- The Pen Pivot
- Posts
- Use This Punctuation Mark In Your Headlines (If You Want More Clicks And Views)
Use This Punctuation Mark In Your Headlines (If You Want More Clicks And Views)

Welcome to The Pen Pivot!
In this email:
š” Psychology-Driven Content Trick:
The punctuation mark you canāt help but click on.
š° Rabbit Holes And Resources:
How to build a 730-day content library, plus how to use YouTube titles to generate endless content ideas.
Letās get to it.
š¤
š§ The Curiosity Chronicle
600,000+ people have signed up for this free 2x weekly newsletter.
Itās pretty clear as to why.
The writer - Sahil Bloom - is one of the fastest-growing creators on the planet.
The Curiosity Chronicle gives you super actionable tips on happiness, wealth, and living life to the fullest.
Itās the type of newsletter that makes you feel good during and after reading it.
The wisdom per word is impressive.
Beautiful quotes, thought-provoking frameworks, and so much more.
*Sponsored Link
š”
Use This āIrresistibleā Punctuation Mark In Your Headlines (To Get More Clicks And Views)
The beauty of headline writing is that the tiniest tweaks can make a remarkable impact.
Even just the addition of a character or two.
Punctuation marks can make more of a difference than you could ever imagine.
But thereās one that grabs attention more than any others.
One that makes you stare at a headline with your head turned and your brow furrowed for long enough to make you want to click on it.
Spoiler: It isnāt the overused and obnoxious exclamation mark(!)
Itās the quotation mark.
Hereās Why Quotation Marks In Headlines Are Irresistible
š” Content Psychology Takeaway: Quotation marks in headlines signal authenticity and compel the audience to seek the story behind the quote.
Hereās an example without quotation marks:
5 Remote Working Hacks That Will 5x Your Productivity
Now, letās add them:
5 Remote Working Hacks That Will ā5x Your Productivityā
Iām sure youāll agree that the second headline is more enticing because it makes you wonder who said those words.
Hereās another example:
5 Remote Working Hacks You Havenāt Tried Before
Vs:
āIt 5xād My Productivityā - 5 Remote Working Hacks You Havenāt Tried Before
The quotation marks imply that someone, somewhere, said something noteworthy.
It's as if you're letting the audience in on a direct quote from a source, an expert, or someone's unique experience.
Itās not just a statement; itās a shared thought, an opinion, or a revelation.
This tiny change can transform a plain headline into an ultra-clickable teaser.
A Word Of Cautionā¦
Make sure the quotes used in your headlines actually reflect the content and are, of course ā real.
Having said that, itās completely fine to seek out quotes purely for the sake of including them in your headline.
Just as long as they add value and curiosity while staying true to the contentās message.
5 Dead-Simple Ways You Can Use Quotation Marks In Headlines
Expert Opinions: 'Game-Changer,ā A Michelin Chefās New Favorite Kitchen Gadget
Use authoritative quotes from experts or well-known figures to add credibility.
Customer Testimonials: 'I've Never Felt More Positive' ā Users Rave About New Wellness App
Highlight a userās positive experience.
Provocative Questions: Is This Really The āFuture of AIā?
Put part of an engaging question in quotes.
Teasers for Stories: 'I Never Thought Iād Make It': A Bizarre Gameshow Experience
Offer a snippet of a story to entice readers.
Data or Statistics: ā75% Increase' Reveals A Surprising Trend In Home Gardening
Quote a striking statistic to emphasize that thereās a credible source behind it.
Your 3-Step Summary:
Find Compelling Quotes: Look for engaging, relevant quotes from credible sources for your content.
Strategically Place In Headlines: Use these quotes in your headlines to add intrigue.
Evaluate And Adjust: A/B test and monitor audience response.
Whenever Youāre Readyā¦
Hereās how I can help.
āHeadline Magicā:
My online course for content creators who want to learn how to:
Use the dead-simple, evidence-based headline secrets of top creators to get a tonne more views (with barely any extra effort).
Use small headline tweaks to get back the clicks (and revenue) currently going to their competitors.
BONUS: Use ChatGPT to write headlines (that are actually good).
š° rabbit holes and resources
š« Todayās link candy for content creators:
Did you find today's newsletter content valuable? |
And thatās all for today!
Dil, The Pen Pivot