View more jobs on Indeed Career Guide ~ What is a headline? Aheadline is text above an article that summarizes its overall content. Its purpose is to quickly capture the attention of readers. Because headlines are titles that appear before an article, they are often the deciding factor regarding whether a reader clicks on an article and, therefore, are most enticing when they're persuasive. Writers use headlines for news articles, blog posts, advertisements, social media posts and press releases. Related: 25 Tips for Creating Ad Headlines Z 19 types of headlines Here is a list of 19 types of headlines you can use to capture the attention of readers: 1. Direct headline A direct headiine clearly states the purpose of an article. It usually involves facts in the article to summarize the overall idea. Readers know exactly what they are going to read or see when you use a direct headline. Example: "15 Puppy Pictures To Cheer You Up" 2. Indirect headline An indirect headline takes a subtle approach by hinting at the main point of an article. Since it doesn't directly state the key idea, it targets a reader's curiosity to discover what the article is about. *Example: "Shoe company floats on in 2021"* 3. News headlines News headlines make important announcements about a company or its products Journalists often use these types of headlines in news articles to efficiently share recent information with the public.Exampl ‘Beach Cove Taffy Announces New Location Near Myrtle Beach" 4. How-to headline This type of headline teaches readers ways to learn a new skill or solve a problem through an outline of steps. To write a how-to headline, writers start with the phrase "how to," followed by the action they want their readers to learn. It also helps highlight why that particular article might benefit them. Exampl ‘How To Drive in a Foreign Country Like a Local" 5. Question headline A question headline poses a question to readers with the intention of providing the answer within the article. These tend to be topics consumers may be interested in regarding a company’s products or brand. Example: "Do You Know Which of Our Vegetables Has the Most Vitamins?" Related: Content Marketing Basics: What Is Content Marketing and How To Do It Z 6. Command headline Command headiines tell readers what to do or what they can learn by reading an article. Companies typically use this type of headline when creating an advertisement. Most command headlines start with a strong action verb. Example: "Simplify Your Wardrobe With This New Technique" 7. The "reason why" headline This headline tells an audience why certain situations occur. This type of headline typically results in a list article format, which readers often prefer over other types of articles since it's easier to skim. Example: "8 Reasons Why Your Outfit Is Affecting Your Interview" 8. Emotional headline Emotional headlines typically target either a positive or negative feeling to encourage an audience to read an article. To do this, writers use powerful words such as affordable or stressed.Example: "Ways You Can Prevent Work Burnout in the New Year" 9. Wordplay headline Awordplay headline uses a creative formation of words and phrasing, typically in the form of a pun or irony. Companies often use these headlines when trying to make a less important topic amusing. Example: "Local Auto Race Hits Bump in the Road” 10. Brand name headline Brand name headlines use recognizable organizations to compare a company's business or products to its competitors. This can be helpful for new businesses trying to participate in a similar market as a more established company. Example: "Skeeter Expected to Gain More Popularity Than Peach Scooter” 11. Best headline Best headlines rank certain items above others. These can attract readers who look for top- rated content, such as the best restaurants to try or the best computer to buy, for example. Example: "Best Cities To Live in After College" 12. Two-part headline A two-part headline uses a punctuation mark, such as a colon, em dash or parentheses to combine two ideas. Usually, both parts of these headlines can stand alone, but together, they increase the chances of capturing a reader's attention. Example: "Why Word-of-Mouth Advertising Can Increase Sales: The Five Key Steps” 13. Relational headlines Relational headlines connect a reader to the subject of an article by using second-person language. Relating the topic to the reader helps them become interested in reading and discovering how this article can help them, Example: "Here's How You Could Make $1,000 From Your Couch”14, Location-specific headline Location-specific headlines attract readers by making them feel included in knowledge only a select group of people would know. These headlines focus on something that people in a particular area share in common. Example: "12 Things Anyone Who Lives in Seattle Knows To Be True” 15. Challenging belief headline A challenging belief headline convinces individuals to read by using a reverse psychology technique. Usually, these headlines begin with, "You won't believe..." which often makes viewers want to read an article to see whether it actually surprised them. Example: "You Won't Believe How Celebrities Are Losing Belly Fat" Related: How To Write an Editorial in Five Steps (Including Tips for Writing a Killer One) a 16. Confrontational headline Confrontational headlines are persuasive, as they attract people who either agree with the headline or have opposing opinions. Posing a controversial stance can entice individuals to read and see whether the article changed or enforced their existing opinions. Exampl "12 Reasons Why Recycling Is Hurting the Planet" 17. Testimonial headline A testimonial headline begins with a quote from a company's consumer. This gives viewers an objective, opinionated statement from someone who has used a company's products. Exampl "This Cooking Plan Helps Me Make Meals for My Picky Children" Related: What Are Testimonials? 4 18. The "backed by science" headline This headline supports a statement by confirming its thesis with scientific evidence and proof. Writers use these headlines for articles that include research on a particular idea. Example: "Scientists Believe Cicadas Are About To Emerge From Underground"19. Background headline Background headlines start with contextual information. This is usually a two-part headline, with the first part providing background and the second half explaining the significance or reason for the first statement. Example: "Millionaire Donates $5 Million To Local Grocery Store; Thanks Cashiers With Bonus" Get your personalized job feed on Indeed (4 Be the first to see new jobs in your area Tips for writing successful headlines Here are some tips to help you write successful headlines: * Be clear: When writing your headlines, be clear about what information your article covers so readers know what to expect. * Use keywords: Try to incorporate a highly searched keyword into your headline to help generate traffic to your article through search engine optimization (SEO). * Know your audience: In order to attract readers with your headlines, it's helpful to know the target audience you want so you can emotionally appeal to them and their interests. Is this article helpful? tf Yes No Find jobs