Your headline is the most important element of your content. It’s what grabs your network’s attention and makes them want to read more. So how can you write a headline that stands out from the crowd and delivers value?
One simple and effective way is to use numbers. Numbers can make your headline more specific, more credible, and more appealing to your target audience. In this post, you’ll discover five powerful reasons why numbers matter in headlines and how they can boost your traffic and engagement.
5️⃣ – Numbers provide evidence and data
Did you know that headlines with numbers are the second-most popular type of headlines on the web?
That’s because numbers show that you have done some research and have some evidence based facts to back up your claims. Numbers also make your headline more precise and clear, which helps your readers understand what they can expect from your content.
4️⃣ – Numbers improve your SEO ranking
Google loves headlines with numbers. They tend to rank higher in search results and get more clicks than headlines without numbers. This is because numbers match the user’s intent and answer their queries. For example, if someone searches for “how to write a headline”, they are more likely to click on a headline that says “How to Write a Headline in 5 Easy Steps” than one that says “How to Write a Headline”.
3️⃣ – Numbers appeal to our psychology
We are hard wired to process information in chunks and patterns. Numbers help us organise and simplify complex topics into manageable units. They also trigger our curiosity and memory, as we want to know what the numbers mean and how they relate to each other.
2️⃣ – Numbers set expectations for the reader
By telling your audience how many points or tips you have in your post, you help them decide how much time they need to invest in reading it. A short list of 5 or 10 items is easy to digest and remember. A long list of 100 or more items is more challenging than the initial intrigue. Create a sense of anticipation and satisfaction for your readers!
1️⃣ – Numbers add authority and value to your headline
Numbers imply that you have done some analysis and evaluation on your topic. They also suggest that you have something useful and actionable to share with your readers. And they create a sense of urgency and FOMO (fear of missing out) if they don’t read your post.
Notice how I counted down from 5 to 1 instead of the other way around? That’s because I wanted to keep you hooked until the end. 😁
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MarcComms Digital Marketing is a societal change driven SME organisation that creates smart agile digital marketing campaigns for SME, green, societal change & environmental sectors. With a focus on social media marketing, MarcComms Digital Marketing helps its clients to generate awareness, growth and demand in the marketplace, supporting empowerment and resilience to change.
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