With over 70 million new posts produced every month on WordPress alone – it’s becoming more challenging for brands and individuals to stand out from the crowd. But it all starts with the headline – a piece of news must be compelling enough to catch someone’s attention and persuade them to click through. Great headlines make specific promises, ask what’s in it for the reader and use the most important information first (e.g., “Army warns civilians to stay away from Soldiers”).
News headline writers have a lot in common with copywriters: they must be engaging, informative and, if possible, clever, all within a limited space. They also often work in real-time, which requires them to be accurate and unbiased at all times. Despite these challenges, many newspaper headlines are entertaining and insightful.
Often, the most important details are included in the body of the article itself, and the headline simply highlights it. This method helps keep the reader engaged, and it allows for a more concise headline without sacrificing the importance of the story itself.
Writing a strong headline takes practice and the ability to empathize with your audience. When creating a headline, it’s important to consider your angle – what sets this story apart from the others on the same topic? It’s a question that is especially important for content marketers who are competing against other similar stories as people scroll through search results on social media and other sites.