Top 10 Words You Should Be Using in Your Headlines

Top 10 Words You Should Be Using in Your Headlines

Before anyone reads your ad or article, they read the headline first. In fact, even if they don’t read your article, they will likely read the headline. How much careful thought are you putting into your headlines? Since more people read the headline than the article itself, the logic says that you should spend more of your advertising dollars on headlines then you do the actual article itself.

Headlines do more than just tell people about the article. The headline is not a subject line. A headline is designed to be enticing enough get that click-thru so that people read the article or watch the video. Here’s another Top 10 List of words that you should be using in your headlines.

Numbered Lists

Look at the name of this article. This is a Top 10 List. That I get your attention? People love numbered lists. Numbered lists tell people how long the article is, what it’s about, and it implies that the author knows something that you don’t. That can drive people nuts. Many people don’t pay enough attention to the world around them to notice some of the smaller, more subtle things. Numbered list are designed to bring the smaller, more subtle things to the forefront of people’s minds.

This

Once again, the word “this” implies that the author knows something that you don’t. It works particularly well because it is a guiding word. When you look at a photo of someone looking in a certain direction, you can’t but help to look in the same direction too. Well, “this” is a guiding word. I might as well be pointing a finger at “this” because people will be wondering what “this” is.

You/Your

The words “you” and “your” imply something personal. Instead of talking ‘at’ your audience, you’re talking ‘to’ your audience. You’re telling your audience how they can take your information and use it in their lives. In other words, you’re making your information relevant. Where have I heard that before? Something along the lines of content creation – keeping your content relevant to your audience?

How To

This is another one people go nuts over. People love the how-to articles. In fact, the Internet is where people turn when they want to learn how to do something. In fact, that is the entire premise behind some of the most prominent social media marketing platforms such as Pinterest – how to do this and how to do that. Even if the users already know how to do something, most people are open to new ways. How-to articles and how-to videos have that element of the unknown – that of curiosity.

Secrets

You know, now that I think about it, most of these words imply that the author knows something that you don’t. Creating an article that says, “How to Do This,” implies that I know how to do something that you don’t. Numbered lists, How-To and “this” all imply that I know something you don’t. Well, I have a secret for you. The word “secrets” also implies that I know something you don’t. Even if I don’t, I’m telling you that I do. That’s enough to get people to click through to the article.

Success

Everyone loves success, right? Isn’t that why we went into business for ourselves begin with? I don’t know about you, but that’s why I went into business for myself. The sound of success is so enticing that there are entire industries of people that do nothing more than teach you how to be successful.

Simple

Just like success, everyone loves to keep things simple. Everyone wants to do more with their time and make their money stretch all while keeping things simple. If I made you jump through 10 hoops to get something you wanted, then either you want that something really bad or it won’t be worth your effort. Over complicating things can lead to frustration. Just like the KISS adage – Keep It Simple, Stupid (or Keep It Short and Simple – either one works).

Valuable

Valuable – here’s another word that implies that I know something you don’t. At least, it implies that I have something that you don’t and that you want what I have. Oh yeah – it also implies that I’m making it available to you. I’ve always subscribed to the belief that value is found at the junction of price and opportunity (at least when it pertains to marketing). If I make something useful, price it low, and give you the opportunity to purchase it, I might’ve just given you value.

Guidelines

Wow – here’s another word that implies that I know more than you. People don’t like being pioneers – the “unknown element” runs too high. Instead, they like copying the success of other people. The way they see it is that if it works for them, it should work for you too, right? All they need to do now is provide a set of guidelines to follow. Do you see what I did there?

Benefits

People love benefits. It doesn’t just imply that your life will be easier – it downright tells you that your life will be easier. If you read this article or watch this video, you’ll get these benefits. This falls right in place with the whole notion that that people need to work smarter – not harder.

P.S. Try our Headline Creation Tool by clicking here!

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Gabe Arnold creates affordable, long-term marketing and technology solutions for businesses of all sizes. He has over 15 years of experience in writing, technology, and marketing campaign creation, and management.

Gabe has worked with over 1,000 startups as well as hundreds of established businesses over the past decade to help them achieve their goals. He is passionate about connecting businesses with the best possible solutions in marketing and automation. Gabe helps business owners like you reach their full potential. Contact Gabe here, or follow him on Twitter.