What Is Headline?
A headline is the main title at the top of a page, article, or post. It is the first line people see and it tells them what the content is about.
Definition
A headline is a short sentence or phrase that:
- Names the main topic
- Makes people want to read more
- Helps search engines understand the page
In simple words, a headline is the main label for your content.
Why Headline Matters
Headlines are important because they:
- Grab attention in search results, emails, and social media
- Help people quickly decide if the page is useful
- Guide search engines to match the page with the right searches
- Can increase clicks, reads, and shares
A weak headline can hide great content. A strong headline can make average content get more views.
How Headline Works
A good headline usually:
- Includes important keywords about the topic
- Is clear, not confusing
- Is short enough to read quickly
- Matches what the page actually says
- Speaks to what the reader wants or needs
For SEO, search engines read the headline, page title, and headings to understand the topic and show the page for related searches.
Headline vs Related Terms
- Headline vs Title tag The headline is the main on page title that visitors see. The title tag is the HTML title that appears in browser tabs and search results. They can be the same or slightly different.
- Headline vs Subheading The headline is the main title. Subheadings are smaller titles inside the content that break it into sections.
- Headline vs Article title Often, these are the same thing. People use both words to mean the main title of an article or blog post.
Example of Headline
Imagine you write a guide about baking chocolate chip cookies. Here are two possible headlines:
- Bad headline Good Cookies
- Better headline Easy Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe For Beginners
The better headline is clear, uses important words like easy, chocolate chip, and recipe, and tells readers exactly what they will learn.
FAQs
How long should a headline be?
Most good headlines are between 40 and 70 characters. This is usually short enough to read fast and long enough to be clear.
Should a headline include keywords?
Yes. Use one or two main keywords that match what people search for, but keep the headline natural and easy to read.
Can a page have more than one headline?
Each page should have one main headline. You can have many subheadings under it to organize the content.
Is the headline the same as H1?
Most of the time, yes. The main headline on a page is usually coded as the H1 heading in HTML.
Do headlines affect SEO?
Yes. Clear, keyword rich headlines help search engines understand your topic and can improve click through rate from search results.
