8 headline variations:
What makes headlines click
- Use numbers — "7 ways" outperforms "several ways" every time
- Include the reader — "you" and "your" improve CTR significantly
- Hint at the benefit, not just the topic: "how to" > just a topic noun
- Create curiosity without being misleading (no clickbait)
Why headlines decide your content's fate
David Ogilvy famously said: "On average, five times as many people read the headline as read the body copy. When you have written your headline, you have spent eighty cents out of your dollar." This is even truer in 2024, where attention is shorter and competition is fiercer.
An A/B test on a headline alone can produce 200–500% differences in click-through rates for the exact same article. The best writers spend more time on their headline than on the body — and it shows.
Proven headline formulas
How-to: "How to [Achieve Result] Even If [Common Obstacle]" — addresses the biggest objection up front.
Number-list: "[Number] [Adjective] Ways to [Achieve Goal]" — the human brain loves the specificity and implied structure of a numbered list.
Curiosity gap: "The [X] That [Result You Didn't Expect]" — opens a knowledge gap that the reader must close by clicking.
Negative framing: "Stop [Doing X] Before You [Negative Consequence]" — loss aversion is more motivating than potential gain.
Authority positioning: "What [Authority / Expert] Knows About [Topic] That You Don't" — social proof and information gap combined.
Frequently asked questions
How long should a headline be?
Should I write my headline before or after the content?
Are clickbait headlines bad for long-term traffic?
Great headlines at scale
Claipot helps you generate, test, and optimise every piece of copy — from headlines to full content campaigns.
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