Urgency is our next pick on this list of helpful headline writing tips. It’s like a magic wand that you wave at your audience. When done right, urgency leaves readers with no choice but to click.
Clickbait headlines like these can take many forms
You can start a new business in 2 weeks or less. Here’s how.
Find out the fastest way to safely lose weight after childbirth
I’m sharing my best [Topic] secrets. For a limited time only.
This works best for an phone number library article that can help your reader achieve something faster. You offer shortcuts, workarounds, or better strategies.
In the last example, I tease with a revelation. Those who do not click right now will not know my secrets.
Here’s another masterpiece from a YouTuber who shares valuable tips on running an online business. The title promises quick tips on making money. Who wouldn’t want that, right?
Arouse readers curiosity with your headline
BuzzFeed does this really well. The publication recently published headlines like these:
Choose your favorite breakfast 5 significant benefits of seo for your enterprise foods and we’ll find out if you’re a Jedi or a Sith
This Man Was Completely Scammed By Online Photos Of The Hotel He Booked And People Can’t Stop Laughing
Can you understand the deep meaning behind this comic about social media?
Headlines work because they create curiosity. The content itself may not change your life, but the headline grabs attention.
The same can be done with more serious works by asking a challenging question:
What type of runner are you?
Which of these mistakes are you making in preparing for a marathon?
We trained for the marathon for 3 weeks. This is what happened.
Create humor by playing with words
Have you ever watched the HBO series True Blood? When vampire Bill Compton tells Sookie the name of the text services vampire bar in Shreveport, Fangtasia , she rolls her eyes.
Compton replies, “You have to remember that most vampires are very old. Puns were the highest form of humor.”
Far be it from me to disagree with the fictional vampire, but the puns are still funny. And they still work in headlines.
If you can write headlines that include wordplay, you will immediately arouse curiosity.