Free Headline Analyzer
Your headline decides whether anyone reads the rest. Type one in and get a 0–100 score with specific fixes, updated live as you edit.
What makes a headline work
Strong headlines share a handful of measurable traits: a length that survives search results and social feeds (roughly 40-60 characters), specificity (numbers, timeframes, named audiences), an emotional hook that names a fear or aspiration, and power words that promise concrete value. The analyzer scores each of these separately so you can see exactly which lever to pull - rather than rewriting blind. The biggest single upgrade for most headlines: replace a vague promise ("improve your marketing") with a specific one ("cut your cost per lead in 30 days").
Formats that consistently outperform
Three structures beat plain statements again and again: how-to headlines ("How to..."), which promise a process; list headlines ("7 ways..."), which promise scannable, finite content; and question headlines, which mirror what people actually type into search. None of this replaces honesty - a headline that overpromises earns the click and loses the reader, and engagement signals follow. Score high AND deliver on the page.
Frequently Asked Questions
For search results, keep titles under roughly 60 characters so Google does not truncate them; 6-12 words is the readable sweet spot. For social and email subject lines, shorter often wins - the first few words carry most of the weight everywhere.
Yes - numbered headlines consistently outperform unnumbered ones in click-through studies, because they promise specific, finite, scannable content. Odd numbers and concrete figures ("saved $4,200") tend to feel more credible than round ones.
Words that carry a concrete promise or urgency: proven, essential, step-by-step, free, instantly. Used sparingly (one or two per headline) they lift response; stacked together they read as clickbait and erode trust.
They have converged: Google rewards titles people actually click, and people click titles that promise clear value. Write for the reader, keep it within the pixel limit, include the topic phrase naturally, and you have optimized for both.
Great Headlines Need Great Content Behind Them
A headline wins the click; the page has to win the customer. We plan and write content engineered to rank, get cited by AI, and convert.