Headline Analyzer
Type or paste your headline to instantly score it for power words, emotional value, SEO length, and word count. Get specific suggestions to improve your click-through rate.
What Makes a High-Scoring Headline?
Power Words
Words like "ultimate", "proven", "secret", or "guaranteed" trigger an emotional response and drive clicks. Aim for at least one per headline — but avoid stacking too many or it sounds spammy.
Emotional Value
Headlines that evoke curiosity, urgency, or aspiration outperform neutral ones. Positive emotion builds desire; negative emotion builds urgency. Either can work — flat headlines convert poorly.
Include a Number
Numbered headlines are specific, scannable, and set clear expectations. "7 Ways to…" outperforms "Ways to…" consistently. Use odd numbers — they tend to achieve higher CTR than even numbers.
Ideal Word Count: 6–10
Too short and the headline lacks context. Too long and it gets truncated in search and social. Six to ten words balances informativeness with scannability. Remove filler words aggressively.
SEO Length: Under 60 Characters
Google cuts off titles longer than ~60 characters in desktop SERPs. If your headline doubles as your page title, keep it under 60 to avoid truncation. Include your primary keyword near the front.
Test Multiple Variants
Run two or three headline variations through the analyzer to compare scores. Then A/B test the top two with real traffic. Scores predict click appeal, but only real data shows what resonates with your audience.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is the headline score calculated?
The score (0–100) is a weighted average of five dimensions: power words (30%), emotional value (20%), word count (20%), SEO character length (20%), and presence of a number (10%). Each dimension is scored independently and then combined. A score of 70+ is considered good; 80+ is excellent.
What are power words?
Power words are emotionally charged or action-oriented words that trigger a psychological response and drive clicks. Examples include "ultimate", "proven", "secret", "guaranteed", "free", and "breakthrough". Headlines with at least one power word consistently outperform those without in click-through rate studies.
Why should I add a number to my headline?
Numbers make headlines specific and concrete, which builds trust and sets a clear reader expectation. Research from Conductor and CoSchedule shows numbered headlines can receive up to 36% more clicks than non-numbered equivalents. Odd numbers (3, 5, 7) tend to outperform even numbers.
What is the ideal headline length for SEO?
Google typically displays 50–60 characters in desktop search results (up to ~70 on mobile). Headlines longer than 60 characters risk being truncated with an ellipsis, which reduces clarity. For word count, 6–10 words is the sweet spot — enough context without overwhelming the reader.
What is emotional value in a headline?
Emotional value measures how strongly a headline appeals to the reader's feelings. Positive words (inspire, thrive, free) create aspiration and warmth. Negative words (fear, fail, danger) create urgency. Both can be effective depending on context. Headlines with zero emotional words tend to feel flat and generic.
Does a higher score always mean a better headline?
Not necessarily. The score is a signal, not a verdict. A technically high-scoring headline may still be off-brand, misleading, or wrong for your audience. Use the score as a checklist to catch obvious gaps (no power word, too long, no number) rather than as an absolute quality measure. Always read your headline out loud.