Wondering, “what is a headline?”
When writing, one of the most important things you can do is create a headline that will draw in readers.
A headline is what grabs attention and encourages people to read more. It’s what gets your content seen and shared.
But what makes a great headline? And how can you make sure yours are effective?
In this article, we’ll discuss what a headline is, the different types, what makes a great headline, and the benefits of having an effective one.
We’ll also provide some examples to help you get started.
What Is a Headline?
A headline is the title of something written.
It’s what you use to grab people’s attention and get them to read more.
Headlines come in different types, and each has its purpose.
You want to make sure you use the right type for your content, depending on what you’re trying to achieve.
What Is a Headline in Writing?
In general writing, a headline introduces the topic you’ll be writing about so readers know what to expect before they dive in.
Sub-headlines, also called subheads, are headings within the writing that divide the content up into sections so it’s easier to scan, read, and find the information you’re looking for.
What Is the Purpose of a Headline?
The purpose of a headline is to introduce the topic you’ll be writing about, to get people to read more, to encourage shares, or to describe something briefly.
A great headline can also achieve other objectives, such as:
- Helping readers scan the content and find what they’re looking for
- Encouraging them to stick around and read the entire article
- Indicating what type of content it is
- Making the reader curious
- Summarizing the main point of the article
- Getting people to take action
The objective and purpose of a headline will depend greatly on what type of headline you’re using.
Explore the different types below.
Types of Headlines
To follow up on the question, “What is a headline?” let’s talk about the different types.
There are many kinds, but we’ll focus on the ones you’re most likely to come across or use, including articles, ads, newspapers, LinkedIn, and Indeed.
What Is a headline in an article?
In an article, the headline is what you use to introduce the topic and get people to read more.
It’s what captures people’s attention and encourages them to stick around.
A good headline will also sum up the main point of the article, helping readers decide if they want to read it or not.
Article headlines should be clear, concise, engaging, informative, and straightforward.
If you can quantify something about the article in the headline or allude to something interesting they’ll read within the article, it can increase views.
What Is a Headline in Advertising?
In advertising, a headline is what you use to get people’s attention and persuade them to buy what you’re selling.
It needs to be catchy, interesting, and informative so people will want to learn more.
When creating a headline for an ad, think about what the main benefit of the product is and connect the features to that benefit.
What Is a Headline in a Newspaper?
A newspaper headline is what you use to summarize what’s in the article and get people interested in reading it.
Newspaper headlines need to include the most important information about the article and leave other details out, but they should still be engaging and be able to pique interest.
News articles should follow the inverted pyramid structure and the headline should share the most important information first.
What Is a headline on LinkedIn?
A Linkedin headline is what you use to introduce yourself and what you do.
It’s also what shows up in search results next to your name, so it should be informative and keyword-rich.
When creating a LinkedIn headline, think about what you want people to know about you and what type of work you do.
Come up with a few words you would use to describe what you’re an expert at and what your biggest strengths are – this is a good foundation for a LinkedIn headline.
What Is a Headline on Indeed?
On Indeed, a headline is what you use to summarize your skills and experience.
When creating a headline for Indeed, think about what you want people to know about your work history, skills, and experience.
Brainstorm a couple of terms that best describe your strengths and where your expertise lies to catch a recruiter’s eye.
What Makes a Great Headline?
There’s no one formula for a great headline, but there are a few things that make them effective.
- They’re clear and concise: A great headline should sum up what the article is about and what the reader can expect to learn.
- They’re catchy: A good headline will make the reader interested in learning more.
- They’re informative: The headline should give the reader a good idea of what the article is about without giving away too much.
- They’re straightforward: A good headline tells the reader what to expect from the article and doesn’t beat around the bush with unnecessary details or verbiage.
- They’re relevant: The headline should be relevant to what the reader is looking for and what they’re interested in.
- They’re relevant to the content written: a misleading headline that appeals to readers will only frustrate them and waste their time.
- They get people to take action: A good headline will encourage the reader to do something, whether it’s reading the article or buying the product.
Good headlines are essential for getting people to engage with your content.
Not only do they capture people’s attention, but they also persuade them to stick around and learn more.
By following the tips above, you’ll be able to create headlines that are clear, catchy, and informative – and that will help you get your content seen by more people.
Tips for Crafting Great Headlines
When writing great headlines, use these tips to make them strong, engaging, clear, and informational:
- Use strong verbs, such as “Discover,” “Learn,” and “Explore.”
- Start with a question that the reader will want to answer.
- Use numbers or statistics to draw attention.
- Entice the reader with one of the benefits of reading the article.
- Use keywords that readers would use to search for this content online
- Use numbers or statistics to quantify the article
- Appeal to the reader’s emotions with words like “shock,” “surprise,” and “curious.”
- Be provocative or bold with your language to catch their eye.
- Be clever or funny; use memes, pop culture, or current news to be timely and relevant
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Benefits of a Great Headline
There are many benefits to having a great headline for an article, including:
- Increased views
- Increased engagement
- Increased shares
- Increased click-throughs
- More leads
And that’s just for article headlines!
Additionally, a good headline on an Indeed or LinkedIn profile can go a long way when you’re on a job search.
Benefits of a Great Indeed or Linkedin Headline
When creating a headline for your Indeed profile, keep in mind that a great one can help you:
- Better personal branding
- Get more profile views
- Stand out from others competing for the positions
- Attract the attention of recruiters
The bottom line? When you have a strong, well-crafted headline, it creates better results no matter if it’s an article or a professional profile.
Headline Examples That Grab Your Audience’s Attention
Since this article is all about headlines, here are some examples using this exact topic:
- “How to Write a Headline That Gets Results”
- “The 5 Types of Headlines You Need to Know”
- “How to Create a Catchy Headline in 5 Simple Steps”
- “Headlines That Sell: The Science Behind Writing Effective Titles”
- “Why Your Headlines Aren’t Converting and How to Fix Them”
- “How to Turn Your Headlines Into Conversion Machines”
- “The Ultimate Guide to Writing Powerful Headlines”
Notice how some use tactics like numbers, questions, steps, and emotional appeals.
LinkedIn or Indeed Headline Examples
Now, if you’re looking for ideas for a great LinkedIn or Indeed headline, here are some examples catered to that:
- “Results-Oriented Sales Professional”
- “Experienced Graphic Designer”
- “Web Developer with 5 Years of Experience”
- “Bilingual Customer Service Representative”
- “Accomplished Data Analyst”
See how these headlines are so much more interesting than “Marketing Manager” or “Designer?”
You could even go on to use these as your cover letter or resume headline.
Headline Analyzers You Can Use
There are a few headline analyzers that you can use to test your headlines and see how well they will do. Some of these are free and some have a fee.
- CoSchedule’s Headline Analyzer: Quick and easy tool that lets you copy and paste your headline for feedback.
- Google AdWords’ Keyword Planner: Let Google help you identify keywords to use in your headlines for maximum search engine optimization (SEO).
- HubSpot’s Website Grader: Grade any website content against key performance metrics.
- Portent’s Content Idea Generator: Stuck on ideas? Portent’s content idea generator will help you create catchy titles from scratch.
- The Advanced Marketing Institute’s Headline Generator: Determine the emotional marketing value score of your headline.
All of these are great for testing headlines and seeing what works best.
Sometimes, it takes a little bit of tinkering to get the perfect headline, but using one of these tools can help you on your way.
The Power of Headlines
Now you’ve found your answer to the question of “What is a headline?”
Headlines are so important for getting your content seen and read – whether that’s an article or a professional profile.
By using one of the tips or tactics in this article, you can create a headline that will help your content succeed.
Remember to keep it relevant, interesting, and straightforward!
