US Trends

what is a headline

A headline is the short title at the top of a news story, article, blog post, or web page that sums up the main point and grabs attention.

Quick Scoop: What is a headline?

  • A headline is the title of a piece of content: article, blog post, webpage, ad, or news story.
  • It appears in larger type at the top and is usually the first thing a reader sees.
  • Its job is to quickly convey the gist of the story and make people want to read more or click through.
  • In news and media, headlines can also refer to major, widely reported news (“making the headlines”).

Why headlines matter (especially online)

  • They determine whether readers choose your content or scroll past it, so they strongly affect clicks and traffic.
  • Many people skim only headlines rather than full articles, especially on phones and social media.
  • In marketing and SEO, a good headline helps you rank for key search terms and attract the right audience.

Simple example

  • Article topic: A guide to writing better CVs.
  • Possible headline: “How to Write a CV That Gets You Hired”.
    • It states the topic, hints at the benefit, and invites a click, which is exactly what a strong headline should do.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.