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78 Headline Hacks – A Cheat Sheet For Writing Headlines That Grab Your Readers by the Eyeballs

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I know. You agree with me that the headlines you choose for your blog posts and articles serve the same purpose as headlines in a magazine or newspaper. They either draw the readers in or push them away.

“On the average, five times as many people read the headlines as read the body copy. It follows that unless your headline sells your product, you have wasted 90 percent of your money.” 

– David Ogilvy (Regarded as the Father of Advertising) 

Your goal as a blogger, writer, author or copywriter is to craft captivating headlines. 

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78 Headline Hacks

The Essential attributes of compelling headlines

Here are 3 essential attributes of a compelling headline:

  1. It Must Grab Attention. Your headline’s number one job is to grab the reader’s attention.  You accomplish this by any of the following:
    • Making a claim or promise, 
    • Evoking an emotional response, or 
    • Stirring up curiosity
  2. It Must Draw Readers Into the Message. Remember you’re not selling your concept or proposition in the headline. You’re making one pitch only: the idea of reading the rest of the bog post or article.
  3. It Must Communicate Your Big Idea. What is the one overriding benefit of your post, and how can you communicate that to your readers in a way that is meaningful to them? Find a way to put that in your headline.

Incorporating these 3 principles into your headlines should bring you more traffic, more readers, and more engagement with your audience.

Headline Hacks

Now to the templates. The headline hacks! Are you ready?

Let’s get started!

Part 1 – Attention Grabbing Headlines

These are headlines that grab your readers by the eyeballs and drag them into your message. And they work. Want to know why? Because your readers fall into one or more of these categories: 

  • They are fascinated by claims or promises. 
  • They are not creatures of logic but creatures of emotion. So they are intrigued by anything that evokes an emotional response.
  • They are curious by nature.  

#1. Give Me [Blank] And I’ll Give You [Highly Desirable Outcome]

Examples: 

  • Give Me 3 Days, And I’ll Give You A New Business
  • Give Me A Weekend, And I’ll Give You Foolproof Investing Plans
  • Give Me 30 Minutes, And I’ll Give You A Plan To Double Your Income

#2. [#] Habits of [Highly Desirable Outcome]

Examples:

  • 7 Habits of Highly Successful People
  • 12 Habits of Super Productive people 
  • 21 Habits of The Most Successful Bloggers on Earth 

#3. Do You Have The Courage To [Have Highly Desirable Outcome]

Examples:

  • Do You Have The Courage To Make A $1 Million Income?
  • Do You Have The Courage To Be Your Own Boss?
  • Do You Have The Courage To Live The Life Of Your Dreams?

#4. The Secret Way To [Have Highly Desirable Outcome]

Examples:

  • The Secret Way To Be Happier Instantly
  • The Secret Way To Retire Early And Live Better
  • The Secret Way To Know If Your Partner Is Cheating On You

#5. The Forbidden Secrets Of [Blank] The/Your [Trusted Person/Influential Person/Company/Government Department] Doesn’t Want You To Know

Examples:

  • The Forbidden Secrets Of Tax Loopholes The IRS Doesn’t Want You To Know
  • The Forbidden Secrets Of Investing Your Broker Doesn’t Want You To Know
  • The Forbidden Secrets Of Health The Big Pharma Industry Doesn’t Want You To Know 

#6. Who Else Wants [Highly Desirable Outcome] 

Examples:

  • Who Else Wants The Secret Of Looking Young Forever?
  • Who Else Wants Chiseled Abs In 7 Minutes?
  • Who Else Wants To Make Money While They Sleep

#7. [#] [Blank] Ways To [Blank] Your [Blank]

Examples: 

  • 10 Surprising Ways to Supercharge Your Blog
  • 7 Surefire Ways to Supercharge Your Finances 
  • 21 Little Known Ways to Turbocharge Your Marriage

#8. How I [Blank] In [Blank]

Examples: 

  • How I Made $100,000 In Two Weeks
  • How I Attracted 1,000 New Email Subscribers In One Day 
  • How I Paid Off My Mortgage In Nine Months  

#9. What No One Tells You About [Blank]

Examples:

  • What No One Tells You About Blogging
  • What No One Tells You About Parenting
  • What No One Tells Your About Marriage

#10. The Hidden Truth Behind [Blank]

Examples:

  • The Hidden Truth Behind Every Successful Business Owner
  • The Hidden Truth Behind Easy Credit
  • The Hidden Truth Behind Every New York Times Bestseller 

#11. Why Don’t [Blank] [Contrasting Outcome]

Examples:

  • Why Don’t Your Kids Do What You Tell Them?
  • Why Don’t Doctors Get Sick? 
  • Why Don’t Runners Have Healthier Hearts?

#12. The [Blank] Guide to [Blank]

Examples:

#13. The Amazing Secrets Of [Blank]

Examples:

  • The Amazing Secrets Of People Who Work a “2 Day Week.”
  • The Amazing Secrets That Make These People “Heart Attack Proof”
  • The Amazing Secrets Of An Ancient Chinese Pain Medicine.

#14. How To Eliminate [Recurring Problem] [Blank]

Examples:

  • How To Eliminate Money Worries Forever
  • How To Eliminate Doubt And Uncertainty From Your Heart
  • How To Eliminate Stress And Anxiety Overnight

#15. The Future Of [Blank] [Something Which Evokes Curiosity]

Examples:

  • The Future Of Investing… It’s Not What You Think
  • The Future Of Family Life… This May Surprise You!
  • The Future Of Blogging… This Would Shock You!

#16. The Best Time For [Blank]

Examples:

  • The Best Time For Buying Precious Metals
  • The Best Time For Starting Any Diet
  • The Best Time For Dog Walking

#17. [#] Pleasant Ways To [Blank]

Examples: 

  • 7 Pleasant Ways To Do Your Taxes
  • 12 Pleasant Ways To Lose Weight
  • 10 Pleasant Ways To Discipline Your Children 

#18. The Best [Blank] For [Achieving Highly Desirable Outcome]

Examples:

  • The Best Tricks For Saving Time
  • The Best Workout For Massive Muscle
  • The Best Herbs For Relieving Headaches

#19. They Laughed When [Blank], But [Blank]… 

Examples:

  • They Laughed When I Asked For The Menu, But When I Ordered In Perfect French…
  • They Laughed When I Pick Up The Violin, But When I Started To Play…
  • They Laughed When I Stepped Up To The Microphone, But When I Started To Sing…

#20. The [#] Things Every [Your Audience] Should Know

Examples:

  • The 12 Things Every New Grandparent Should Know
  • The 10 Things Every Parent Should Know
  • The 10 Things Everyone Who Gets A Speeding Ticket Should Know

#21. It’s A Shame You [Blank], When [Blank]

Examples: 

  • It’s A Shame You Can’t Achieve The Business Success You Desire, When Even These Fast Food Restaurant Owners Can Do It
  • It’s A Shame You Can’t Retire Early, When These 40-Year-Olds Did It So Easily
  • It’s A Shame You Can’t Make Money Blogging, When Even These Medicare Grandmas Do It So Easily

#22. The [Trusted Professional]’s Secret To [Highly Desirable Outcome]

Examples:

  • The Lawyer’s Secret To Winning Every Argument
  • The Doctor’s Secret To Never Getting Sick
  • The Accountant’s Secret To Never Paying Taxes Again

Part 2 – Headlines That Promise Your Readers A Simpler Life

These days, everyone is struggling to keep up. So many times, what’s urgent takes over what’s important. You’re jumping into this mayhem, and promising your readers a simpler life! It’s similar to the How To Headlines but distinctly different because here you’re showing your audience how to do something effortlessly.

#23. How To [Do An Extremely Valuable Thing] In [#] Minutes Or Less

Examples:

  • How To Knock $150 Off Your Credit Card Bill In 15 Minutes or Less
  • How To Respond To Your Weekly Emails In 10 Minutes Or Less
  • How To Write A Killer Blog Post In 30 Minutes Or Less

#24. [#] Perfectly Legal Shortcuts For [Completing Tedious Process] in Record Time 

Examples:

  • 7 Perfectly Legal Shortcuts For Building A Profitable Online Business In Record Time
  • 12 Perfectly Legal Shortcuts For Becoming An Expert In Your Niche In Record Time
  • 7 Perfectly Legal Shortcuts For Paying Off Your Mortgage In Record Time

#25. Can’t Keep Up? [#] Effortless Ways To Simplify Your [Blank] 

Examples:

  • Can’t Keep Up? 7 Effortless Ways To Simplify Your Email Inbox
  • Can’t Keep Up? 21 Effortless Ways To Simplify Your Search for New Clients
  • Can’t Keep Up? 10 Effortless Ways To Simplify Your Recipe For Tomorrow’s Dinner Party

#26. The Minimalist Guide To [Getting Of Audience’s Aggravation]

Examples:

  • The Minimalist Guide To Losing Weight That Stays Off
  • The Minimalist Guide To Social Media
  • The Minimalist Guide To Cooking a Nutritious Dinner

#27. How To Take Charge of Your [Unruly Problem] 

Examples:

  • How To Take Charge of Your Son’s Alcohol Addiction
  • How To Take Charge of Your Twitter Account 
  • How To Take Charge of Your Debt Problem

#28. Get Rid Of [Recurring Problem] Once And For All 

Examples:

  • Get Rid Of Your Gambling Addiction Once And for All
  • Get Rid Of Your SpiralingDebt Once And for All
  • Get Rid Of Your Body Odour Once And for All

#29. [#] [Blank] Hacks: A Cheat Sheet/Insider’s Guide For [Blank] 

Examples:

  • 78 Headline Hacks: A Cheat Sheet For Writing Headlines That Grab Your Readers By The Eyeballs
  • 12 Copywriting Hacks: A Cheat Sheet For Writing Sales Copy That Converts Like Crazy
  • 37 Income Tax Hacks: An Insider’s Guide To Beating the IRS At Their Own Game

Part 3 – Headlines That Target The Things That Keep Your Readers Up At Night

These are threat or danger headlines. They address the things that keep your readers up at night. And as long as your readers can identify with the threat or danger, they’d be drawn in!

#30. [#] Warning Signs That [Blank]

Examples:

  • 5 Warning Signs That You’ll Never Earn An Income From Blogging
  • 7 Warning Signs That You’re About to Get Audited By the IRS
  • 12 Warning Signs That You Chose the Wrong Blog Niche

#31. How Safe Are/Is Your [Valuable Person/Object] From [Threat]?

Examples:

  • How Safe Are Your Kids From The Paedophiles Roaming The Internet?
  • How Safe Is Your Retirement Income From The Government?
  • How Safe Are Your Dog From The Foxes Across The Road?

#32. Warning: [Blank]

Examples:

  • Warning: Don’t Read This Blog Post Except You Want To Quadruple Your Income
  • Warning: Use These 7 Proven Email Subject Formulas at Your Own Peril
  • Warning: These Daily Exercise Routines Can Eliminate Your Weight Problem

#33. Can We Really Trust [An Influential Person/Respected Company/Well Established Product/Brand]? 

Examples:

  • Can We Really Trust General Motors? The 7 Things You Should Know
  • Can We Really Trust Hilary Clinton? The Truth About Those Emails
  • Can We Really Trust Google? The 10 Things They Don’t Want You To Know

#34. Exposed: The Shocking Truth about [Blank] 

Examples:

  • Exposed: The Shocking Truth About Yoga
  • Exposed: The Shocking Truth About Donald Trump
  • Exposed: The Shocking Truth About Amazon

#35. The Great [Blank] Hoax: What [Blank]

Examples:

#36. [#] Things Your [Trusted Person] Won’t Tell You

Examples:

  • 13 Things Your Investment Broker Won’t Tell You
  • 21 Things Your Doctor Won’t Tell You
  • 7 Things Your Priest Won’t Tell You About Your Soul 

#37. How [Blank] Gamble with Your [Blank]: [#] Ways to Protect Yourself 

Examples:

  • How Accountants Gamble With Your Taxes: 11 Ways to Protect Yourself
  • How Doctors Gamble with Your Life: 7 Ways to Protect Yourself
  • How Banks Gamble With Your Money: 5 Ways to Protect Yourself

#38. [#] Lies [Group of People] Like to Tell 

Examples:

  • 9 Lies Attorneys Like to Tell Their Clients 
  • 14 Lies Playboys Like to Tell Their Dates
  • 7 Lies Fashion Companies Like To Tell About Their Products 

#39. [#] Little-Known Factors That Could Affect Your [Blank] 

Examples:

  • 5 Little-Known Factors That Could Affect Your Retirement Income
  • 7 Little-Known Factors That Could Affect Your Ebook Sales
  • 10 Little-Known Factors That Could Affect Your Marriage

#40. [Your Audience] Alert: The New [Blank] Scam to Avoid 

Examples:

  • Blogger Alert: The New Phishing Scam to Avoid
  • Traveler Alert: The New Airport Scam to Avoid
  • Investor Alert: The New Financing Scam to Avoid

Part 4 – Headlines That Ride On The Back Of Famous Brands And Personalities 

Celebrities and famous brands spend big bucks to develop and maintain their brands. Here you’re trying to use their names to your advantage. However, be very careful. Since you are benefiting from someone else’s brand, there is a potential for lawsuits with this tactic. So please be aware that you use the headlines in this Part at your own risk.

#41. What [World-Class Example] Can Teach Us About [Irony]

Examples:

  • What The Lehman Brothers Crash Can Teach Us About Saving For The Rainy Day
  • What Ashley Madison Can Teach Us About Fidelity
  • What the Horizon Realty Fail Can Teach You about Social Media

#42.  [Do Something] Like [Famous Person]: [#] Ways to [Blank] 

Examples:

  • Launch Like Jeff Walker: 12 Ways to Build Buzz for Your Next Product Launch
  • Do Your Taxes Like Donald Trump: 7 Ways the Rich Cheat the IRS
  • Sprint like Usain Bolt: 21 Ways Get Ahead Of The Competition In Your On Line Business

#43. [Famous Person’s] Top [#] Tips for [Blank] 

Examples:

#44. [#][Blank] From [Famous Person]: The [Blank] of [Blank]

Examples:

  • 13 Timeless Lessons From David Ogilvy, The Father of Advertising
  • 7 Ageless Motivational Tips From Zig Ziglar, The King Of Motivation
  • 21 Unforgettable Lessons From Muhammad Ali, The Greatest Boxer  

#45. The [World-Class Example] Guide to [Blank] 

Examples:

  • The David Ogilvy Guide To Persuasive Writing
  • The Tiger Woods Guide To Golf
  • The Mike Tyson Guide To Boxing

#46. Secrets Of [Famous Group]: [Blank] 

Examples:

  • Secrets Of Billionaires: 12 Tactics That Keep Them on Top
  • Secrets Of The Hollywood Hall Of Famers: 21 Strategies That Keep The Stars At The Top Of Their Game 
  • Secrets Of Hollywood A-Listers: How to Look like a Movie Star Without Spending A Fortune