Mastering the Three‑Trigger Headline Formula
Why Headlines Matter On social media and in your inbox, you have mere seconds to persuade someone to stop scrolling and click. A bland headline that simply states the topic won’t cut it. The solution isn’t gimmicky clickbait – it’s understanding how our brains decide what’s worth investigating. One effective approach is to layer three attention triggers into a single headline: relatability, curiosity and the wow factor. The Three Attention Triggers Relatability: make readers see themselves People pay attention when a headline feels personal. Numbers, ages or roles act as a mirror. In the example used in the source article, “My 10 Sources of Income at 28 (Six‑Figure Entrepreneur),” the age tag (“28”) helps readers imagine themselves in the author’s position. Similar anchors could be “first‑time founder” or “busy parent.” Curiosity: pose a question without answering it Effective headlines hint at a secret and then stop short of revealing the answer. The parenthetical “(Six‑Figure Entrepreneur)” in the example sparks a question – how does this person make six figures? – and the only way to find out is to click. When done ethically, this makes your content magnetic; you must ensure the article actually provides value to avoid clickbait. Wow factor: deliver a specific, surprising detail Adding an unusual or eye‑popping detail gives readers a jolt. “10 sources of income” works because most people have one or two streams, not ten. You don’t need to exaggerate; choose a concrete fact you can stand behind. Examples might include “I tried 30 side hustles in 30 days” or “Five mistakes that cost me $100,000 as a founder.” Stack the Triggers for Maximum Impact You could use one of these triggers and see some results, but stacking all three makes the headline irresistible. Consider the contrast below: • Flat: “Lessons from my startup journey.”• Stacked: “Seven mistakes I made in my first year as a founder (that cost me $42,000).” The stacked headline is personal (relatability), teases a story (curiosity) and drops a specific number (wow).