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Let’s face it, a headline will either make or break an article.

Whether you’re writing an article for a blog, a newspaper, or a magazine, the headline is the first (and possibly only) thing your audience will read. If you want them to continue reading, the headline should be short, intriguing, and indicative of the content.

The main purpose of a headline is to grab the reader’s attention. You’re making a promise to the reader. Your headline should say: “This is what the article is about.” Don’t make any promises you can’t keep for the sake of cleverness. A funny or exciting headline can certainly grab attention. But once you have the reader’s attention, it’s your responsibility to deliver. If you don’t, and if you don’t do it fast, your reader is bound to move on.

That being said, let’s take a look at a few common types of headlines. These should seem familiar to you.

Four Headline Categories that Work

The following headline categories are time-tested. They work and have worked for a long time. They are not the only types of headlines. But they are the most common. Master these first before experimenting with more creative headlines. Like they say, “crawl before you walk.”

The News Headline

Open any newspaper, and you’ll see this kind of headline in bold lettering splattered all over the page. It’s usually short and informative. Because newspapers have a limited amount of space, articles like the and a are omitted. Only use this kind of headline if your article is presenting information that is news. For example: Baby Learns to Breakdance or Man Found Dead in Bed.

The How-to Headline

This kind of headline can be found anywhere. It’s simple; it’s intriguing; and it makes a concrete promise to the reader. As long as you follow through with that promise, this kind of headline can’t miss. For example: How to Write a Headline or How to Walk on Burning Coals.

The Question Headline

The question headline is very basic. It asks a question. And the article should answer it. This type of headline works because it speaks directly to the reader. For example, for this article, I could have asked: Want to Write Better Headlines? But I didn’t. Instead I used the fourth type of headline.

The Command Headline

Think about what you want your readers to get out of your article. Then state it in the headline leading with a verb. It’s as simple as that. I want my readers to write better headlines and my article shows them how.  The command headline is bold and straightforward. But you better deliver.

Take Your Time

Finally, now that you know how to construct a few basic headlines, try writing headlines for your own articles or articles you find online or in print. Write the headlines using all the categories I’ve outlined, and have fun. Writers often spend a huge amount of time writing headlines. They’re that important. So take your time and get it right. Your readers will thank you.