How to Write Great Article Headlines

A mesmerizing article headline grabs the readers’ attention immediately. If written properly it sets the tone of the article and compels you to continue reading. Creatively combine news, current events and pop culture topics to create great article headlines that get read.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Use current events for article headline inspiration. Strong article headlines allow writers rare opportunities to entertain and inform the reader. If readers are searching for money-saving titles in response to the recession, example headlines could include: "The Best Ways to Save Money on Doctors and Health Care" or "How to Clip Coupons and Lower Your Grocery Bill By 50 Percent." Find an interesting angle to today’s top news stories for your article headlines. Current events, entertainment news and holidays provide great story ideas. A suggestion for Christmas and Thanksgiving is: " How to Buy Holiday Decorations on a Budget."

2. Add numbers in your title to pique readers' interest. Busy readers love number-based article headlines. For example: “3 Great Ways to Please Your Lover” or “10 Mistakes Every New Mom Should Avoid” are great article headline examples that use numbers effectively. Create headlines that support articles filled with lists and top tips. Fill these headlines with benefits that will be supported by the remaining article paragraphs.

3. Apply two magic words to inform your reader. “How-to” articles are infectious. Article headlines that contain these two words are destined to be devoured by your readership. Readers can’t resist methods that solve problems. When using this headline method make certain that the research supports the headline’s premise effectively.

4. Keep the article headline short. The best article titles are short and memorable. Busy readers are bombarded with news headlines via the Internet, newsstand and television. Too much verbiage will lose the reader’s interest. "Free Holiday Travel Tips" or "Make More Money Online" are titles that explain the article's premise simply. Keep titles short and sweet. Effective article titles lure instead of repel.

5. Add keywords to the beginning of the article title for search engine optimization (SEO). When writing for the web, knowledge of keyword placement is essential. If possible insert your keyword into the first two or three words of the article headline. If your keyword is "luxury travel destinations," the article headline would read: "Luxury Travel Destinations By Air, Land and Sea." The three keywords would also be repeated in the article body to maximize your SEO efforts. On the web, article headlines are viewed via RSS feeds, as links to other web pages, and in search engine results. Concise and well-written titles are necessary to create a solid article headline for web citizens.

Tips & Warnings

• Collect a working list or swipe file of news headlines and article titles from Internet sites and magazines. Use this list for inspiration when creating article headlines.
• Use jargon and slang wisely. Think about your readership before you add questionable language into article headlines.
• Insert detailed information into the subhead to explain an article headline that is vague or entertaining.
• Short, keyword-rich and engaging, web article headlines are even more difficult to craft for Internet audiences.

Resources

• How to Write an Article Headline
• 13 Emotion-Based Headlines That Work