews
      • Tools
    • Video Tutorials
      • Instagram Marketing
      • Instagram Ads
      • Facebook Marketing
      • Facebook Ads
      • LinkedIn Ads
      • TikTok
      • Clubhouse
  • Sponsor
    • Podcast Sponsorship
    • Email Sponsorship
    • Event Sponsorship
  • About
    • Society
  • Search
  • Web3 Business ConferenceLearn how to put NFTs to work for your business.BIG SALE, SAVE NOW!

    6 Tips for Writing Headlines That Drive Traffic

    by Tim Felmingham / December 29, 2015

    social media how toAre your headlines performing as well as you’d like?

    Do you want to write more effective headlines?

    Using a few simple techniques, you can craft headlines that capture attention and convince people to click through to your content.

    In this article you’ll discover six tips for writing effective headlines that drive traffic.

    write headlines that drive traffic
    Discover 6 tips for writing headlines that drive traffic.

    Listen to this article:

    Where to subscribe: Apple Podcast | Google Podcasts | Spotify | RSS

    #1: Begin With Numbers

    Headlines containing numbers typically perform better than other types of headlines. A list-type post promises to be quick and easy to read, and that’s important in today’s busy world.

    You can use a low number to illustrate how concise your article is, or a high number to illustrate how comprehensive it is. But don’t use too high a number or you’ll lose the benefit of the content appearing easy to consume.

    high number
    Use a high number to convey how comprehensive your article is.

    Odd numbers generally perform better than even numbers, as they appear less conveniently packaged than even numbers, and the number seven works well in headlines.

    numeral 7 example socialy sorted
    The number seven is effective in headlines.

    Make sure you use a numeral rather than spell out the number. Numerals stand out better in headlines and take up less space.

    #2: Highlight Value

    Why should people read your post? What’s in it for them? The benefit should be clear, simple and direct in the headline.

    How-to headlines always work well, in part because they’re so clear. The reader can see instantly the benefit to be gained by reading the article.

    how to andrea vahl
    Explain to the audience what they’ll get out of reading the article.

    Your headline should promise something. And the more specific you can make that promise, the better.

    how to maximize your social
    Convey a specific benefit in your headline.

    It’s an added bonus if you can incorporate drama, excitement or humor in the headline, but don’t lose credibility. People distrust outrageous or unlikely claims, so make sure your benefit is genuine and believable.

    #3: Pique Curiosity

    Headlines with questions can be effective, provided you compose them the right way. The golden rule is never to ask a question that your reader can answer “no“ to.

    Your Guide to the Future of Business

    Crypto Business Conference

    The Web3 renaissance opens up new opportunities for entrepreneurs, creators, and marketers who are ready to embrace the changes. But, who can you trust?

    Introducing the Crypto Business Conference; a premium event for anyone who wants to learn how to put Web3 to work for their business.

    Join us in sunny San Diego, California, for the first-ever crypto conference for business pioneers…not finance and tech nerds. You’ll get actionable, business-building ideas from proven innovators—without all the techie jargon.

    CLAIM YOUR SEAT

    Likewise, if you answer the question in the headline, there is no need for people to read the article. They already know the answer.

    The question in the following headline creates tension. Readers will want to know the answer, so they’ll read the article to find out.

    question razor social
    Ask a question that readers will want to know the answer to.

    Questions arouse curiosity, which is a powerful emotion.

    #4: Stay Away From Positive Superlatives

    We’re conditioned to always be positive in our communications. But is that tactic effective in headlines?

    A study by Outbrain found that the average click-through rate on headlines containing negative superlatives (“never” or “worst,” for example) performed 63% better than those containing positives (like “always” or “best”).

    In fact, headlines containing positive superlatives performed 29% worse than those without any superlatives. One reason is that the overuse of superlatives (such as best, fastest or cheapest) in marketing has led to them being ignored, or worse still, disbelieved.

    Negative terms are more likely to be viewed as authentic and genuine.

    Launch Social Projects Faster and Easier

    FindHelp Marketplace

    Looking for a content creator, campaign manager, or strategist for your social channels or a special project?

    Find the right expert for even the most complicated project or campaign in just a few clicks with our new FindHelp marketplace. You'll have more time to focus on other areas of your business without sacrificing your social presence. Browse highly qualified Facebook and Instagram experts today.

    FIND HELP TODAY
    negative supurlatives
    Negative superlatives can be effective in headlines.

    #5: Add Adjectives and Power Words

    Unlike superlatives, which can turn readers off, adjectives (if used correctly) can create interest.

    Incorporate adjectives like beautiful, brilliant, effortless, essential, fun, horrifying, incredible, strange, useful and valuable in your headlines. These words grab your readers’ attention and intrigue them sufficiently to read on.

    power words
    Use power words to grab your audience’s attention and motivate them to keep reading.

    To write more persuasive headlines, try these five power words: you, free, because, instantly and new. Beloved by copywriters, these words have been used in headlines for decades.

    If you use these words in your headlines, you’re pretty much guaranteed a boost in your click-through rates.

    #6: Use Punctuation

    The Outbrain study mentioned above also found that simply adding a hyphen or a colon to a headline increases click-through rates by 9%.

    punctuation
    Using a hyphen or colon in your headline improves clarity.

    It’s a simple technique to use. Place your main keyword before the colon or hyphen, and add your clickbait headline after it.

    Note Optimal Headline Lengths

    While eight words might be best for a blog post title, other platforms and applications may have their own restrictions. For example, Twitter has a 140-character limit, and you need to allow enough room for people to retweet with a comment or a mention.

    According to Buffer, these are the optimal lengths for social media posts:

    • Twitter: 71 to 100 characters. Tweets under 100 characters receive 17% more engagement.
    • Facebook: Although Facebook doesn’t have a character limit, posts with 80 characters or fewer receive 66% more engagement than longer ones.
    • Google+: The ideal length of a Google+ headline is fewer than 60 characters.

    Analyze and Improve Your Headlines

    When you start to apply these principles in your headline writing, you’ll soon find that you have several headline variations to choose from for your articles. Use a tool like CoSchedule’s Headline Analyzer to test your headlines and see which one ranks highest.

    The Headline Analyzer gives your headlines a rating out of a possible score of 100. The higher the rating, the more effective the headline is likely to be.

    headline analyzer 1
    The Headline Analyzer rates your headline out of a possible score of 100.

    This tool looks at several different factors, including the headline type (for example, list, how-to or question), the right balance of words (common, uncommon, emotional and power words) and the length of your headline.

    headline analyzer 2
    The Headline Analyzer looks at these factors when assessing your headline’s strength.

    In addition to a score, the Headline Analyzer will provide suggestions to improve your headline.

    Aim for a score of B+ or better (around 75). If you score less than that, revise the headline following the suggestions given until you get up to that level or higher.

    Conclusion

    According to Copyblogger, only 20% of people who see your post will read beyond the headline. A great headline will make the difference between your post being read and shared like crazy, or sitting unread and ignored.

    What do you think? Have you used any of these techniques to write headlines? What tactics work well for you? Please share your thoughts in the comments below.

    writing headlines that drive traffic
    Tips for writing headlines that drive traffic.

    Curious about NFTs, DAOs, and Web3?

    Crypto

    Follow the Crypto Business podcast to find out how NFTs, social tokens, DAOs (and so much more) will affect your business in the near future.

    Every Friday, host Michael Stelzner interviews leading industry experts about what works right now in Web3 and what to expect in the future, so you can prepare your business for the shift, even if you're a total newbie.

    FOLLOW THE SHOW

    Tags: Blogging

    About the authorTim Felmingham

    Tim is an Internet Marketer and Blogger who shares marketing tips & techniques to help you grow your business. Read his Ultimate Guide To Free Traffic from Twitter.
    Other posts by Tim Felmingham Âť

    Get Social Media Examiner’s Future Articles in Your Inbox!

    Get our latest articles delivered to your email inbox and get the FREE Social Media Marketing Industry Report (39 pages, 50+ charts)!

    Industry Report Cover

    Worth Exploring:

    Facebook

    Marketing Help Explore More →

    Instagram

    Marketing Help Explore More →

    YouTube

    Marketing Help Explore More →

    Linkedin

    Marketing Help Explore More →

    Facebook Ads

    Marketing Help Explore More →

    Social Media Marketing Industry Report

    Get Free Report →

    Social Marketing Trends

    The data you've been missing!

    Need a new plan? Find out how thousands of marketers plan to change their social marketing activities in our 14th annual Social Media Marketing Industry Report. This 39-page report reveals what marketers have planned for their organic social activities, video marketing, social ads, and more. Get this free report now and never miss another great article from Social Media Examiner.

    Enter your email to get
    our free report:


    Footer

    Your Guide to the Social Media Jungle
    Copyright © 2022 Social Media ExaminerÂŽ
    All Rights Reserved. Terms of Use | Privacy Policy.

    Helpful Links

    • About us
    • Our content via email
    • Our podcasts
    • Our YouTube channel
    • Our live show
    • Our industry report
    • Sponsorship opportunities
    • Write for us…
    • RSS
    • Accessibility