The fact is there is no perfect headline. That is the truth. But there is a perfect headline that works for your target audience. So the real question is how to write a headline that can work best for your audience or readers.

A great headline combines a strong sentence with an attractive offer. It includes a compelling pitch and appeals to the audience.

There are four parts to an overall strategy on how to write a headline.

1. Make basic quality checks
2. Meet fundamental sentence criteria
3. Be clear on what you are offering in the article
4. Appeal to your target readers

Tip : Understand what is a headline – with examples. Here.

All the versions of the headlines that you see in below sections are written with socialDapr tool. The tool will give you options. You can pick a selection in each of these how to write a headline criteria. It lets you generate 10 versions of a headline.

#1 Basic Quality Checks for your headline

A great headline should meet five key quality criteria. NPR training wrote these 5 tips in their 2015 article How to write great headlines that keep readers engaged. 2015 was a time when copywriters (not the AI) are the ones writing articles. That is why these tips are our favorite ones. In our framework we consider them as basic set of quality checks.

• Do not be overly clever
• Be specific
• Make it easy to understand
• Let the user react
• Be concise

Lets assume you run a blog/ website that provides workout tips to 50 year old men. Here is a simple headline idea:

Peak Performance at 50: Trekking Tips to Conquer Trails Like a Pro!

Do not be overly clever when you write your headline:

Fun is fine. But, don’t favor cleverness over clarity. Avoid forced puns or cultural references that can confuse. If a overly clever English lover writes this headline :

Fifty and Finessing the Footpath: Mastering Alpine Ambulations with Ascendant Acumen!

But who would understand this? This version uses complex, less familiar words like finessing, ambulations and ascendant acumen. These words make the headline harder to understand. This approach potentially confuses the reader. It sacrifices clarity for cleverness.

Fit at 50: Trailblazing Trekking Tips to Tackle Tough Terrains

This version still uses some clever phrasing like trailblazing and tackle tough terrains. But, it’s more understandable now. It isn’t too confusing. It retains some wordplay while improving clarity.

Be Specific in your headline

Be clear and avoid vague, generic terms. Readers should know exactly what the story is about.

Staying Active at 50: Helpful Tips for Enjoying Outdoor Adventures

This version of the article title takes out the specifics on activity you are proposing. Since you are about focusing trekking, please make it explicit in your headline.

“Peak Performance at 50: Trekking Tips to Conquer New York’s Trails Like a Pro!”

Where ever applicable, add more specifics. The above revised headline is more specific to a location.

Your article title should be easy to understand:

The headline should be simple and easily digestible, even without extra context like images or teasers.

Maximal Trekking Mastery at 50: Strategic Insights for Trail Domination Beyond Midlife

This version uses more formal and abstract language. It includes terms like “maximal trekking mastery” and “strategic insights.” This makes it less straightforward. But, it still preserves the original theme. It still conveys the idea of how to do trekking at the age of 50. But compared to original headline Peak Performance at 50: Trekking Tips to Conquer Trails Like a Pro!, this version is hard to understand.

To make things much worse, how about this version:

Optimum Altitudinal Engagement at the Quintessential Half-Century Mark: Tactical Provisions for Advanced Terrestrial Navigation

When you write your title think how can I let my users react?

Consider how the headline will emotionally impact readers, encouraging clicks and shares. In the end a reaction from the user is all what we want.

Crushing It at 50: Fun and Easy Trekking Tips to Take on Trails Like a Champ!

This version uses upbeat and encouraging language like “crushing it” and “fun and easy.” It aims to spark a positive, excited reaction from readers. It keeps the original theme but adds a playful tone to make the headline more engaging and cheerful.

Hit Your Peak at 50: Actionable Trekking Tips to Dominate Every Trail Now!

This version uses more urgent and direct language like hit your peak and actionable. It encourages readers to take immediate steps. They will feel empowered to conquer trails with confidence.

Being precise is an important factor how to write a headline

Make sure the headline clearly communicates with your reader with out being too wordy.

Achieve Peak Fitness at 50: Proven Trekking Tips to Boost Your Stamina and Master Every Trail!

This version makes an appeal by addressing the reader’s wish for improved fitness and stamina at 50. It promises proven tips that will help them conquer trails confidently. It speaks directly to their goals, encouraging them to take action for better performance. But it is more than 15 words in length.

Peak Fitness at 50: Trekking Tips to Boost Stamina and Conquer Every Trail

This version is more precise, removing extra words while maintaining clarity and focus.

#2 A good headline is a great sentence first

Remember to write in active voice. Plus remember to be save your words. If you pay attention to writing in active voice you will naturally use less words. In passive voice, the auxiliary verb (“was,” “is,” “were,” etc.) and the prepositional phrase (“by”) are needed to show who performed the action. This adds unnecessary complexity and length compared to the active voice, which states the action directly.

For example The marathon was completed by Adam is longer in comparison to Adam completed the marathon.

Choose active to passive voice (always) while writing article title

Now consider the same headline written with a change in voice.

Trekking Tips to Be Used at 50 for Trails to Be Conquered Like a Pro.

At 50, Peak Performance Can Be Achieved with Trekking Tips for Trails to Be Conquered Like a Pro.

Both of these headlines changes the focus from the active subject (“you”) to the action itself. It makes the headline feel less direct and more passive in tone. The second version shifts the focus to the actions. It makes it more passive while still maintaining the original idea.

Always write your headline in active voice. Active voice highlights the subject performing the action. It makes it clear who or what is responsible for that action. In an active voice sentence, the subject comes before the verb. The object follows the verb and is the entity receiving the action. This structure creates direct and concise sentences, making the meaning clear and straightforward.

Be concise in writing. Think hard if there are no value add words in your headline and remove them.

Achieve Peak Performance and Success at 50: Essential Trekking Tips You Need to Conquer All Kinds of Trails Like a Pro!

The added words (“Achieve,” “and Success,” “You Need,” “All Kinds of”) are relevant. But, they make the sentence longer and more complex. They do not add much value. Thus, they introduce unnecessary clutter.

Peak Performance at 50: Important Trekking Tips You Should Know to Conquer Trails Like a Pro!

Unnecessary words: “Important” and “You Should Know” add length without adding significant value but still keep the sentence relevant.

A golden rule of writing headline is to keep it under 10 words.

#3 Offer something to your reader in your headline:

Offering something in a headline is crucial. It instantly grabs the reader’s attention. It also provides a clear reason for them to engage with the content. When a headline promises value, it piques curiosity. This value can be useful information, a solution to a problem, or a specific advantage. It encourages the reader to click, read, or share.

There are 7 ways to make an offer to your reader with your headline. We also call them the 7 kinds of headlines.

1. Make a promise 
2. Ask a question 
3. Make it like a testimonial 
4. Be sorry to the reader 
5. Use wordplay 
6. Make it two parts 
7. Challenge user belief

Why offering something in the title is an important factor in how to write a headline

Offering something is very important in writing article title. It captures attention. People either seek information or knowledge or actionable steps from your article. People are more likely to engage with content when they see an immediate advantage. Examples include “5 Ways to Save Money” or “Free Guide to Healthy Eating.”

Providing the audience with relevant content demonstrates alignment with their needs or interests. This increases the likelihood of engagement. For example, “Exclusive Travel Deals for Summer 2024” right away appeals to readers interested in vacation planning.

Example ways to offer something in your article title

Here are different versions of the headline “Peak Performance at 50: Trekking Tips to Conquer Trails Like a Pro!” based on the seven headline strategies:

1. Make a promise: Reach Your Peak at 50: Trekking Tips Guaranteed to Boost Your Trail Performance
2. Ask a question: Ready to Conquer Trails at 50? Here Are the Trekking Tips You Need!
3. Make it like a testimonial: I Conquered Trails at 50: These Trekking Tips Took Me to the Next Level
4. Be sorry to the reader: Still Struggling with Trails at 50? Sorry, You’ve Been Missing These Trekking Tips
5. Use wordplay: Trek Your Way to Triumph at 50: Tips for Peaking on Every Trail
6. Make it two parts: Trekking at 50: Essential Tips for Conquering Trails Like a Pro
7. Challenge user belief: Think You Can’t Trek Like a Pro at 50? Think Again with These Expert Tips

Here are 10 other alternatives of headlines created with socialDapr. In the settings we put more emphasis on ask a question headline kind.

Each version plays with a different psychological or emotional appeal to engage the reader.

#4 With your headline, you must appeal to your target readers

Appealing to your readers in a headline is crucial. It establishes an immediate connection with the audience. This connection addresses their needs, emotions, or interests. A headline that resonates with readers compels them to engage with the content. It encourages them to take action. This can be reading the article, clicking on a link, or sharing it with others.

There are 6 strategies you can use to appeal to your audience when writing a headline.

1. Include a reason to read 
2. Use Numbers
3. Use impact or power words at front 
4. Bring urgency 
5. Spark curiosity 
6. Put the keyword first

Here are different versions of the headline Peak Performance at 50: Trekking Tips to Conquer Trails Like a Pro! using six ways to appeal to readers:

1. Include a reason to read: Boost Your Fitness at 50: Trekking Tips to Conquer Trails Like a Pro and Stay Active
2. Use Numbers: 5 Trekking Tips to Achieve Peak Performance at 50 and Master Every Trail
3. Use impact or power words at front: Conquer Trails with Expert Trekking Tips for Peak Performance at 50
4. Bring urgency: Start Trekking Like a Pro Today: Must-Know Tips for Peak Performance at 50
5. Spark curiosity: What Are the Secrets to Peak Performance at 50? Trekking Tips to Master Any Trail
6. Put the keyword first: Trekking Tips for Peak Performance at 50: How to Conquer Trails Like a Pro

Appealing headlines create a sense of relevance and value, ensuring that your message reaches and resonates with the intended audience. This makes your content not only more engaging but also more effective in achieving its purpose.

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There you have it. We hope this helped you to understand How to write a headline. We know its a lot of criteria that goes into creating a 5-10 word headline. You can always take a tools help. That is why we created socialDapr. With socialDapr your can experiment with various strategies, kinds while sticking to basic headline writing criteria.