Margarita Loktionova
Apr 05, 202310 min read
No matter what channel you are writing for, a catchy headline is crucial for grabbing readers' attention.
Good headlines summarize the content, are optimized for search engines (where needed), and encourage social media shares.
Letâs explore some creative headline examples of all types and see how you can apply what you learn to your own content.
Blog Post Headline Examples
Blog Post Headline Examples
A blog post's headline is the first thing readers see.
Blog posts measure success by engagement (e.g., clicks and time on page) and traffic.
A catchy headline is one of the most powerful ways of convincing a reader to stop and click.
It also helps establishtone of voiceand is your first step toward writing an effective andwell optimized blog post.
There is no one-size-fits-all formula for writing an attention-grabbing headline.
But there are best practices that can help you write them more effectively. We call these best practices âformulas.â
Here are some proven formulas for making your headline more attention-grabbing and some examples of great headlines for each one.
According to ourState of Content Marketing Global Report, some headlines generate more engagement than others. Ultimately, the headline type you choose will depend on your goals and content ideas.
Letâs look into examples of various headline types:
1. Everything you need to know
âEverything You Need To Know About Boosting Your Productivityâ
2. Comparison headlines
âWalking Versus Running: The Surprising Benefits of Taking It Slowâ
3. Top + number (e.g., Top 10) listing posts
âThe Top 7 Strategies for Landing Your Dream Jobâ
4. A guide toâŠ
âA Guide to Prioritizing Your Mental Health: Why Self-Care Isn't Selfishâ
5. How-to
âHow To Save Money Like a Pro: Tips from Financial Expertsâ
6. Mistakes to avoid
â10 Mistakes To Avoid if You Want To Be a Social Media Bossâ
7. No one will tell you thatâŠ
âWhat They Donât Tell You About Setting Boundaries at Workâ
8. Increase your x with y
âIncrease Your Profitability with These Simple Efficiency Tricksâ
9. Stop doing thisâŠ
âWhy You Should Stop Worrying About Being Perfectâ
10. Listicles
â10 Delicious Recipes You Can Make in Under 30 Minutesâ
Remember, catchy headline templates like these are great guidelines. However, donât be afraid to mix them up and experiment.
A Look at Buffer
A good example of a company that writes eye-catching headlines generating lots of clicks isBuffer.
This social media management platform provides tools for scheduling and analyzing social media content.
The Buffer blog features articles on topics such as social media marketing and engagement strategies. Check out theblog post belowas a good exampleBlog
Note how the headline grabs your attention by showcasing youâll receive firsthand information based on real-life experience. It hooks the reader without giving away too much and promises exciting reading material.
Social Media Creative Headline Examples
Social Media Creative Headline Examples
Social media posts are mostly measured by engagement.
Creative headlines can encourage users to like, comment, share a post, and click on the link leading to your website. This in turn can help increase the post's visibility and reach.
Some creative headline examples for sharing your articles (and other content) on social media are:
11. âThe 10 Best Ways To Keep Looking Youngâ
12. âUnlock the Power of Micro-Habitsâ
13. âThe Surprising Benefits of Eating Mushroomsâ
14. âWhy Sleep Is the Key to Success at Workâ
15. âThe Shocking Truth About Amazonâ
16. âHow Drinking Water Can Help You Stay Slimâ
17. âYou Won't Believe What Happened When We Drank Thisâ
18. âHow I Generated $300,000 in 6 months with My Etsy Storeâ
19. âDiscover the Secret to Toned Absâ
20. âThe 5 Most Common Relationship Errors and How To Solve Themâ
Notice they are full of trigger words like best, unlock, surprising, shocking, secret. These words engage emotions and spark action in the reader.
However, you should avoid overusing those words, making sure your posts donât look like clickbait articles.
For instance, The Cut is always coming up with engaging headlines for their Instagram posts, which trigger dozens of comments and help drive traffic to the articles.
Another company that has used social media posts to build a billion-dollar brand isGymshark.
The fitness apparel brand from the UK has more than 9 million followers. It also posts across three separate Instagram accounts.
Gymshark was one of the pioneers of influencer marketing before the concept even had a name.
Partnering with fitness influencers (such as Nikki Blacketter and Whitney Simmons) became a central part of Gymsharkâsecommercemarketing strategy. The brand exploded in popularity as a result.
Hereâs an example from Gymsharkâsprimary Instagram account. Note how it encourages followers to share with their friends.
Great Examples of Headline Writing for News Stories
Great Examples of Headline Writing for News Stories
A good headline should make the reader interested in the story and want to know more.
This can be achieved through tried-and-tested techniques.
These include using provocative language, posing questions, or adding a strong hook that makes the reader curious to learn what the story is about.
A catchy headline can be a key factor in whether a news story is read or shared.
A goodexample from the BBCin May 2022 is:
After all, who doesnât want to know why two parents would want to sue their own son? And where do grandchildren fit in?
Some recent examples from well-known news publications in 2022 include:
21. âThe Dress That Broke the Internetâ -CNBC
22. âTaco Bell hotel reservations sell out in 2 minutesâ -Yahoo News
23. âIKEA Releases Instructions How To Make âGame of Thronesâ Cape After Costumer Reveals Actors Wore IKEA Rugsâ -Bored Panda
24. âFidget spinners, the hit toy that spun out of nowhereâ -The Recorder
25. âI Can't Believe It's Not Buddha: Plastic Monk Goes Viralâ - NPR
26. âFlorida Man Called 911 After Wife Had âThrown Out His Beerââ-NBC Miami
27. âBanksy shreds his own artwork after ÂŁ1m auction at Sothebyâsâ -The Time
28. âElon Musk sells $3.5m worth of flamethrowers in a dayâ -The Guardian
29. âRat falls from ceiling onto customer's table at Buffalo Wild Wingsâ -ABC News
Email Subject Line Examples
Email Subject Line Examples
Almost everyone complains that they get too many emails. With so many piling up in peopleâs inboxes, itâs important to make sure your subject line stands out.
This will get people reading. And more importantly, it will help your email marketing campaigns be successful.
The subject line is the first thing the recipient will see in their inbox, so it's important to make a strong first impression. Cool headlines encourage readers to open and engage with your email.
If you want to grab someoneâs attention, your email subject line should be concise. It should also clearly indicate the purpose of the email.
Here are some headline examples for successful email subject lines:
30. âSay goodbye to stress with these expert tipsâ
This works well because it highlights a challenge (stress) and offers a solution, while also promising expertise.
31. âWe have a special surprise just for youâ
This subject line gets clicks because it engages the readerâs curiosity.
32. âNew year, new savings: Check out our latest dealsâ
This one taps into peopleâs desire to save money. It comes at a time when people are looking out for sales.
33. âLimited-time offer: 50% off your favorite productsâ
For loyal customers this one is hard to ignore, even if they werenât looking to buy something right away.
34. âYou won't believe what we have in store for youâŠâ
This works because it almost challenges a person to open the email. But of course, the content has to deliver on its promise.
35. âDon't make these common mistakes in your next presentationâ
This eye-catching headline example once again taps into curiosity: what mistakes could they be making?
36. âYour dream job is waitingâapply now!â
This one gives clear instructions and seems to be related to a bookmarked job. In general, these types of subject lines bring people back to finish a task they had forgotten about.
37. âYour life got easier with our latest updateâ
Here the subject line gives the reader a reason to click. Theyâll want to know more about the update and how it improves their experience.
38. âExclusive invitation for NAME: Join our VIP programâ
Anything exclusive is worth a look. The reader will almost certainly click, even if the program isnât for them.
39. âUnlock the 7 hidden secrets to successful product marketingâ
This one gives a specific number, setting reader expectations, and also engages curiosity in a relevant topic. Even experienced product marketers are likely interested in seeing if thereâs something they donât know about in the list.
Eye-Catching Video Title Examples
Eye-Catching Video Title Examples
Like email inboxes, the world of online video is a very crowded and competitive environment.
A catchy title can help your video stand out among the millions of videos on platforms like YouTube or Vimeo.
A compelling title should describe the content of the video in a way that encourages more clicks and views.
It should also set peopleâs expectations as to what the video is about. This reduces the chances of negative feedback and helps attract the right target audience for your video.
Here are some good headline examples for videos:
40. âThe Ultimate Guide to Travel Hackingâ
41. âGo from $0 to $1,000/Month with Instagram Affiliate Marketingâ
42. âThe Top 5 Workout Moves for a Sculpted Bodyâ
43. âShocking Before and After Weight Loss Transformationsâ
44. â10 Life Hacks That Will Change Your Life Foreverâ
45. âThe Most Epic Lip Sync Battle Ever!â
46. âHow To Make the Perfect Cup of Coffee Every Timeâ
47. âThe Science of Happiness: How To Be Happy Every Dayâ
48. âHow I Grew + Marketed XXL Scrunchie's Social Media | Promote Your Small Business Onlineâ
49. âUnboxing the Latest iPhone - Is It Worth the Hype?â
50. âCelebrity Makeup Secrets Revealedâ
51. âHow To Cook Like a Pro: Master the Basics of Cookingâ
52. âINSTAGRAM MARKETING 101: Grow Your Business By Using Hashtags, Stories & More!â
To understand the formula for success, video software companyOutklipanalyzed 50 videos from MrBeast, one of the most popular video creators on YouTube.
MrBeastis an American video producer and philanthropist who surpassed 130 million subscribers on YouTube in January 2023.
MrBeast specializes in creating content featuring high-budget stunts. He uses titles such as âI Spent 50 Hours Buried Alive!â or âI Ate $100,000 of Expensive Ice Cream.â
Outklip found that MrBeastâs titles tend to be no more than eight words. Whatâs more, they tend to use only one syllable, making them very easy for anyone to understand.
Almost all are written in the active voice (âI Spent 50 Hours in Solitary Confinementâ). And many started with âWould youâŠâ in order to draw the viewer in.
Sample Headlines of Job Postings
Sample Headlines of Job Postings
Many firms in 2023 arestruggling to recruit, and there is strong competition for the most talented workers.
According to Mark Wilkinson fromrecruitment consultant Response, âPeople want more than just a âjob,â they want something they love, something they can enjoy and something that really matters to them.â
To make your job posting stand out, Mark recommends appealing to the heart and soul of candidatesânot just their wallets.
Try coming up with an ad that provides a glimpse into your company culture and values. It can help attract candidates who share these values and are a good fit for your company.
A well-known example is X (Twitter), which once advertised for a âTweeter in Chiefâ to manage the companyâs own Twitter account.
Here are some good title examples for job ads.
They are designed to stand out and grab your attention.
Each one shows enthusiasm for the job. They also ask for a person who really cares about their mission and shows there is a challenge to face.
53. âWe're not just looking for any salesperson. We're looking for a sales ninja!â
54. âReady to make a difference? Join us on our missionâ
55. âJoin our team and help us change the world!â
56. âLooking for a unicorn? We are, too. Apply now!"
57. âWe need a superhero to save our day-to-day operationsâ
58. âBecome a part of our rockstar teamâ
59. âLooking for a game-changer to join our teamâ
60. âCalling all problem solvers! We need your skillsâ
61. âJoin our team of innovators and disruptorsâ
62. âWanted: Master of All Trades, Jack of Noneâ
Bonus: LinkedIn Headline Examples
Bonus: LinkedIn Headline Examples
LinkedIn is one of those social media channels that works on a number of levels. It covers recruitment, job hunting, networking, and marketing.
Whatever type of content you are sharing, itâs well worth working on your headlines. They help you stand out.
Here are two attention-grabbing headline examples we think work well:
63. âHow we generated 25 qualified leads in one day without sending a single email or making a cold callâ
For the right audience, wanting to improve their number of leads, this one could certainly encourage a click.
64. âBrands That Are Smashing Itâ
Master Marketer Mark Ritson grabs your attention with a simple, five-word headline. Again, this creative title example catches your attention by offering value: examples of brands doing well.
Writing Headlines Optimized for Search Engines
Writing Headlines Optimized for Search Engines
When writing headlines for SEO articles, keep competitive insights and search intent analysis in mind.
A well-optimized headline helps your content rank faster and increases click-through rate (CTR) from search results.
Here's how to do search intent analysis manually:
1. Google your target keyword and examine the headlines of the highest-ranking content on the first page.
2. Then, try to apply these learnings to the structure of your own headline.
For example, if you're writing about gardening tips, you'll notice that all titles highlight that this is beginner content.
Make sure to reflect it in your own headline.
Alternatively, you can automate this process with AI writing tools like ContentShake AI.
Simply enter your topic, and the its AI Writer will generate an SEO-rich, ready-to-publish article with an engaging headline.
Wrapping Up
Wrapping Up
A good headline is clear, concise, and informative, and it summarizes the main idea of the article.
It goes without saying that you should also make it interesting and engaging, and encourage the reader to want to learn more.
Remember: You donât have to get it right the first time.
You can easily test different variations using techniques such as A/B or multivariate testing.
This will help you quickly determine which headline is driving the most clicks, views, and shares.
Tryusing AI tools to brainstorm more ideas and make your headlines more engaging and data-driven.
Combined with your imagination and expertise, this approach can yield great results.
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