17 blog post headline templates to try

Before we get to the headline templates, I want to highlight one essential point: You cannot trade trust for traffic.

An attention-grabbing headline is only one part of what makes a blog post successful. To build long-lasting, perpetually climbing web traffic patterns, your content must follow through on the promise your headline presents.

If you tease your reader with a great headline and follow it with mediocre content, that reader won’t return. They’ll remember that you didn’t deliver the quality they expected when they first read the headline, and they won’t trust you to deliver on anything else in the future.

In this scenario, you’re not just seeing a bounced user; you’re watching a user turn their back on you. That visitor won’t follow you on social media. They won’t share your content on Pinterest or Twitter. They won’t refer your services to friends and colleagues, and they certainly won’t invest in you themselves.

Smoke and mirror headlines—or clickbait—brand you for life as a dishonest boss.

So, if you do use these headline templates, I urge you to use them well and to follow my rule: Ensure your headlines represent your blog posts fairly.

Now, on to the headline templates (and a trio of examples of how to use each one):

#1. Dominate your _____! How to take control of your _____

Examples:

• “Dominate your belly fat! How to take control of your bad eating habits”
• “Dominate your business goals! How to take control of your 2018 resolutions”
• “Dominate your cluttered desk! How to take control of your messy work station”

#2. Looking for _____? # ways to _____

Examples:

• “Looking for vengeance? # ways to make your naysayers eat their words”
• “Looking for an easy win? # ways to conquer your to-do list”
• “Looking for love? # ways to put yourself out there”

#3. # ways to win at _____

Examples:

• “# ways to win at poker without cheating”
• “# ways to win at batch cooking—even if you’re a lazy procrastinator”
• “# ways to win at St. Patrick’s Day without turning into Martha Stewart”

#4. Extreme _____: # steps to taking your _____ to the next level

Examples:

• “Extreme baking: # steps to taking your cake decoration to the next level”
• “Extreme couch surfing: # steps to taking your freeloading to the next level”
• “Extreme journaling: # steps to taking your daily writing to the next level”

#5. # secrets to a (adjective) _____

Examples:

• “# secrets to smoother hair without a flat iron”
• “# secrets to tastier food, minus the extra calories”
• “# secrets to a more successful college application”

#6. Stuck on _____? # mysteries you need to understand

Examples:

• “Stuck on Buddhism? # mysteries you need to understand”
• “Stuck on Game of Thrones? # mysteries you need to understand”
• “Stuck on bullet journaling? # mysteries you need to understand”

#7. Exactly how to get ahead of _____

Examples:

• “Exactly how to get ahead of the rest of your pre-algebra class”
• “Exactly how to get ahead of your roller derby competition at try-outs”
• “Exactly how to get ahead of your smarmy ex-boyfriend”

#8. # dirty deeds that will _____

Examples:

• “# dirty deeds that will make your house cleaner”
• “# dirty deeds that will make your spouse happier”
• “# dirty deeds that will make your blog readers hate you for life”

#9. Are you too _____? # ways to tell

Examples:

• “Are you too easy-going? # ways to tell”
• “Are you too woo-woo for your audience? # ways to tell”
• “Are you too buff to get a date? # ways to tell”

#10. Reinvent yourself! What to do first to _____

Examples:

• “Reinvent yourself! What to do first to make healthy eating a priority”
• “Reinvent yourself! What to do first to become your office’s MVP”
• “Reinvent yourself! What to do first to gain control over your finances”

#11. _____ beware: # _____ you need to know about

Examples:

• “Buyer beware: # cheap sales tactics you need to know about”
• “Girlfriend beware: # manipulative phrases you need to know about”
• “Yogi beware: # bad back poses you need to know about”

#12. How to revitalize _____

Examples:

• “How to revitalize the clean eating industry”
• “How to revitalize your morning routine”
• “How to revitalize your office’s work culture”

#13. # _____ to obsess over _____

Examples:

• “# natural cleaners to obsess over this spring cleaning season”
• “# adorable sugar cookie ideas to obsess over this Christmas”
• “# women-run podcasts to obsess over on your next road trip”

#14. Seduce your way to _____. # ways to _____

Examples:

• “Seduce your way to an airline upgrade. # ways to talk yourself into a better seat”
• “Seduce your way to better blog traffic. # ways to keep your readers on your site”
• “Seduce your way to better health. # ways to convince yourself to cut out sugar.”

#15. Ready for a revolution? # ideas to help you change absolutely everything about _____

Examples:

• “Ready for a revolution? # ideas to help you change absolutely everything about the job you hate”
• “Ready for a revolution? # ideas to help you change absolutely everything about your workout regimen”
• “Ready for a revolution? # ideas to help you change absolutely everything about how you talk to your best friend”

#16. It could always be worse. # bad things about _____ that aren’t apocalyptic

Examples:

• “It could always be worse. # bad things about gym germs that aren’t apocalyptic”
• “It could always be worse. # bad things about going freelance that aren’t apocalyptic”
• “It could always be worse. # bad things about your spending habits that aren’t apocalyptic”

#17. # truths you need to know about _____ before you _____

Examples:

• “# truths you need to know about mortgages before you buy an investment property”
• “# truths you need to know about credit cards before you charge for points”
• “# truths you need to know about football injuries before you sign your kids up to play”