The Worst Headline Mistakes You Can Make

Every time you scroll through your news feed, Google something, browse Facebook, or just walk past some bookshelves, it’s always the headline that grabs your attention.

It's what you see first - not the introduction, not the author and not the reviews.

We choose what to read based on the headline. 

I’m going to show you how to create clickable headlines and also reveal the worst mistakes you can make…

Clickbait

You’ve probably heard this word before and chances are you’ve fallen victim to it. 

Ever seen a headline like, “You Will Never Believe What Happened Next…” only to find some nonsense like:

“Elephant Spends 11 Hours Digging A Hole Then Pulls Out Something Unexpected."

“The villagers were stunned.”

Then you read the rest of the article before you realise you just wasted the last 5 minutes of your life. 

Clickbaity headlines are as old as Biden.

And even though people will continue to fall for these kinds of traps, they rarely stick around after realising they’ve just been duped. 

In the end, it’s just not worth it.

So let’s avoid misleading and scamming people altogether.

Too Long

A lengthy headline can cost you readers.

Take this for example:

“Avoid These Headline Mistakes That Won’t Bring You Any More Clients And Will Also Reduce Your CPR By 53% Which Is Crucial For Marketing Success.”

About halfway through you’re lost and wondering what it’s even trying to say because there’s too much going on.

It needs to be short and punchy. 

Headlines should cut through the noise, not add to it. 

Readers already have enough going on in their lives - your headline needs to be easy to digest and straight to the point.

Stuffing Your Headline With Keywords

Google’s algorithms have evolved. 

Simply stuffing keywords into your headline doesn’t work anymore. The search engine now pays attention to click-through rates, which will tank if your headline is a mess.

Who would click on something like this?

“How To Generate Leads With Facebook, Run Facebook Ad Campaigns, And Get More Clients Using Meta.”

You're not selling to machines and algorithms.

Remember, the headline is for your reader. 

Make it sound like something a real person would actually say.

Technical Language

You don’t always know who your audience is - or who might buy from you. 

Using too much jargon will alienate buyers simply because the content goes right over their heads.

A good rule of thumb? 

Use the BAR Test and say your headline out loud. 

Does it sound like something you’d say to someone at a bar or does it sound like R2-D2 wrote it? 

If it’s the latter, you need to rewrite it.

Being Bland And Boring

Your headline needs to stand out and demand attention. 

The world doesn’t need any more generic posts like:

"7 People To Follow On Social Media.”

It needs more headlines like:

“7 Experts That Will Show You The Secrets To Social Media You Never Even Thought Of.”

Be bold. 

Use your audience’s pain points to make them curious and excited to read the rest of your content.

And Make It Count!

If your headlines feel “meh” and don’t pack a punch, keep working on them until they do. They’re the most important driver to getting people to click onto your content.

Implement these tricks, avoid the mistakes, and watch your results soar. 

Talk soon,

Pritesh Chauhan

P.S. Want me to show you exactly how to write headlines that sell? 

Fill out the form here for a free strategy session - no cost, no obligation. Just actionable advice that’ll get you more clicks and more sales.