The Dead-Simple Headline-Writing Hack Pro Creators Are Keeping Secret

30 SECONDS TO THE PERFECT HEADLINE: EASY 3-STEP GUIDE

Sad truth:

Whether it’s written, video, or audio, the success of a piece of content often depends on the handful of words at the very top.

No matter how much blood, sweat, and tears you may have poured into it, without a good headline you might as well not have written it.

I’d like to think of myself as a headline collector.

When I see the top content creators consistently writing headlines in a very specific way, I start to take notice.

There’s one pattern I’ve seen everywhere.

On Medium, YouTube, the “trending” section of major publications, and more.

Sure, I don’t have access to their specific click-through rates.

But when something is used by the best, everywhere, it’s a pretty good indication that it works.

The headline format appears to play on a simple psychological effect:

“Simplify The Complex”: Steal This 3-Step Headline-Writing Hack

• Find a topic widely seen as overwhelming that you understand well

• Promise an actionable solution

• Promise they’ll achieve it within a specific time duration

Here are a couple of examples:

1. Find A Topic

As Dickie Bush would say, if you can’t find a complex topic you understand well, you probably aren’t getting specific enough.

There’s a very good chance you’re an “expert” in something.

Don’t think as broad as astrophysics or geology.

Think small.

What are the little nuggets of expertise you have that most other people haven’t figured out yet?

Alternatively, seek out expertise from others. Interview them and document their process.

Let’s use an example from the baking niche:

Baking the perfect sourdough bread.

A starting point for your headline would be this:

“How To Bake The Perfect Sourdough Bread”.

Bland and forgettable, but it’s a start.

Let’s see where it takes us.

2. Offer A Clear, Actionable Solution

Audiences don’t want fluff.

They’re seeking value, answers, or a new skill.

The headline should promise a solution that isn’t just easy to understand, but also actionable.

Use active verbs and clearly state the outcome they should expect.

Let’s revamp our headline:

“Bake Perfect Sourdough Bread Using These 4 Steps”

Specificity is strength.

By identifying the number of steps, you set a clear expectation for the reader/viewer.

A concise, actionable list makes a topic much more cognitively fluent and appealing.

3. Create Urgency With A Timeline

Adding a specific timeframe contributes two things:

It adds a sense of urgency.

It adds precision, making the goal appear even more achievable.

This lets the audience know that if they click this headline, they won’t just find solutions to their problems.

They’ll also achieve them within a reasonable, finite period.

Now, let’s finish up with our headline.

“6 Hours To Perfect Sourdough Bread: A Simple 4-Step Guide”.

Much better.

But surely there’s more we can do?

“Simplify The Complex”: Steal This 3-Step Headline-Writing Hack

Increase the curiosity gap by adding a sense of mystery or exclusivity:

“6 Hours To Perfect Sourdough Bread: An Unusual 4-Step Guide”.

Social proof/authority bias:

“6 Hours To Sourdough Bread: The 4-Step Guide Pro Bakers Use”.

Maybe combine them?

“6 Hrs To Sourdough Bread: A Pro Baker’s Unusual 4-Step Guide”.

Of course, this would only work if it actually was a pro baker’s technique and there was something unique about it.

I’m just spitballing here.

If you wanted to, you could amp up the simplicity instead:

“6 Hours To No-Hassle Sourdough Bread: A 4-Step Guide”

And so on.

Your Next Steps:

• Apply the 3-step framework to future informational content

• Experiment: A/B test to see if it makes a difference

As always, a good headline will only get you the click.

Actually delivering valuable content that meets audience expectations is just as essential.

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