Top headlines compel readers to click. And once they do, they’re more likely to keep reading your article. That’s why every news story needs to have a captivating headline.
A great headline doesn’t just summarize the content in your article – it also reveals how the news will impact your audience and encourages them to take action. This can include sharing the story on social media or even calling on their government to take action.
In digital publishing, your headline is your first (and often only) opportunity to draw people in. If your headline doesn’t pique curiosity, readers will skip your article altogether. A well-written headline can make or break your article’s success.
To write a top headline, focus on the essentials: who, what, where, when and why. Consider using interesting adjectives to add a level of intrigue and engagement. Use questions in your headlines to signal an investigative angle, like “School slashes lunch menu, sparking student outrage” or “Who’s behind the massive data breach?”
A good rule of thumb is to go long wherever truncation isn’t an issue: that means your article titles (