Good headings and titles increase conversions

First impressions count. This also applies online. Your title and headings are often the first thing a visitor sees on your website. Within a few seconds, someone decides whether to stay or click away. In this article, you will learn how strong headings ensure more conversions, how to write them, and what you should definitely not do. We provide examples and practical tips in simple language.

Why titles and headings are so important

Titles and headings direct the attention of your visitor. A catchy title can convince someone to read on, click or even buy. Titles are therefore essential in conversion optimization. Strong headings make a page scannable, understandable and convincing.

What is the difference between a title and a heading?

• Title: This is the main heading at the top of your page, often a <h1> tag. For example: "How to double your online sales".
• Headings: These are the subheadings on your page, usually <h2>, <h3>, etc. They make the content clear.

The psychology behind headings

People scan websites. A good headline grabs attention and evokes emotion or curiosity. For example:

• "Don't miss this opportunity: save 30% on your energy bill today"
• "Why your website is missing out on 80% of your customers (and what to do about it)"

Examples of high-converting titles

• "Download our ultimate SEO guide for free"
• "Try it for free for 14 days - no strings attached"
• "This simple tip gave us 300% more sales"
• "Avoid these 5 mistakes when you want to convince customers"
• "What every entrepreneur needs to know about conversion optimization"

What makes a strong headline?

A strong headline often contains:

• A promise: what it delivers the reader?
• Specific result: such as numbers or percentages
• Emotion or urgency: use words like "now", "free", "prevent", "discover"
• Question or problem: appeal to recognition

How headings support conversion

Suppose you are writing a landing page for an online course. The headings can gradually build up the story:

• H1: "Become an expert in email marketing in 30 days"
• H2: "What you will learn in this course"
• H2: "What others are saying"
• H2: "Get started today – risk-free"

Each of these headings invites you to read on and strengthens trust.

HTML example: good headings on a product page

<h1>The perfect office chair for long working days</h1>
<h2>Why this chair makes your back happy</h2>
<h2>What other customers say</h2>
<h2>Order now – 30-day trial</h2>

Common mistakes

• Not using a clear <h1>
• Only SEO keywords, no appeal
• Headings that don’t match the content
• No hierarchy (<h1>, <h2>, <h3>) – that makes your page confusing

SEO and headings: a golden duo

Search engines use headings to understand what your page is about. Put your most important keyword in the title and in at least one subheading. But don’t overdo it: write for people, not robots.

Tips for strong titles and headings

• Write 5 variations of your title, choose the best one
• Test titles with A/B testing
• Use action words such as "start", "discover", "learn", "prevent"
• Make the result clear: what does it bring the visitor?

Case: newsletter registrations doubled

A webshop had the title "Newsletter" above their form. After a test, they changed it to: "Receive a smart saving tip in your inbox every week". Result: twice as many registrations. The new title promised value and was much more concrete.

Testing headlines with tools

There are handy tools to test the power of your headlines:

• CoSchedule Headline Analyzer
• EMV Headline Analyzer

Conclusion

Titles and headings may be small in pixels, but they have a big impact. They determine whether someone sticks around or clicks away. With the right words, you can greatly increase the chance of conversion. So spend time writing headlines that excite, inform and convince.

Did I help you well?

Your contribution enables me to write more articles.

I donate € 1,- now