So writers, if you're struggling to sell audiences on your topics, media update's Lara Smit is helping you make some headway with those headlines right here:

1. Outline your piece's purpose
Audiences read a piece with a specific goal in mind. These include:
  • discovering an answer
  • finding a solution, and
  • uncovering more information about a topic of interest.
Therefore, an appealing headline will tell them whether your piece can help them meet these goals.

2. Cut to the chase
When looking for a piece that will help them reach their goal, readers tend to scan headlines for specific keywords or information to reach it as quickly as possible.

Therefore, to create an enticing headline, you should give them the most important information first.

3. Ask a question
Asking a question engages readers and gets them involved in the topic by encouraging their input. Additionally, it piques their curiosity as they will want to know whether your answer is the same as theirs — making them more likely to read further.

4. Avoid …
  • using exclamation marks
  • grammar, spelling and punctuation mistakes, and
  • putting words or phrases in uppercase.
What else can writers do to create captivating headlines? Let us know in the comments section below.

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If you still aren't too sure how to go about writing the perfect headline, then be sure to check out our piece, How to write a headline in eight simple steps: an infographic

*Image courtesy of Canva