Headlines and Headings: Catch Readers’ Eyes and Then Hold Their Attention

A headline as simple as “10 Things to Do in Singapore” can be perfect. In this case, it’s the title for a post on a top-ranked blog about food and travel.

This short headline accomplishes three tasks:

  • It specifies a topic (what to do in Singapore)
  • It identifies a target audience (anyone who’s going there or would like to)
  • And it arouses curiosity (in this context, about worthwhile local cuisine and cooking lessons)

Furthermore, author Matt Armendariz keeps his readers’ attention through article headings. He adds one for each of the ten things to do – e.g.,

 

9. Have a Soft-Boiled Egg And Kaya Toast for Breakfast .…
7. Visit 25 Degrees Celsius Café and Bookstore .…
1. Experience Hawker Stands

Each of these ten headings starts with an imperative-mood verb. This parallel verb structure is another great tactic to help readers follow your meaning and to keep them engaged with your topic.

Click here for Write It Well’s list of nine quick ways to make your headlines stronger.

Our book Professional Writing Skills shows you how to use verbs skillfully, identify the main action in a long word group, and write concisely. All these skills are necessary to create effective headlines. The book also covers parallel structure and effective numbered and bulleted lists.

Too busy to organize long documents into clearly marked sections? Want some help crafting engaging prose? Hire Write It Well to copyedit your documents. We’ll help your writing become engaging, well organized, concise, and clear.