1. Use Numbers and “Listicle” Formats (But Do It Right)

By now, you’ve surely seen millions of listicles (articles structured as lists) across the web. “10 Ways to ”, “7 Secrets of ”, etc. There’s a reason they’re everywhere – they work. Numbers in headlines often boost engagement because: - They provide specificity and a clear structure (people know it’s not an endless article; it has X points). - Oddly enough, certain studies have shown that specific numbers like 7, 15, etc., can attract more attention than rounded numbers like 10, but 10 is still a classic. - They tap into our brain’s love for organization and completeness.

Examples: - “5 Foods That Burn Belly Fat” – very clear, benefit-driven (burn belly fat), with a number. - “101 Blog Post Ideas for Small Businesses” – big number, promises a trove of ideas.

However, make sure the content delivers on the number. If you say “5 Tips” have five solid tips. Don’t artificially inflate or deflate for the sake of a number. And avoid absurdly large lists unless the content truly warrants it – “137 Ways to Organize Your Life” is probably overwhelming and unnecessary.

Also, don’t use numbers just for clickbait like “19 Things You Won’t Believe Happened…” unless the content is genuinely a list of 19 things and there’s substance to each. Readers are savvy; they’ll bounce if they feel tricked.