Irresistible Headline Formulas
Here are my irresistible headline formulas guaranteed to increase your clicks, shares and conversions. i.e. Guaranteed to multiply engagement with your content.
Head line Type: The How to Headline
Formula: How to [Achieve a Desired Outcome]
Example: How to multiply site visitor engagement 4X.
Head line Type: The How to Headline
Formula: How to [Achieve a Desired Outcome]
Example: How to multiply site visitor engagement 4X.
Head line Type: The Ultimate List Headline
Formula: [Large Number] of Ways to [Achieve an Outcome]
Example: 28 Ideas for Content Upgrades To Grow Your Email List.
Head line Type: The Ultimate Guide Headline
Formula: The Ultimate Guide to [Achieve a Desired Outcome]
Example: The Ultimate Guide To Eating Healthy On A Budget
Head line Type: The Fear monger Headline
Formula: Warning! Are You [Something Undesirable]?
Example: Warning! Are You Eating Food That Could Kill You?
Head line Type: The Rally Cry Headline
Formula: [A Call to Arms]
Example: Let’s Stop Over Promising And Under Delivering
Head line Type: The Proven Methods Headline
Formula: [Number] Proven [Actions/Ways] to [Achieve Desired Result]
Example: 18 Proven Techniques That Convert Site Visitors To Paying Customers.
Head line Type: The Mistakes Headline
Formula: [Number] Mistakes Most People Make When/With [Common Action]
Example: 11 Mistakes Most Bloggers Make When Using #Hashtags In Blog Post Content
Head line Type: The Secrets Headline
Formula: [Number] Secrets to [Achieve Desired Outcome]
Example: 7 Secrets To Living A Laptop Lifestyle
Head line Type: The Outrageous Headline
Formula: [Outrageous/Controversial Claim]
Example: Why Canadians Are Actually Evil
Head line Type: The Lessons Learned Headline
Formula: [Number] Lessons I Learned When/From [Experience]
Example: 7 Engagement Lessons I Learned From Authority Bloggers
Head line Type: The Testimonial Headline
Formula: [A Quote From/Summary of a Testimonial]
Example: How Facebook Adverts Changed My Business
Head line Type: The Objection / Pre-emptive Headline
Formula: No/Yes, You [Pre-Empt Objection] to [Achieve Desired Result]
Example: No, You Don’t Have To Count Calories To Lose Weight
Head line Type: The Question Headline
Formula: [Provocative Question]
Example: Are You Still Eating Food That Can Kill You?
Head line Type: The Testimonial Headline
Formula: [A Quote From/Summary of a Testimonial]
Example: How Facebook Adverts Changed My Business
Head line Type: The See What Happened Headline
Formula: [Person] Did [Unusual Action] [Timeframe]. Here’s What Happened
Example: I Meditated Every Day for 6 Months. Here’s What Happened
Head line Type: The How/Result Headline
Formula: How [A Seemingly Inconsequential Action] Can [Undesirable Result]
Example: How Your Morning Coffee Can Lead to Heart Disease
Head line Type: The Celebrity Headline
Formula: How to [Achieve Desired Outcome] Like [Celebrity]
Example: How to Sing Like Madonna
Head line Type: The How to Without Unpleasantness Headline
Formula: How to [Desired Outcome] Without [Unpleasant Action]
Example: How To Increase The Traffic To Your Website (Without a Huge Marketing Budget)
Head line Type: The Analysis Headline
Formula: We Analyzed [Number] [Measurable] And This Is What We Learned
Example: We Analyzed 100 Million Articles (And This is What We Learned)
Head line Type: The Tutorial Headline
Formula: A [Power Word] Tutorial to [Achieve Desired Outcome]
Example: A Comprehensive Tutorial To Speed Up Your WordPress Website
Head line Type: The Hacks Headline
Formula: [Number] Hacks to [Achieve Desired Outcome]
Example: 25 Hacks to Save More Money
Head line Type: The Explainer Headline
Formula: Why [Thing] [Outcome]
Example: Why Is Spirulina A Super Food
Head line Type: The Steps to Result Headline
Formula: [Number] Steps to [Achieve Desired Outcome]
Example: 10 Steps To The Shortest Page Load Speeds
Head line Type: The Quiz Headline
Formula: Quiz: [Which/What/How] [Quiz Topic]?
Example: Quiz: Which Harry Potter Character Are You?
Head line Type: The Fortune Teller Headline
Formula: [A Claim as if You Know the Future]
Example: You Won’t Be Able to Lose Weight in 2018.
Head line Type: The News Headline
Formula: Breaking: [Story]
Example: Breaking: Prime Minister Narendra Modi Meets Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu
Head line Type: The Command Headline
Formula: [Strong Command]
Example: Stop Selling Out
Head line Type: The Reasons Headline
Formula: [Number/”Here’s Why] [Outcome]
Example: 16 Reasons Why Red Roses Spell Out Love
Head line Type: The Imagination Headline
Formula: Imagine [Desired Outcome]
Example: Imagine Becoming a Millionaire
Head line Type: The Little Known Methods Headline
Formula: Imagine [Number] Little-Known Ways to [Desired Outcome]
Example: 15 Little-Known Ways To Actually Reach Your Goals
Head line Type: The Ignorance Avoidance Headline
Formula: What You Should Know About [Topic]
Example: What You Should Know About US Gun Laws
Head line Type: The Snackable Headline
Formula: [4 Words or Fewer Summarizing Topic]
Example: You Aren’t That Special
Head line Type: The Pattern Interruption Headline
Formula: [Claim That Goes Against What Most People Think is True]
Example: Yes! Fruit Can Make You Fat
Head line Type: The Solutions Headline
Formula: Why [Problem] (And What to Do About It)
Example: Why You’re Not Getting Traffic to Your Website (And What to Do About It)
Head line Type: The Expert Roundup Headline
Formula: [Number] [Expert] Share [What]
Example: 14 Nutritionists Share Their Favourite Plant Based Recipes
Head line Type: The Reminder Headline
Formula: Reminder: [Claim or Truth]
Example: Remember Your Weight Is Not A Reflection Of Your Health
Head line Type: The Comparison Headline
Formula: Are You More Like [X] or [Y]?
Example: Are You More An Activist Or Pacifist?
Head line Type: The Trivia Headline
Formula: Can You [Find/Spot/Answer/etc]
Example: Can You Find Out What’s Wrong With This Photo?
Head line Type: The Promise Headline
Formula: [Promise of What Your Business/Services Will Do]
Example: We Can Help You Boost Your Traffic By 20%
Head line Type: The Results Headline
Formula: How We [Desired Result] in [Timeframe]
Example: How We Boosted Our Traffic by 20% in 6 Weeks
Head line Type: The Teaser Headline
Formula: These/Find Out Which [Thing] Could/Will [Desired Outcome]
Example: These 6 Foods Cannot Help You Shed 15 Pounds
Head line Type: The Urgency Headline
Formula: [Action] NOW!
Example: Fix Your Conversion Rate NOW
Head line Type: The Teaser Headline
Formula: These/Find Out Which [Thing] Could/Will [Desired Outcome]
Example: These 6 Foods Cannot Help You Shed 15 Pounds
Head line Type: The Audience Headline
Formula: [Audience]! Are You [Undesirable/Desirable Outcome]?
Example: Bloggers! Are You Leaving Traffic on the Table?
Hi Ivan!
I am loving this post. Headlines are so important to our content. No matter how great our content is, if we don’t have a click-worthy headline who is going to read our content?
This information totally resonates with me. I spend so much time brainstorming effective headlines for blog posts, email subject lines, Pinterest pins and more.
Thank you for listing all of those irresistible headline formulas. I will be bookmarking this post and referring back to it when writing any content headlines. I also really enjoy the organization of this post, it makes it super easy and comfortable to read.
Thanks for such a value packed post!
Have a great week,
Deanna
Hi Deanna,
Thanks for all your kind words. This is music to any Blogger’s ears. I’m glad my Blog post added some value to you.
It was really nice of you to leave such an encouraging comment. Once again Thanks heaps.
Warmly,
Ivan Bayross