You’ve taken a big step and hired a mental health copywriter to write for you. You’ve got them writing all kinds of things. You’ve noticed, though, that the things that really trip you up are writing catchy headlines for blogs and email subject lines. 

It’s obviously not just enough to write a good headline. You need to be able to grab the reader’s attention. You also need to keep it.

According to Copyblogger, “On average, 8 out of 10 people will read headline copy, but only 2 out of 10 will read the rest. ” The secret sauce is in writing a catchy title that reflects what you’re writing about.

Take a second to think about what gets your attention. “Write a good headline and email subject line” is not the most eye-catching title for this blog. Notice that I gave you an action to do by saying “make the most of…” You wanted to learn more.

Getting and Keeping Your Audience

Obviously, there’s a lot more to writing a good blog or email than a catchy headline or email subject line. I’ve got to keep your attention throughout the piece or you’ll click away. Similar to getting people to stick around your website, you need to hook the reader from the beginning and keep their attention throughout your blog or email.

The headline and the email subject line are the hooks. You want people to open that email and feel compelled to read it all the way through. The reason this is important is that usually, your call to action (CTA) comes at the end of your email or blog. You need your reader to get all the way to the bottom so they can do what you want them to do.

Writing a Catchy Headline For a Blog

There are some tips and tricks that I use to write catchy headlines for blogs, and I’m going to share some of them with you now. You’re welcome!

The first is using numbers. “5 Ways to Write a Catchy Headline” would have been another good title for this blog. For some reason, odd numbers like 3, 5, and 7 and the big 10 are catchier than even numbers. I don’t know the science, I just know it works.

“How to…” headlines are another way to grab the reader’s attention. You want to pull them in. If you read a headline that says “How to Write a Catchy Headline That Leaves Your Readers Wanting More,” you just might click on it to see what I have to say.

Another type of catchy email for a blog is to use punctuation. Colons, hyphens, and parentheses are all great ways to grab your reader’s attention. “5 Ways to Write a Catchy Headline (Free Template Inside)” is another way I could have grabbed your attention. I also am promising you something with the “free template inside.”

I personally like using “make the most of…” It gets your attention and makes you wonder what I have to say that can really help you maximize your time, money, etc.

Another tip to writing a catchy headline for a blog is to write a bunch of them. I usually write at least five, sometimes upwards of ten before I land on the one. Just like when you write, it’s nearly impossible to get it right the first time. You have to write the shitty first draft, then edit the crap out of it until it’s polished and ready to go. 

Headlines are the same way. You need to go through many iterations of the same thing before you find the one that works. I often like to write the headline first. It helps me shape the piece. If I’ve written a good headline before I write the blog it usually helps keep me on track.

Sometimes, though, the catchy headline for a blog comes after I’ve written it. It’s just a personal preference and situation-dependent.

Writing a Catchy Email Subject Line

I’ll admit that I struggle with catchy email subject lines. You don’t want them to be clickbaity, but you want to grab the reader from the beginning. 

Be careful of trying to be cool. Subject lines that have too many emojis make me delete them instantly. It seems gimmicky and cheap. My advice: don’t do it.

I like email subject lines that are questions. When I write cold emails, I use subject lines like “Name, do you want to know how I can save you time?” and “Name, how can I support your mission?” 

Notice that I use the person’s name in the subject line. The recipient is more likely to open that email if it’s addressed directly to them.

Additionally, you want to make sure that your email subject lines aren’t too long. If I check my email and see a subject line that is so long it doesn’t fit in my inbox window, I’m less likely to open it. Short and to the point is the way to go when writing catchy email subject lines.

Understanding How to Write Catchy Email Subject Lines and Catchy Headlines For Blogs

Now that you have a basic understanding of the ins and outs of writing catchy headlines and email subject lines, it’s time to put that knowledge to use. Hire a mental health copywriter who knows how to write catchy headlines and email subject lines. With your new knowledge, you’ll be able to collaborate on titles and subject lines with your copywriter.
To get started with a mental health copywriter who knows her stuff, contact me. Let’s get you more readers with catchy headlines and subject lines and keep those readers coming back! Happy writing!