Even the best writers struggle to come up with a great headline! And although you’ll learn the art when you study your NCTJ qualifications for a journalism career, it’s always worth reminding yourself of these three tips:
Know what motivates your audience
Your audience is always asking ‘what’s in it for me’, and how it will make them look if they share the content. They are considering their FOMO and curiosity and asking whether your content aligns with who they perceive themselves to be, and whether your content can help them to solve a problem.
So consider psychological motivators that go beyond catchy hooks. A great headline will speak to your ideal reader and show that you understand them. NCTJ qualifications delivered by providers like https://newsassociates.co.uk/what-is-the-nctj/ go into this in detail.
Make your promise, then deliver on it
All content needs to deliver some value, whether that’s information, inspiration, education and entertainment. Begin with the headline and then see it through. This is the difference between a valuable article and clickbait. Remember, great journalists build trust so that their readers seek out their content.
Create curiosity
Called the curiosity gap, a great headline should ask a question in your reader’s mind and compel them to read your content to find out more. Appeal to their emotions, and their need to know. These are the hallmarks of great journalists, who then deliver value all the way down to the last sentence of their piece.
How will you use these tips to write better headlines in your quest to become a better journalist?
