How to Write a Good Headline: 7 Tips and Formulas
Blog / CONTENT WRITING
A good headline tells readers exactly what they'll get and why it's worth their time. Specific, honest headlines earn more clicks and more trust than vague or exaggerated ones.
Be specific
"Writing Tips" is vague. "7 Ways to Cut 100 Words From Your Essay" is specific and promises a result.
Numbers, timeframes and concrete outcomes make headlines clearer.
Useful formulas
How to [achieve result] (without [pain]). [Number] [things] to [benefit]. [Question your reader asks]?
Use the words people actually search for, ideally near the start.
Mind the length
Search engines can truncate long titles; many SEOs keep title tags around 50–60 characters, though display depends on pixel width.
Use the character counter to test variations.
Stay honest
Clickbait may win a click but loses the reader if the article doesn't deliver.
Write several headlines, then choose the clearest — not the most dramatic.
Frequently asked questions
How long should a headline be?
For search, around 50–60 characters is a common target.
Do numbers help headlines?
They make the promise concrete, which often helps.
Should headlines use title case?
Either title case or sentence case works; be consistent.