When you write an article, have you ever wondered what the most important thing is? You might assume it's the use of a specific keyword or the overall content of the article. However, if you're unsure, you're not alone. There are millions of people who work diligently on their articles yet struggle to identify the key component that makes their articles truly exceptional.

It's the title of the article. At first, it may seem common, and you may think, what's so special about it? Well, let's take an example to understand this. 

Whenever you search for something on search engines like Google, what do you read when you get search results? Do you read the content first or the keywords first? You know that you will read the title first, and everyone does the same. Whenever a person gets a search result, they will first read the title. If the title is relevant to your query, you will click on it; otherwise, it is not. 

So, now you can understand the most important component of your articles. Now, the question is how to write compelling headlines for your content. That's what we will discuss here, so without any delays, let's dive in. 

Why You Should Write Compelling Headlines?

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Let's first have a glance at some more benefits of compelling headlines. 

1. Attract Readers 

Above, we have read that a compelling headline can draw attention to your article. If you want to reach a wider audience, then you have to write catchy titles. They can attract readers and convince them to invest their time in your article. 

Your article title can seed curiosity and a sense of urgency if written well. These emotions will make readers go through your article and see what it offers. 

This becomes even more important when you have plenty of competitors writing on the same niche. In this situation, if you want to stand apart from your competitors, this can be one thing to do. 

2. Get High Ranking on Search Engines 

You might know that your SEO also incorporates a good title as a factor to rank. When you use an SEO-optimized title with keywords, you can get a higher ranking on search engines. 

Search engines know very well what kind of titles get more clicks and thus rank an article based on their title, too. So, if you use SEO-optimized titles, then you can't only entice readers but also search engines. 

3. Offer the Essence of Your Article 

A well-crafted headline can provide the essence of your article. You can understand this after you read the title. For instance, if the title asks a question, does it contain some tips, or is it a guide? 

You can know these things just after reading the title. Then you can decide whether you want to read the article or not. If your title has the core message of your article, then half of the work is done. The rest of your article will do. 

4. Increase Engagement on Social Media 

In today's era, social media platforms have become an inseparable part of our lives. Every day, millions share blog posts or articles through their social media accounts just after their titles. 

So, if you write compelling headlines, then they will be shared on social media sites. This will bring more traffic to your article, and you can reach a wider audience.

Did you know that 59% of people share content without reading it first? Therefore, we must ensure our headlines appeal to those who might pass them along.

5. Build a Brand Image 

If you are consistent in your articles and their titles, then people will start recognizing you. Whenever they will see your title, they will remember the previous ones they have read. If those are impressive enough, then in no time, they will quickly choose your article over others. 

Thus, in this way, with your well-crafted titles, you can build brand recognition for your website. 

Hence, writing attractive headlines for your articles is important. However, this raises the question of how to craft compelling headlines.

Go Through Google Search Results 

Before jumping onto any title for your article, search it on the Google search engine. For example, if you have digital marketing as your keyword, search this term on Google. 

In the search engine result pages, you will know what your competitors write and offer to their readers. 

Also, you will get to know what exactly is the pain point of your readers and what they want to know from an article. And if they are getting what they want. 

3 Keys to Write Powerful Titles

If not, then you can use this opportunity to present what readers want to know. Also, after analyzing the titles used by your competitors, you will know how to make different headlines. 

When you know the pain point of your readers, you can incorporate that in your titles. Suppose your readers want to know tips on digital marketing. So your headline can be 

• Digital Marketing: 101 Tips You Must Know 

Or if your readers are newbies in digital marketing and want a detailed guide on digital marketing, then your headline can be 

• A Beginner Guide To Digital Marketing 

This way, through your titles, you can stand apart from your competitors and attract readers by addressing their issues. 

1. Use an Emotion

If you know the power of words, you can understand this tip to write compelling headlines. Some words can change the emotions of a person and can make them cry or laugh. These words are known as power words that attach emotions to them. 

When you use these words in your title, they provide an emotion to your title. Readers can relate to these emotions and will feel attracted naturally. 

Remember, as a content writer, you are not just writing content. You want people to feel whatever you are saying in your content. For that, you have to use power words not only in your content but in your title, too. And we know why because even before readers read your article, they will read its title. 

So, if your title has power words and emotions, then readers will know what to expect from your article and will click on it. However, remember that you have to use power words or emotions in your title naturally. You can't force them because then the title will feel artificial, and you have to avoid that. 

Thus, by using power words, you can give emotions to your headlines that people can relate to. 

2. Ask Questions 

Another tip for writing compelling headlines is to ask a question in your title. In the above section, we have discussed that using emotions and power words in your title is a good thing. And asking a question can be a brilliant way to do it. 

A question in your title can invoke curiosity in the reader's heart. Instantaneously, they will want to know about the answer and will read your content. 

Also, a question in your title can relate to the question readers already have or want to know. And when they see your title with the same question, they will definitely want to read it. 

However, if you are using a question in your article, then you should provide an appropriate answer to it. And it can't be a no or yes.

For example, let's suppose you are writing on digital marketing. So, to invoke curiosity in your readers, you can make a title like:

• Is Digital Marketing Worth Your Time? Know All About It Here 

This way, you make readers go through your article by just using a question in your headline. 

3. Be Specific 

While writing catchy headlines for your content, don't be vague and specific. Now, what does this mean? Let's take an example to understand this. 

Suppose you have to write an article on digital marketing, so what can be your title for it? 

• A Guide On Digital Marketing 

This is an example of a vague headline. 

Now, have a look at these titles, 

• A Beginner Guide To Digital Marketing

It shows that the article is for newbies in digital marketing. 

• Digital Marketing: 7 Tips For Pro Marketers 

This title reflects that the content is for experienced marketers who are already familiar with digital marketing and need some expert advice on it. 

• 5 Pros And Cons Of Digital Marketing You Should Know 

From this headline, you can know that the article is on the benefits and limitations of digital marketing. 

Thus, in this way, by using specific sentiments, you can write compelling headlines.

4. Use Numerals 

According to research, using numbers in your titles can make it more attractive. Also, these titles are more shared on social media and generate more engagement. 

Well, this way of writing titles is not vague and has a psychological and scientific background. According to research, people are more addicted to numbers, and it is scientifically proven that people prefer odd numbers to even numbers. 

This can be because of the psychological way of titles, which says that people feel odd numbers are more powerful than even numbers. Also, when readers see numbers in a title, a number-craving part of their mind gets activated. 

Various studies also show this phenomenon. They have found that articles with odd numbers in their title have gotten more clicks. 

However, there are some tips you should know before using numbers in your titles. First, use numerical numbers and not alphabetic numbers. For example, 

• 5 Ways To Use Digital Marketing For Your Business 

And if you are working on a step-by-step guide article, don't use more than 9 steps. There is a limit to our brain, after which it struggles to process information more than 9 items at once. 

Although it's not the case with other titles. For instance, if you are using words like Tips or Tools in your title, then you can use as many numbers as you want. 

5. Attract Your Readers 

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You must be aware of the competition you are in. When your readers have thousands of blogs and millions of ads, then it takes a lot of work to attract them. 

That is why you have to use the 'call for attention' method. In this method, you have to attract the readers to read your articles. Under this method, 4Us are prescribed that are as follows, 

• Unique 

• Ultra - specific 

• Urgency 

• Useful

These 4 Us means that your headline should be unique, ultra-specific, with a sense of urgency, and provide something useful. When your titles incorporate all these essential things, they can attract readers. 

Conclusion

In this article, we have discussed why you should write compelling headlines. Now, you know that a catchy headline can attract readers to your content, increase click-through rate, and, if used consistently, can also build brand recognition. 

However, what's more important is to know how to write attractive headlines. Well, as you have seen, there are many tips that you can follow, but you can't use all of them at once. 

So, take your time and use different tips in different titles. Also, don't waste too much time on the title only. They make readers land on your page, but investing hours in them is not worth it. Instead, make a few titles of a single article and then select one. Also, after choosing a title, check its success. 

There are various tools available out there that let you check your title on different metrics. So you will know how these headlines will perform. And don't forget to keep experimenting with your titles; that's the essence of writing compelling titles.