How to Write Blog Post Headlines That Get Clicks

Your headline is the most important sentence you'll write. It determines whether anyone clicks, reads, or shares your post.

Most blog post headlines fail because they're either boring or misleading. Boring headlines get ignored. Misleading headlines get clicks but destroy trust. The goal is to write blog post headlines that accurately promise value - and deliver on that promise.

What makes blog post headlines work

The best headlines share a few characteristics. They're specific, they promise a benefit, and they create just enough curiosity to earn a click.

Specificity beats vagueness

Compare these two headlines:

Vague: "Tips for Better Writing"

Specific: "How to Cut Your Writing Time in Half Without Sacrificing Quality"

The specific version tells you exactly what you'll get. It also filters readers - people who don't care about writing faster will skip it, which is fine. You want readers who care about your topic.

Numbers help with specificity. "7 Ways to Improve Your Headlines" is more concrete than "Ways to Improve Your Headlines." The number sets expectations and makes the content feel manageable.

Benefits over features

Your headline should answer: what's in it for the reader?

Feature-focused: "A Guide to Email Subject Lines"

Benefit-focused: "How to Write Email Subject Lines That Double Your Open Rates"

The second version promises a specific outcome. That's what makes someone click.

Headline formulas that work

When stuck, these structures reliably produce solid headlines. They're not the only way, but they'll get you unstuck.

The "How to" formula

"How to [achieve desired outcome]" works because it promises actionable information. Examples include "How to Write Blog Posts Faster," "How to Get More Traffic Without Paid Ads," or "How to Build Something Valuable." This formula works best when the outcome is specific and desirable.

The "Why" formula

"Why [surprising thing]" works because it promises an explanation. Think "Why Your Blog Posts Aren't Getting Traffic" or "Why Most Content Marketing Fails." This formula works when you have a contrarian take or can explain something readers don't understand.

The list formula

"[Number] Ways to [Achieve Outcome]" works because it sets clear expectations. Think "5 Ways to Improve Your Meta Descriptions" or "9 Mistakes That Kill Your Blog's SEO." Lists promise scannable, organized content. Use them when you genuinely have multiple distinct points.

How to test your headlines

Don't publish the first headline you write. Generate options and evaluate them.

Write 5-10 variations

For any post, brainstorm at least 5 headline options. They don't all need to be good - the goal is to have choices. Vary the angle, the format, and the specific benefit promised.

For this post, alternatives might include:

The Anatomy of Headlines That Get Clicked
Why Nobody Clicks Your Blog Post Headlines
Headlines That Work: A Practical Guide

The curiosity test

Read each headline and ask: would I click this? Be honest. If you're not curious, neither is your reader.

A headline should create a small gap - enough that clicking feels like the obvious next step. Not so much that it feels like clickbait. Not so little that it's ignorable.

Common headline mistakes

These patterns hurt your click-through rate and should be avoided:

Being too clever with puns or wordplay
Overpromising with "ultimate guide" or "everything you need"
Stuffing keywords unnaturally
Being so vague the reader doesn't know what they'll learn

Being too clever

Puns, wordplay, and inside jokes often confuse more than they intrigue. If your headline requires explanation, it's not working. Clarity beats cleverness.

Too clever: "Write Makes Right"

Clear: "How to Write Headlines That Actually Get Clicked"

Overpromising

Headlines that promise "everything you need to know" or "the ultimate guide" set expectations you probably can't meet. Be ambitious but honest about what the post delivers.

If you're writing a blog post that's 1,000 words, don't call it the "complete guide." Call it what it is - a practical overview, a quick start, an introduction.

Keyword stuffing

Your primary keyword should appear in the headline, but naturally. "Blog Post Headlines: How to Write Blog Post Headlines for Blog Posts" is absurd. One mention is enough.

Headlines and SEO

Your headline becomes your meta title in search results. This affects both rankings and clicks. A few rules for SEO-friendly headlines:

Keep under 60 characters - longer gets truncated
Put keywords near the front
Match search intent - what does the searcher expect?
Make it click-worthy in search results, not just on the page

Your headline should work both as a search result and as a headline on the page. Sometimes these are slightly different - the meta title might be shorter or more keyword-focused than the on-page H1. That's fine, just ensure both are compelling.

For more on writing headlines that work for SEO and readers, see our guide on writing SEO-friendly content.

A great headline won't save bad content, but a bad headline will bury great content. Spend the extra ten minutes getting it right.