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Pop music is popular for a reason.

Simple rhythms, catchy melodies, and easy lyrics.

It’s familiar and memorable, and it makes us want to sing along.

Like pop music, clickbait headlines have similarly effective traits.

Shock value, exaggerated claims, and lots of buzzwords.

They trigger emotions and make us want to click.

However, we are flooded with pop music and clickbait that simply follow these engaging formulas.

As quickly as they grab our attention, they soon become overused and blend in with the rest.

…easily forgotten.

To be remembered, you have to break the mold.

Be a Transcendent Song that Gets Talked About for Ages

Not a trendy pop hit.

Think…

• Respect

• Hey Jude

• Billie Jean

• Stairway to Heaven

• Bohemian Rhapsody

• Smells Like Teen Spirit

• Straight Outta Compton

Why do these songs stand out?

Because they’re unique, remarkable, bold, epic...

Decades later — they’re still on our playlists and in our conversations.

Just like the enduring song that keeps playing in your head, long after the music has stopped…

Make your brand a timeless anthem that resonates.

Here’s how:

How to Write Compelling Headlines

8 tips for great hooks that get clicks, and won’t damage your brand in the process:

Understand your audience.

Speak directly to your readers’ needs, desires, fears, frustrations, and aspirations.

Be relatable.

Captivate readers by sharing personal experiences and anecdotes your readers can relate to.

Be clear and honest.

Use specific and accurate terms. Avoid any misleading numbers or cliché phrases.

Spark curiosity.

Ask intriguing questions and use curiosity-inducing phrases to make people want to learn more.

Use strong words.

Incorporate action verbs and strong adjectives. They raise emotion and create a sense of urgency and excitement. (Avoid buzzwords — bookmark this list of great terms to use.)

Deliver on your promises.

Make sure your headlines match your content — to build trust and credibility with your audience.

And remember to…

Analyze and practice.

Learn from successful writers who have been around for a while. Analyze their best hooks and practice your own.

Stay true to your values.

Don’t compromise your core values for the sake of trendiness, even if — especially if — everyone else is doing it.

Test and iterate.

Experiment with variations, track performance, and look for patterns. Whatever gets measured tends to improve.

Beyond the One-Hit Wonder

Instead of jumping on trends that soon fade away, aim to make a timeless impact with your brand.

…much like what Billie Jean or Bohemian Rhapsody have done in the music industry.

What are YOU writing over there… hmmm?

If you like… send me a headline of yours (with some context).

I’ll give you one tip to make it better.

🤖 Robert

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