# Headline Generator > Generates 20+ headline variations using proven formulas (how-to, listicle, question, number, curiosity gap). Use when you need compelling headlines for blog posts, ads, emails, or landing pages. - Skill: `reaperinvest/headline-generator` (Agent Skill) - Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add reaperinvest/headline-generator` - Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/reaperinvest/headline-generator/raw - Safety review: pending - Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex - Category: Coding & Dev Tools - Author: reaperinvest (https://skillmd.com/u/reaperinvest) - Updated: 2026-09-22 - Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/reaperinvest/headline-generator --- # Headline Generator ## When to Use This Skill Use this skill when you need to: - Generate 20+ headline options for a blog post, article, or landing page - Create subject line variants for email campaigns - Produce ad headlines for paid campaigns - Test different angles and formulas for the same topic **DO NOT** use this skill for writing full articles, taglines, or brand slogans. This is for headlines and subject lines only. --- ## Core Principle A HEADLINE HAS ONE JOB — EARN THE CLICK. IF IT DOES NOT CREATE CURIOSITY, PROMISE A BENEFIT, OR TRIGGER EMOTION, IT FAILS. --- ## Phase 1: Brief ### Required Inputs | Input | What to Ask | Default | |-------|------------|---------| | **Topic** | "What is the content about?" | No default — must be provided | | **Content type** | "Blog post, email, landing page, ad, or social post?" | Blog post | | **Target audience** | "Who should click?" | Solopreneurs and business owners | | **Primary keyword** | "What keyword should appear in the headline (if SEO matters)?" | None — skip SEO constraint | | **Tone** | "Professional, casual, urgent, provocative, or playful?" | Direct and confident | | **Desired action** | "What should the reader do after clicking?" | Read the full article | **GATE: Confirm inputs before generating headlines.** --- ## Phase 2: Outline Skip formal outline — move directly to generation. Present headlines organized by formula category. --- ## Phase 3: Write ### Generate 25+ Headlines in 8 Categories **Category 1: How-To (3+ headlines)** ``` - How to [Achieve Result] Without [Common Obstacle] - How to [Achieve Result] in [Timeframe] (Even If [Objection]) - How [Specific Person] [Achieved Result] — And How You Can Too ``` **Category 2: Listicle / Number (3+ headlines)** ``` - [N] [Things] That [Achieve Result] (Most [Audience] Miss #[N]) - [N] [Mistakes/Myths/Lies] About [Topic] That Cost You [Loss] - The [N]-Step [System/Framework] for [Desired Outcome] ``` **Category 3: Question (3+ headlines)** ``` - Are You Making These [N] [Topic] Mistakes? - What If [Common Belief] Is Actually Wrong? - Why Do [Successful People] Always [Do This Thing]? ``` **Category 4: Curiosity Gap (3+ headlines)** ``` - The [Topic] Mistake 90% of [Audience] Make (And the Simple Fix) - I [Did This Thing] for [Time Period]. Here's What Actually Happened. - The [Adjective] Truth About [Topic] Nobody Talks About ``` **Category 5: Benefit-Driven (3+ headlines)** ``` - [Achieve Result] in [Timeframe] With This [Method/Tool/System] - Stop [Pain Point] — Start [Desired Outcome] Today - The Fastest Way to [Achieve Result] When [Common Situation] ``` **Category 6: Contrarian / Provocative (3+ headlines)** ``` - Why [Common Advice] Is Dead Wrong (And What to Do Instead) - [Popular Practice] Is Killing Your [Metric]. Here's Proof. - I Stopped [Common Practice] and [Positive Result] Happened ``` **Category 7: Social Proof (3+ headlines)** ``` - How [N] [Audience Type] [Achieved Result] Using [Method] - The [Strategy] That Helped [Person/Company] [Achieve Specific Result] - [N] [Audience] Swear By This [Approach] — Here's Why ``` **Category 8: Urgency / Timely (3+ headlines)** ``` - [Topic] Is Changing in [Year] — Here's How to Stay Ahead - The [Time-Limited] Guide to [Achieving Result] Before [Deadline] - Why [Topic] Matters More in [Current Year] Than Ever ``` ### Scoring Each Headline Rate every headline on three criteria (1-5 each): | Criteria | What It Measures | |----------|-----------------| | **Clarity** | Can the reader instantly understand what they will get? | | **Curiosity** | Does it create an itch that can only be scratched by clicking? | | **Specificity** | Does it include numbers, names, or concrete details? | Mark the top 5 headlines with a star and explain why each one works. --- ## Phase 4: Polish ### 1. Top 5 Recommendations Present the 5 highest-scoring headlines with rationale: ``` ## Top 5 Headlines 1. **"[Headline]"** — Score: [X/15] Why: [1 sentence explaining why this works] 2. **"[Headline]"** — Score: [X/15] Why: [1 sentence] ... ``` ### 2. A/B Testing Pairs Suggest 2-3 A/B test pairs — two headlines with different angles so the user can test which resonates: ``` ## A/B Test Suggestions **Test 1:** How-to vs Listicle - A: "[How-to headline]" - B: "[Listicle headline]" **Test 2:** Benefit vs Curiosity - A: "[Benefit headline]" - B: "[Curiosity headline]" ``` ### 3. Headline Checklist ``` ## Headline Quality Checklist - [ ] Under 70 characters (SEO-friendly for search results) - [ ] Contains the target keyword (if SEO applies) - [ ] Promises a specific benefit or triggers curiosity - [ ] Avoids clickbait — delivers on the promise - [ ] Reads naturally — not keyword-stuffed - [ ] Works for the intended platform (blog, email, ad) ``` --- ## Example: Headlines for "Email Marketing for Freelancers" ``` How-To: - How to Build an Email List That Lands You Freelance Clients - How to Write Emails That Convert Subscribers Into $5K Clients Listicle: - 7 Email Marketing Tactics Every Freelancer Should Steal - 5 Emails That Turned Cold Leads Into Paying Clients Question: - Is Your Email List Making You Money — or Wasting Your Time? Curiosity: - I Sent 1 Email a Week for 6 Months. Here's How Much Revenue It Generated. Top pick: "I Sent 1 Email a Week for 6 Months. Here's How Much Revenue It Generated." Why: Specific, personal, curiosity-driven, and promises a measurable result. ``` --- ## Anti-Patterns - **Clickbait without substance** — "You Won't Believe What Happened!" promises drama it cannot deliver. Every headline must be backed by the content. - **Keyword-first, reader-second** — "Email Marketing Freelancers Tips Guide 2024" is SEO garbage. Write for humans. - **Too clever** — puns and wordplay that require context to understand reduce clarity. Be clear before being clever. - **Vague headlines** — "Thoughts on Marketing" tells the reader nothing. Add specificity: who, what, how many, how fast. - **All one formula** — 25 how-to headlines provide no variety. Cover multiple formulas to find what resonates. - **Ignoring character limits** — headlines over 70 characters get truncated in search results. Keep SEO headlines tight. --- ## Recovery - **No keyword constraint:** Generate purely for curiosity and click-worthiness. Optimize for clarity and engagement instead of SEO. - **User hates all 25 headlines:** Ask which category felt closest. Generate 10 more in that category with different angles. - **Topic is dry or technical:** Lead with the outcome, not the topic. "Compliance" becomes "How to Pass Your Next Audit Without Losing Sleep." - **Need more than headlines:** Suggest pairing each top headline with a meta description or subtitle.