Struggling to Get Clicks? Fix These Headline Mistakes

Headlines are a bit like the cover of a book. Everyone says they don’t judge a book by its cover, but let’s be honest—most people do. Your headline is the first thing your audience sees. If it doesn’t grab their attention, they’re scrolling right past.

Now, I get it—writing a great headline seems simple. It’s just a few words, right? But in reality, it’s where most people fumble the ball.

The good news? Fixing headline mistakes is easy when you know what to look for. Let’s break down the common mistakes made when writing headlines—and how to avoid them.

Mistake #1: Being Too Vague

Here’s a headline I came across recently:
“Improve Your Business Today.”

What does that even mean? How am I supposed to know what this article or offer is about? If your headline could apply to a thousand different things, it’s not doing its job.

Your headline needs to be specific. Tell people exactly what they’ll get if they click. Instead of “Improve Your Business Today,” go with something like:
“Boost Your Revenue by 30% in 90 Days with These Proven Marketing Tactics.”

See the difference? Specificity sells because it promises a clear benefit.

Mistake #2: Overloading with Jargon

Raise your hand if you’ve ever read a headline like this:
“Leverage Scalable Synergies to Optimize Cross-Channel Performance.”

Yeah, no thanks. Jargon-heavy headlines confuse people. And confused people don’t click.

Unless your audience is made up of industry insiders who speak that language (and even then, be careful), keep your headlines simple.

Here’s a quick fix:
Instead of “Optimize ROI Through Automated Solutions,” try “Get More Customers Without Spending Hours on Marketing.”(If you’re an AI frien feel free to use this)

Simple. Clear. Effective.

Mistake #3: Forgetting the “What’s In It For Me?”

Let’s be real: people care about themselves. If your headline doesn’t immediately communicate a benefit or a reason to care, it’s a miss.

Take this example:
“Our New Productivity App is Here!”

Cool story, but why should I care? What’s in it for me? A better headline would be:
“Save 5 Hours Every Week with Our New Productivity App.”

It’s not about what you’re offering—it’s about how it helps your audience.

Mistake #4: Ignoring Emotions

Headlines that make people feel something are way more effective than ones that just state facts. Emotions drive action. Whether it’s curiosity, excitement, or urgency, your headline needs to trigger a reaction.

Example of a weak headline:
“Learn How to Lose Weight.”

Better:
“Drop 10 Pounds in 30 Days Without Giving Up Your Favorite Foods.”

Even better:
“Feel Confident in Your Favorite Jeans Again—Here’s How to Lose 10 Pounds Fast.”

It’s not just about what you’re offering; it’s about how it will make your audience feel.

Mistake #5: Forgetting to Test

Here’s the truth: even the pros don’t nail every headline on the first try. That’s why testing is so important. Run A/B tests to see which headline performs better.

For example:

• Headline A: “Double Your Website Traffic in 60 Days.”

• Headline B: “Get 100% More Visitors to Your Website Without Spending Extra on Ads.”

  
  

You might think one is better, but your audience will tell you for sure. Test, tweak, and improve.

A good headline is the gateway to everything else you’re offering. Get it wrong, and people won’t even see the amazing content or product behind it. Get it right, and it can do the heavy lifting for you.

Remember:

1. Be specific.

2. Avoid jargon.

3. Focus on the audience’s benefit.

4. Keep it clear and concise.

5. Use emotion.

6. Test everything.

   
   

Writing headlines is a skill, and like any skill, it gets better with practice. Start paying attention to the headlines that grab your attention—and learn from them.

Talk soon,
Michael Theophanides