How to write catchy headlines that grab attention
Posted: Sun Jan 12, 2025 8:17 am
Writing a strong subject line will get your email noticed and opened, but it won’t ensure that your important message is read. For that, you need an irresistible headline. Every headline is a hook that pulls readers deeper into your content and leads them straight to your call to action, so you’ll want to take the time to write the very best. To help you craft eye-catching headlines that grab readers’ attention and keep them reading, we’ve pulled together these 10 tried-and-true tips:
1. Use the active voice
Keep your prose punchy, direct and engaging to readers by using the active rather than passive voice. In other words, write a sentence that describes the subject doing the action, not being acted upon. Here’s an example:
Active: I threw the ball.
Passive: The ball was thrown by me.
See how an active voice is much stronger than the passive voice?
2. Be crystal clear
If your headline doesn’t tell recipients what your content is about, they won’t take the time to decipher it and they won’t read your email. It’s best to keep your headline straightforward. Nobody wants to be tricked into shareholder database reading an article that isn’t relevant to them.
3. Stay short and snappy
While there isn’t really an exact character count to follow, a good rule of thumb is that a headline should rarely break onto the second line. Keep your headline succinct and easy to scan. Your busy readers will thank you.
4. Teach people something useful
People want to know how to make pancakes, tie a tie, boil eggs, lose weight — you name it. Why not quench their thirst for knowledge with an informative email and a stellar how-to headline. Here are some examples:
How to write catchy headlines that attract readers
How to get bikini-ready in 24 hours
How to look and feel 20 years younger
How to jumpstart your productivity
5. Appeal to your audience
Always consider who you’re writing for and what matters to them when you’re coming up with a headline. The following examples appeal to the audience’s pride in their appearance as well as their status:
Have a smile you can be proud of
Now you can quit your job and make even more money
Become the best-dressed guy in the room
Become the leader you were born to be
1. Use the active voice
Keep your prose punchy, direct and engaging to readers by using the active rather than passive voice. In other words, write a sentence that describes the subject doing the action, not being acted upon. Here’s an example:
Active: I threw the ball.
Passive: The ball was thrown by me.
See how an active voice is much stronger than the passive voice?
2. Be crystal clear
If your headline doesn’t tell recipients what your content is about, they won’t take the time to decipher it and they won’t read your email. It’s best to keep your headline straightforward. Nobody wants to be tricked into shareholder database reading an article that isn’t relevant to them.
3. Stay short and snappy
While there isn’t really an exact character count to follow, a good rule of thumb is that a headline should rarely break onto the second line. Keep your headline succinct and easy to scan. Your busy readers will thank you.
4. Teach people something useful
People want to know how to make pancakes, tie a tie, boil eggs, lose weight — you name it. Why not quench their thirst for knowledge with an informative email and a stellar how-to headline. Here are some examples:
How to write catchy headlines that attract readers
How to get bikini-ready in 24 hours
How to look and feel 20 years younger
How to jumpstart your productivity
5. Appeal to your audience
Always consider who you’re writing for and what matters to them when you’re coming up with a headline. The following examples appeal to the audience’s pride in their appearance as well as their status:
Have a smile you can be proud of
Now you can quit your job and make even more money
Become the best-dressed guy in the room
Become the leader you were born to be