How to Improve Your Headlines
So People Actually Click
VijayWrites #149
Welcome to VijayWrites—where you’ll find inspiration, tips, and ideas to help you write better, master the art of copywriting, and make a career out of your words.
Last week, I ran a writing challenge.
One thing stood out—most writers struggled with fixing weak headlines.
They knew their headlines weren’t working. They could feel it. But they didn’t know what exactly was wrong or how to make them better.
So, over the next few posts, I’m going to walk you through simple ways to improve your writing—step by step.
And we’re starting with headlines. Because if your headline doesn’t hook the reader, nothing else matters.
To make this practical, let’s take one weak headline and improve it step by step.
The Problem: A Weak Headline
Let’s say you wrote this:
Ways to Improve Your Writing
It’s not terrible. But it’s forgettable.
It doesn’t tell the reader what’s inside. It doesn’t spark curiosity. It doesn’t make a strong promise.
Let’s fix that.
Step 1: Make It Clearer
One big issue with weak headlines? They’re too vague.
"Improve your writing"—how? Make it clearer? More persuasive? More engaging?
A better version would be:
Ways to Make Your Writing More Persuasive
Ways to Write More Engaging Blog Posts
Now, the reader knows exactly what they’ll learn.
Step 2: Add Curiosity (Without Clickbait)
A good headline makes people want to read more. But bad curiosity feels like a cheap trick.
For example:
The Secret to Better Writing (#3 Will Surprise You!)
It’s clickbait. It promises something interesting but doesn’t say anything specific.
A better way to create curiosity?
The #1 Writing Mistake That Makes Readers Tune Out
Why Most Writers Fail (And How to Fix It in 10 Minutes)
These versions make the reader curious while still being clear.
Step 3: Use Numbers & Specifics
Numbers make headlines stronger. They suggest a structured, easy-to-follow format.
Compare these:
Ways to Improve Your Writing
7 Simple Ways to Instantly Improve Your Writing
The second one is much better. It feels concrete. The reader knows they’ll get seven specific ideas—not just a random list of thoughts.
Another example:
How I Improved My LinkedIn Posts
How I Doubled My LinkedIn Engagement in 30 Days
The second one is clearer, more specific, and instantly more compelling.
Step 4: Strengthen the Promise
The original headline is missing something important—a strong reason to care.
Let’s make it more outcome-driven:
How to Make Your Writing So Good People Can’t Ignore It
How to Instantly Make Your Writing More Persuasive
Now, the reader knows what they’ll get out of it.
Before & After: The Fix in Action
We started with this:
Ways to Improve Your Writing
After applying these four fixes:
7 Simple Writing Fixes That Make Your Content More Engaging
The Biggest Writing Mistake (And How to Fix It Fast)
How to Instantly Make Your Writing More Persuasive
Each one is clearer, more specific, and makes a stronger promise.
Your Turn
Take an old headline you’ve written and try improving it using these four tweaks.
See what changes. See what feels stronger.
And if you’re up for it, share your before-and-after. I’d love to see what you come up with.