Chapter 1: The Importance of a Strong Headline

When your headline doesn't resonate, resist the urge to hit “publish.” Take a moment to pause, reassess, and start fresh.

Photo by Roman Kraft on Unsplash

Mediocrity is Not an Option

Reflecting on my nearly forty articles published on Medium, a common thread emerges: the headlines. They aren’t terrible, but they fall into the realm of the ordinary. They lack the punch that truly captures attention.

My breaking point came with my latest piece published in ILLUMINATION:

Writing Insights from Two Months on Medium

Time may march on, but the lessons learned remain constant.

Although I recognized my dissatisfaction with the headline, excitement overtook me, and I published it anyway. While it’s not a total flop, it certainly isn't stellar. And herein lies the problem—we often accept headlines that are merely "acceptable," which fail to engage our audience as effectively as possible.

Navigating the Clickbait Dilemma

Part of my challenge stems from a commitment I made when I started on Medium: to steer clear of clickbait. While avoiding sensationalism is beneficial, it can lead to an unintentional lack of excitement. Finding a middle ground is crucial.

Daily Headline Exercises

My mentor, Ayodeji Awosika, suggests that each morning, you brainstorm ten headlines. While I don’t consistently meet that goal, I do intend to push myself to write headlines daily, regardless of whether it’s a designated writing day.

Additionally, I plan to refine Ayo's idea: if I have a headline that doesn’t satisfy me, I’ll draft five to ten alternatives before settling on one.

Why Headlines Hold Weight

Headlines serve as the initial impression for readers. Unfortunately, they often dictate whether someone will continue reading. No matter how well-crafted your writing is, if the headline fails to engage, your work risks going unnoticed.

In the future, I will strive to elevate my headlines beyond mediocrity. Even a modest improvement of 10% could lead to significantly more readers, which is certainly appealing.

Perhaps, with practice, compelling headlines will flow from my fingers as effortlessly as butter spreads on a warm bagel.

Stay Tuned for Results

The effectiveness of this self-imposed challenge remains to be seen. (And yes, I’m aware that I’m setting myself up for scrutiny.)

Key Takeaways

If you're not entirely satisfied with your headline, don’t rush to publish. Instead, brainstorm five to ten alternatives. Consider experimenting with some clickbait-style headlines to gauge their impact. Your headline is the pivotal moment that influences whether a reader decides to engage with your article. Don’t waste this opportunity.

Chapter 2: Strategies for Effective Headlines

In this video titled Clickbait or Catchy Hook? How To Write Headlines That DON'T Suck, you'll learn the nuances of crafting headlines that are both appealing and authentic.

The second video, Copywriting Tutorial: How To Write The Headlines That Don't SUCK, provides valuable insights into the art of writing compelling headlines.