Let’s move beyond the common ones you see over and over — like “how to” — and bring some new blood to the mix with these 22 titles (with headline examples) you can customize for your audience.
1. Who Else Wants [blank]?
Starting a headline with “Who Else Wants …” is a classic social-proof strategy that implies an already existing consensus desire.
Examples
Who Else Wants More People to Read Their Writing?
Who Else Wants a Higher Paying Job?
Who Else Wants More Fun and Less Stress When on Vacation?
2. The Secret of [blank]
This one is used by writers quite a bit when they’re thinking about how to grab their readers’ attention — that’s because it works. Share insider knowledge and translate it into a benefit for the reader.
Examples
The Secret of Successful Podcasting
The Secret of Protecting Your Assets in Litigation
The Secret of Getting Your Home Loan Approved
3. Here Is a Method That Is Helping [blank] to [blank]
To craft better headlines, simply identify your target audience and the benefit you can provide them, and fill in the blanks.
Examples
Here Is a Method That Is Helping Homeowners Save Hundreds on Insurance
Here Is a Method That Is Helping Children Learn to Read Sooner
Here Is a Method That Is Helping Content Marketers Write Better Titles
4. Little-Known Ways to [blank]
A more intriguing (and less common) way of accomplishing the same thing as “The Secret of …” headline.
Examples
Little-Known Ways to Save on Your Heating Bill
Little-Known Ways to Optimize Gmail
Little-Known Ways to Lose Weight Quickly and Safely
5. Get Rid of [problem] Once and For All
An essential on this list of best headlines. It identifies either a painful problem or an unfulfilled desire that the reader wants to remedy. You can help them with a damn good headline.
Examples
Get Rid of Your Unproductive Work Habits Once and For All
Get Rid of That Carpet Stain Once and For All
Get Rid of That Lame Mullet Hairdo Once and For All
6. Here’s a Quick Way to [solve a problem]
People love quick and easy when it comes to headline formulas that solve a nagging problem.
Examples
Here’s a Quick Way to Get Over a Cold
Here’s a Quick Way to Potty Train Junior
Here’s a Quick Way to Back Up Your Hard Drive
7. Now You Can Have [something desirable] [great circumstance]
This is the classic “have your cake and eat it too” headline — and who doesn’t like that?
Examples
Now You Can Quit Your Job and Make Even More Money
Now You Can Meet Smart Singles Online Without Spending a Dime
Now You Can Own a Cool Mac and Still Run Windows
8. [Do something] like [world-class example]
Gatorade milked this one fully with the “Be Like Mike” campaign featuring Michael Jordan in the early 1990s.
Examples
Speak Spanish Like a Diplomat
Party Like Mick Jagger
Blog Like an A-Lister
9. Have a [or] Build a [blank] You Can Be Proud Of
Appeal to vanity, dissatisfaction, or shame. Enough said with this headline example.
Examples
Eat a Healthy Diet You Can Be Proud Of
Have a Smile You Can Be Proud Of
Build a Professional Network You Can Be Proud Of
10. What Everybody Ought to Know About [blank]
Big curiosity draw with this type of headline formula, and it acts almost as a challenge to the reader to go ahead and see if they are missing something.
Examples
What Everybody Ought to Know About Sensible SEO
What Everybody Ought to Know About Adjustable-Rate Mortgages
What Everybody Ought to Know About Writing Great Headlines
11. Give Me [short time period] and I’ll Give You [blank]
This headline promises a strong benefit to the reader, like all good headlines do. But this one is especially effective because it promises to deliver in a very short time period.
Examples
Give Me 5 Days – And I’ll Give You the Secret of Learning any Subject!
Give Me 3 Minutes a Day – and I’ll Give You a Better Complexion
Give Me 7 Minutes and I’ll Share 37 Email Marketing Tips
12. If You Don’t [blank] Now, You’ll Hate Yourself Later
We love to belong, but feeling excluded is a real bummer. Whether it be a financial opportunity or the social event of the year, we simply hate it when we get left out.
Examples
If You’re Out of the Market Now, You’ll Hate Yourself Later
If You’re Not at AWAI’s State of the Industry Virtual Summit 2021, You’ll Hate Yourself Later
If You Don’t Optimize Your Site Now, Google Will Hate You Later
13. The Lazy [blank’s] Way to [blank]
This headline has always worked well with time-pressured people, and that’s certainly true for most people today. No one likes to think of themselves as lazy, but everyone likes to save time and effort.
Examples
The Lazy Man’s Way to Riches
The Lazy Dad’s Way to Quickly Getting Dinner on the Table
The Lazy Blogger’s Way to Write Great Post Titles
14. Do You Recognize the [number] Early Warning Signs of [blank]?
OK, technically this is still a list, but it’s wrapped up in a much more compelling structure than your typical “Top 10” article.
People want to avoid problems, and this headline promises the critical tips before it’s too late.
Examples
Do You Recognize the 7 Early Warning Signs of High Blood Pressure?
Do You Recognize the 7 Early Warning Signs of an Employee Meltdown?
Do You Recognize the 7 Early Warning Signs of Social Media Addiction?
15. See How Easily You Can [desirable result]
These headline examples are about learning something new or gaining some advantage.
Examples
See How Easily You Can Learn to Dance This New Way
See How Easily You Can Own a Lamborghini Miura
See How Easily You Can Increase Traffic with Social Media
Remember, with headline formulas, you must understand why they work before trying to use them.
When you understand why the original headlines worked, you’ll be able to select an appropriate structure, and you’ll be a better headline writer in general. If you don’t, you might not only write a bad headline, you might come off looking bad in general.