Look: 10 One-Word, Attention-Grabbing Headlines

When it comes to writing online, brevity is a virtue. Your readers’ attention is severely limited, so you want to get your point across and the response you want with as few words as possible.

Which is why I like short headlines. They’re punchy. They’re energetic. And they work.

Here are some one-word headlines that have been proven to grab attention. See if you can use one of them when you write your next sales page, blog post, or email:

1. Free!

We love freebies, so it’s no wonder this wonder gets our attention.

2. Urgent

Seeing this word makes our heart beat a little faster. We’re conditioned to respond to urgent matters. There’s also an element of curiosity, because we want to know, “What’s so urgent?”

3. Important

We don’t want to miss out on anything, so when we see something “important,” we want to know what it is.

4. Attention

A command we’re all familiar with, and we respond accordingly. We attend.

5. New

This word has a hypnotic effect. It piques our curiosity, even if the “new” element in a familiar product is something as trivial as the addition of baking soda.

6. Sale

This has a similar effect as the word “free.” Bargains are the next best thing to freebies, and we love them.

7. Introducing…

This word, followed by the ellipses, arouses our curiosity. It also hints at newness, which is also compelling.

8. Announcing…

This one word packs a powerful punch. What follows is something new, important and even possibly urgent. No wonder this single word gets our attention every time.

9. Win…

Aside from freebies and good deals, we also love winning prizes. It makes us feel special, chosen or just plain lucky.

10. Shocking.

Admit it or not, we’re fascinated by the stuff that sells millions of copies of tabloids. But don’t use this to make your content read like a tabloid. You can use this when writing about an unusual discovery, result or news.

Now you see how much impact one word can have on your readers. Next time you’re tempted to use a long headline, title or email subject line, stop and think: Can one word do the job?

Tell Us

Do you see yourself using any of these one-word attention grabbers anytime soon?

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About the Author

Alexis Rodrigo is a passionate blogger, copywriter and Internet marketer – when she isn’t changing diapers or cooking meals, that is. A self-confessed word nerd, she is a lifelong student of how words influence people’s thoughts, attitudes, feelings and actions.

Visit Lexi Rodrigo Online at: TheSavvyFreelancer.com