How can you craft persuasive headlines that capture attention?

Headline Havoc? Here's your Marketing Megaphone: 1. Intrigue with Questions: Spark curiosity with questions that tap into reader pain points (e.g., "Funding Frustrated? 3 Secrets to Wow Investors"). 2. Benefit Blitz: Highlight results with benefit-driven statements (e.g., "Double Your Startup's Valuation"). Data point: Benefit headlines see a 23% higher click-through rate! 3. Number Nugget: Lists and numbers grab attention (e.g., "5 Angel Investing Mistakes Costing You Millions"). 4. Spicy Celebrity (Optional/ Moderately Risky): Inject intrigue with a relevant industry name (e.g., "Did Mark Cuban Invest in THIS?". Use with caution!).

As I approach developing headlines to reach my audience, what I look at most are the important factors or individuals that made the biggest impact (ex: what was significant about the game itself). I look at come-from-behind wins, significant runs or historical significance of each games.

A headline has to answer the simple question "what's in it for me?". The potential reader needs to be clear what the benefit is to them of taking the time to read on

Always remember that, although we think we are supremely logical beings, all our decisions are actually fuelled by emotions. There's plenty of neuroscientific evidence to show this. So always think about the emotional hook as well as the logical benefit

The most important factor for an effective headline is to hit the key points in the fewest words, but grabbing the most attention along the way.

Make sure that your headlines tease the reader to read the entire article with the words that you selectively choose. That way you can get a click on the story and at the same time recap the article in the fewest number of words possible.

"Writing is rewriting" and this is never more true than when writing headlines. Your first draft headline is just you telling yourself what the article or document or presentation is about. Your second draft can zero in more on the benefit to the reader. Then your third version can polish that.

Most important angle of writing sports headlines is to be concise. Reach the reader with the key events, key individuals or even the key significance that are in each game or event. That way you are not extending beyond the normal block for the headlines.