Hate Writing Headlines? 141 Free, Proven Steal-Worthy Formulas

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1 Hate Writing Headlines? 141 Free, Proven Steal-Worthy Formulas to Easily Transform You into Industry Superstar (Even if You're Not Creative)

2 It s the only piece of data readers have when they decide whether to read your article, and it s the most ignored part of most articles. We re talking about headlines those 9 to 20 words that make or break the conversion rates of the hard work you put into your article. Headlines are hard. It sometimes takes just as much time to come up with a solid headline that will bring in readers as it is to come up with the hundreds or thousands of words that will keep them reading all the way to your CTA. To make it a easier on you, we ve created this swipe file filled with 141 formulas you can use to quickly increase click through rates and become an industry superstar, even if you re not creative or don t have time. Teach Them How to Achieve Their Goals If readers are coming to your website, it means they have a problem achieving their goals. They re counting on you to give them the skills, tools and strategies to do that. Real Life Examples Source: Unbounce

3 Source: Marketing Profs Source: Buzzsumo Headline Formulas: 1) The Ultimate Guide to [Reaching Goal] While [Dealing with Challenge] 2) [Number] Proven Ways to [Do Something Incredible/Challenging] 3) Why You Don t Have [Energy/Money/Time] to [Achieve Goal] (and What to Do About it) 4) How to [Reach Your Goal]: The Ultimate Guide No one Wants You to Read 5) The Ultimate Guide to Surviving [Challenge] and [Reaching Incredible Outcome] 6) The Ultimate Guide to Surviving [Challenge] Even if [Something that Makes it Harder] 7) [Number] Simple [Actions that are Considered Difficult] that Make You [Desired Result] 8) [Number] Surprising Things You Didn t Know You Could Do with [Topic] 9) [Number] [Topic] Tips: From Beginner to Expert in [Short Amount of Time] 10) [Number] Easy Steps to the Perfect [Goal] that Will [Cause Major Benefit]

4 11) [Number] Free, Easy Tricks to [Reach Goal] and [Get Benefits] that No One Talks About 12) How to Overcome the [Common Excuse] Challenge 13) How to Be [Desired Quality] in a World of [Undesired Quality] [Target Audience] 14) How to Stop [Action] and Start [Alternative Action], so You Can Finally [Achieve Desired Result] 15) Are You Making these Mistakes that [Cause Undesired Result]? 16) How to Easily [Achieve a Goal] You Can Finally Be [Happy with / Proud of] 17) [Challenge]: [Number] Ways to Overcome it Once and for All (It s Simpler than You Think) 18) How to Overcome [Challenge] that s Keeping You [with Undesired Result] 19) How to [Achieve Your Goal] without [Undesired Result] 20) How to Get Your [Target Audience] Begging for More [of What You Sell]: [Number] Strategies You Probably Haven t Tried Yet 21) The [So Called Negative Quality] [Target Audience] s guide to [Achieving Goal]: [Number] Strategies that Really Work 22) [Topic]: Your Most Burning Questions Answered [in an Unexpected Way] 23) How to Fast Track Your Way to [Goal] Even if [Challenge] 24) How to Keep [Working on Your Goal] Even When [You Face this Challenge] 25) How to Survive [Challenge] Even if You re [Challenge] 26) What if You Could [Reach Your Goal] without [Quality / Action]? 27) How to [Do Something You Want, that Feels Challenging] and [Get a Better Outcome than You re Getting Right Now] 28) [Resource A] vs. [Resource B]: The Ultimate Smackdown 29) [Number] Ways/Resources to Boost Your [Desired Outcome] that are Worth Your Time/Money/Energy 30) How to [Do Something]: [Number] Tips for Perfecting [Topic] 31) [Topic]: The Stress-Free Way to Crack the Code 32) [Topic] Explained: (Almost) Everything You Need to Know to [Create Desired Result] 33) How to [Do Something] that [Creates Desired Outcome] 34) How to Get Over [Challenge] that Leads to [Unpleasant Outcome #1], [Unpleasant Outcome #2] and [Unpleasant Outcome #3]

5 Show Them the Impossible is Within Reach Often, when we set a goal, it feels impossible to reach it at first. We need help overcoming the overwhelming feeling that it s beyond our reach, and we need proof that others just like us have been there, done that, and created the outcome we desire. Real Life Examples Source: Smart Passive Income Source: Entrepreneur

6 Source: Smart Passive Income Headline Formulas: 35) How I Did [Something that s Hard to Do] Even Though [the Odds Were Against Me] 36) People Who Hate [TOPIC] Can t Stop Using These Free, Easy Tools (that Actually Drive Results) 37) [Number] Ways to [Do Something Really Expensive] in Less than [Small Amount of Money] 38) Why You Don t Need [to Take Unpleasant Action] to Get to [Desired Result] 39) How I Got [Something that s Hard to Achieve] Without [Taking Unpleasant Action] 40) [Number] Surprising Tools that Helped Me [Achieve a Desired Goal] 41) How to [Do Something Scary] so [You ll Get Unbelievable Outcome] 42) [Number] Guidelines for [Doing Something Complicated So Well], Even [the Least Likeliest Person] Will [Be Able to Accomplish / Understand / Be Convinced] 43) What I Learned from Doing [Action] About [Topic] (#4 Changed My World Forever) 44) [Number] Things I Learned from [Resource/Event/Experience/Person], that I Couldn t Have Learned Without Doing [Action] First

7 45) How I [Achieved Goal] Using [Tool/Resource/Strategy]: [Number] Complex, But Worth It, Strategies 46) How to [Achieve Impossible Goal] in the Next [Very Short Timeframe] / Instantly Without [the Basic Foundation You Think You Need] 47) Revealed: How [Experts] [Overcame Challenge] and [Got Desired Result] Despite [Challenge] 48) [Number] [Unlikely Successful People] Reveal How to [Reach Your Goal] Even if You re [Major Challenge] 49) [Complicated Topic]: [Number] Easy Steps to [Accomplish it] Even if You re [Challenge #1], [Challenge #2] and [Challenge #3] 50) How [Expert] Overcame Her / His [Number] Biggest Failures 51) Why You Don t Have to [Have Something / Be Something] to [Reach Your Goal] 52) [Number] Examples of [People Who Didn t Have Something / Were Something] and [Reached Desired Goal] Anyway 53) [Number] Counterintuitive Ways to [Achieve Goal], and How they Helped [Experts] [Reach Goal] Even Though [it Was Against the Odds] 54) No One Believed I Would [Reach My Goal], But I [Reached a Higher Goal] 55) [Number] Programs/Tools/Resources that Will Turn You from [Starting Point] to [Desired Result] in [Short Period of Time] 56) [Number] Examples of [Topic] [Innovation / Simplicity] in [Industry] that Prove it s Possible for You to [Reach Your Goal] 57) [Number] Ways that Actually Help You [Reach Your Goal] (Even if You ve Already Tried Everything) 58) Why I [Did Something Unthinkable] 59) [Topic] Feels [Impossible / Too Hard / Too Expensive]? [Number] Powerful / Easy / Affordable Ways to [Overcome it and Reach Your Goal Anyway] 60) [Number] Shocking/Inspiring Quotes that Will Revolutionize the Way You [Think About Something] 61) The Fast Tracked, No Stress, Free Way to [Doing Something Challenging, Stressful and Expensive] 62) Mystery Revealed: How [Unlikely People / Companies] [Do Something Incredible] and [Get Desired Result]

8 63) This One Simple Trick Opened the [Goal] Floodgates: How You, Too, Can [Achieve Goal] Piggyback on Authority, Social Proof and Research Sometimes are own words aren t enough, and we need to borrow from someone else s authority to make what we have to say more reliable. Other times, tapping into an expert, celebrity or research s orbit provides more than social proof. It provides a unique perspective that stands out in the crowd. Real Life Examples Source: Be a Freelance Blogger Source: Ayelet Weisz

9 Source: Time Headline Formulas: 64) How to [Achieve Goal]: [Number] Experts Reveal Their [Topic] Success Stories 65) How [Expert] [Takes Action] Even Though [She Has a Big Challenge] 66) [Number] Questions You re Afraid to Ask About [Topic] (and Research-Based Answers to Help You Make Decisions) 67) What [Group #1] Really Wants from [Group #2]: Insights from [Number] [Group #1 Members] Who Shared [Number] Posts 68) [Number] Ninja Tips the Experts Won t Tell You 69) What [Large Number] of [Target Audience] Did When [They Faced the Challenge Your Audience is Facing Now] 70) What [Expert] [Reads / Eats] to [Get the Result Your Audience Wants] 71) What [Expert / Celeb / TV Character] Can Teach You About [Action] and Getting [Surprising Outcome] 72) [Number] [Topic] Lessons You Can Learn from [Celebrity / Fictional Character / Expert] that Will Blow Your Mind 73) [Number] Experts Reveal the [Number] Shortcuts that Helped Them [Reach Outrageous Goal] and Leave Competitors Behind (Despite [Major Challenges]) 74) How to [Take Action] and [Reach Desired Outcome] Like [Expert / Celebrity / Fictional Character] 75) [Number] Ways to Do [Action] Like [Expert/Celeb] and Get [Hidden Desire] 76) [Number] [Topic] Tools the Pros Can t Live Without 77) How to [Achieve Goal]: [Number] Research-Backed Tips 78) The Anatomy of [Great Quality #1], [Great Quality #2] and [Great Quality #3] [Topic]: A Study of Our [Topic]

10 79) [Number] [Industry] Lessons [Target Audience] Can Learn from [Another Industry / Celebrity / Expert / Fictional Character] 80) [Number] [Topic] Mistakes that [Expert #1], [Expert #2] and [Expert #3] Make that Can [Give You an Advantage / Teach You Something / Prove to You You re Not Alone] Create Threat and Urgency Fear is a deep, dark feeling that massively drives our actions, reactions, and the aspects of life we avoid. Nothing moves you to action like the fear of what you could lose, or the threat of getting stuck in an unpleasant situation. That s especially true the threat is immediate. When it is, we can t afford to take the action (like educating ourselves by reading an article) later or one day, which could easily turn into never. We have to act now. Real Life Examples Source: Contently

11 Source: Harvard Business Review Source: Copyblogger Headline Formulas: 81) How to [Achieve Goal] Before [Major Change Happens] in [Year/Month] 82) Can Your [Topic] Survive [Upcoming Change]? 83) How to Master [Tool / Activity / Niche] Before Your Competitors Discover it 84) Warning: Don t [Do Something that s Integral to Your Day to Day Life] Before You Read This 85) The Big Lie [Experts] Tell About [Topic] that Could [Cause You Great Harm] 86) Not [Taking Undesired Action]? Here s Why You Won t [Reach Your Goal] 87) If You Skip [Actions], You ll Regret it [Forever / Next Year / Tomorrow / When X Happens] 88) [Number] Unexpected Mistakes Killing [Topic / Your Chance to Reach Your Goal]

12 89) [Number] Little Known Ways to [Achieve Goal] that Your Competitors Haven t Heard of Yet 90) Why [Expert] [Experienced Undesired Result] During / Right Before [Major Event], and How to Prevent it from Happening to You 91) Why it Took Me [a Long Time] to [Do Something that s Supposedly Simple / to Achieve a Goal] and How You Can Keep it from Happening to You 92) [This One Mistake] Cost Me [Something]. Here s What You Need to Do To Avoid it. 93) [Number] Ways You re [Risking Topic]: How to Protect Yourself 94) [Number] Mistakes You Don t Know You re Making that are Costing You [Resources / Desired Outcome] 95) [Number] Strategies Your Smartest Competitors are Already Using (and How to Beat them at Their Own Game) 96) [Number] Common Misconceptions that are Keeping You [Unpleasant Outcome] 97) Want [Desired Outcome]? [Number] Key Mistakes to Avoid 98) 10 Things to Never Say / Do While [Taking Action] 99) Why [Target Audience] is Drawing Battle Lines Against [Industry] 100) How to Know if You [Action] too Much 101) [Number] Lessons [Target Audience] Always Forgets (and How it Impacts [Desired Outcome]) 102) Time Sensitive: How to Reach [Outrageous Goals] in [Very Short Time] 103) [Number] Warning Signs that You re About to [Get Undesired Result] (and How to Avoid it) 104) [Number] Scary Stats for [Target Audience] and What You Can Do About Them

13 Stir their Curiosity It s one of the most frustrating things knowing there is a secret told right in front of you, but not knowing what it is. It s like your brain s peace of mind is disrupted. You want to restore it. You want to know what the secret is. If the secret is online, you click through and read. Real Life Examples Source: Forbes Source: QuickSprout

14 Source: Jacada Headline Formulas: 105) Here s What Happened When I [Did Something Unbelievable] 106) You Won t Believe How [Person] [Achieved Major Goal] 107) [Number] Shocking Habits of Highly Successful [Target Audience] 108) Yes, this [Unbelievable Phenomenon] is Real 109) Revealed: Everything You Wanted to Know About [Topic] and were Too Embarrassed to Ask 110) What [Your Target Audience] Need to Know When They [Take Common / Scary Action] (Less than 50% of [this Blog s Readers] Know This)

15 Make Predictions They say it s best to live in the present, but most human beings always think about the future. And if they come to your website to get help making decisions and overcoming challenges, they need to know how to take the big picture and what s about to happen under consideration. Real Life Examples Source: Jacada Source: New York Times Source: Social Media Examiner

16 Headline Formulas: 111) [Number] Crucial [Year] [Industry] Trends for [Audience] Who Want to [Avoid Unpleasant Outcome] 112) [Number] Crucial [Year] [Industry] Trends for [Audience] Who Want to [Get Desired Result] 113) [Number] Fascinating/Shocking Stats that Will Revolutionize the Way You [Think About Something / Do Something] in [Upcoming Year / Decade] 114) How [Industry] is Going to Change in [Year / Next Decade]: [Number] Predictions from [Industry Leaders] 115) How [Industry] is Going to Change in [Year / Next Decade]: [Number] Predictions from [Regular People] 116) How [Industry] is Going to Change in [Year / Next Decade]: [Number] Predictions Based on Contemporary [Books / Shows / Movies / Hip Hop Songs] 117) Why [Topic] is the Next Big Thing in [Industry] (Plus: [Number] Ways to Prepare) 118) [Industry] Scene: A Look Ahead at the Next [Downfall / Recession / etc]

17 Demystify Myths Your blog is where you build an ongoing emotional connection with your audience. It s where you build trust. The best way to build that trust, and establish yourself as a unique authority in your industry, is to tell your readers the truth no one else is willing to share. Real Life Examples Source: Pipedrive Source: Harvard Business Review

18 Source: NinjaOutreach Headline Formulas: 119) Why Most [Common Advice / Strategy] Sucks and How to [Do it Better] 120) Why the Future of [Industry] is Pure [the Opposite of What You Think it is] 121) [Industry / Habit] is Not Dead: How [Industry / Habit] Will Impact You in [Year] and Beyond 122) What [Target Audience] Really Feels/Does When They [Scenario] 123) [Topic]: The Real Reason Everyone Talks about it 124) [Topic]: What Really Happened/Happens Behind Closed Doors / Behind the Scenes 125) The Story Behind My / an Expert s [Large Number of Years] Overnight Success 126) How I [Reached a Shocking Goal that Sites in My Industry Love to Write About] (and Other Half-Truths People Tell in [Industry]) 127) What [Living Your Dream] Really Looks Like: The Hard Truth About Being [Desired Result] 128) Don t [Work on Your Goal] Before You Come to Terms with this Ugly, Messy Truth About [Living Your Dream] 129) The Essential Item You Need for [Topic] Success that No One Dares to Speak Up About 130) [Number] Lies [Experts] Tell [Target Audience] and the Truth Behind Them 131) Why [Target Audience that s Considered Inferior] Gets [Desired Outcome] More / Better than [Target Audience that s Considered Superior]

19 132) The Truth About [Industry / Topic / Trend] Nobody Wants You to Read 133) If Everyone Knew this Secret About [Topic], There Would Be No More [Target Audience] in the World Do the Work for Them Many of us have a mountain of responsibilities and to-do list tasks. We re out to learn how to overcome our challenges, then out to implement what we ve learned, fall flat on our faces, and get back up on the horse. Hard work is the way to achieve most dreams, but sometimes it s nice really nice to be handed something on a silver platter. Real Life Examples Source: HubSpot Source: Entrepreneur

20 Source: LeadPages Headline Formulas: 134) [Number] [Topic] Templates Guaranteed to [Desired Outcome #1] & [Desired Outcome #2] 135) The Ultimate List of Free [Topic] Templates 136) Revealed: The Experts Top [Number] [Topic + Desired Results] Tools (Curated from [Number] Lists that Reviewed [Number] Tools) 137) [Number] Tools / Game Plans / Templates that Will Instantly [Cause Desired Outcome] 138) [Number] [Topic] Hacks: The Ultimate Checklist to [Reach Your Goal] [Easily / Quickly / Without Spending a Fortune] 139) [Number] Steal-Worthy [Ideas/Strategies] to Help You [Do Something] and [Reach Your Goal] 140) [Number] Free Online Tools to Help You [Reach Outrageous Goal] 141) Need a [Topic] Idea? Here are [Large Number] You Have 141 Awesome Headline Formulas. Now What? Here s the truth about headlines: They only work if you put in the work. Therefore, we recommend keeping these formulas close by and using them every time you write an article that you want your audience to read.

21 You can also use these headlines to help you come up with article topics readers can t resist. Or you can use them to practice writing headlines, which will sharpen your awareness of headlines, and you ll start noticing them around the web. As you do, pay attention to which headlines work and which ones don t, and write it down. Writing headlines will get easier with practice. Ready to Share Your Headline with the World? Create Your First Beautiful Native Ad, and See Conversions Going Through the Roof Now that you have headline formulas that get clicks, it s time to bring them to your target audience. Native ads is a quick and easy way to do that, because it s a form of online advertising that matches the look and feel of the website that features your article, so visitors get a more organic, holistic, enjoyable reader experience. Combine that with smart, accurate targeting, and your get high engagement rates that make a difference to your business. Ready To Test These Babies Out?" Create a native ads campaign

22 About the Author As NativeAds freelance writer, Ayelet Weisz helps performance marketers get smart about their content strategies and techniques. She uses her vast experience writing for Google-sponsored and UN-Award winning nonprofits, B2B companies that serve global brands, and leading marketing sites (including Content Marketing Institute, MarketingProfs and Unbounce) to bring you practical tips and guidelines that help you create content worth viewing, increase conversion rates and become your industry s superstar. Native Ads, Inc. is a content discovery and in-stream native advertising platform that facilitates the native ad buying and selling process for publishers and advertisers at scale across websites, mobile web and apps. The company has developed a scalable, easy to use, self-serve system for publishers and advertisers with a simple user interface. Within minutes, campaigns and widgets are generated to start spending or earning. The recommendation engine analyzes visitor behavior, page content and thousands of data points building up millions of in-depth user profiles. By using the power of big data, these profiles are used to recommend internal or promoted content based on relevance, yield and popularity. Know someone who can benefit from 141 free headline formulas? share this document with them, so they, too, can create content worth viewing.