Your headline is the first thing people see. It decides if they’ll click or scroll past. Good headlines can double your clicks. Bad ones waste your time.
For affiliate marketers, headlines do three important jobs.
- They grab attention in busy feeds
- They make people want to click
- They set up what comes next
Think about it. You see hundreds of posts every day. Which ones do you click? The boring ones or the ones that make you curious?
For example, studies show that headlines with numbers get 36% more clicks than those without.
Your headline is your first chance to connect. Don’t waste it.
In this guide you’ll learn how to write headlines that get clicks and make sales in affiliate marketing.
This post may contain affiliate links. ThriversHub earns commissions at no extra cost to you when purchases are made through links on this page. For more info, visit the disclosure page.
The 4 Types of Headlines That Work
Get to know these 4 types of headlines. They’ll work for most of the content you’ll post as an affiliate.
1. How-To Headlines
People love to learn new things. “How-to” headlines promise to teach them something useful.
Examples:
- “How to Save $500 on Your Next Vacation”
- “How to Lose 10 Pounds in 30 Days”
- “How to Make Money While You Sleep”
Keep it simple. Tell them exactly what they’ll learn.
An easy upgrade for this type of headline is to make it personal and specific. This will increase curiosity and clicks.
Examples:
- “How I Saved $628 on My Paris Vacation
- “How I Lost 37 Pounds in 30 Days
- “How I Made $5309 Promoting Two Products In May
It’s the same how-to concept backed with a personal story and specific results the reader also want.
2. List Headlines
Numbers catch the eye. They also promise quick, easy-to-digest content.
This format works so well that successful sites like BuzzFeed use it for most of their content.
Examples:
- “7 Tools That Cut My Work Time in Half”
- “5 Mistakes That Kill Your Blog Traffic”
- “10 Products Every New Mom Needs”
Use odd numbers. They work better than even ones. Don’t ask why. It just works.
3. Question Headlines
Questions make people think. They create a gap that needs filling.
And, if you’re asking a question that they’re also asking, it works even better.
Examples:
- “Are You Making These SEO Mistakes?”
- “What’s the Best Way to Start a Blog?”
- “Why Do Some People Make Money Online and Others Don’t?”
Ask questions your readers actually have. Don’t make up fake problems.
4. Benefit Headlines
Show people what they’ll get. Make it clear and specific.
Examples:
- “Get Whiter Teeth in Just 5 Minutes”
- “Double Your Email List This Month”
- “Sleep Better Tonight with This Simple Trick”
Focus on what matters to your readers, not what you want to sell.
The 5-Step Formula For Great Headlines
If you want to create great headlines every time, you can follow this simple 5-step process.
1. Know Your Reader
Who are you writing for?
What do they want?
What keeps them up at night?
Write down 3-5 things your ideal reader struggles with. Your headlines should speak to these problems.
2. Pick Your Hook
Choose one of the following proven hooks.
- Problem/solution
- Before/after
- Secret/revelation
- Comparison
- Time-sensitive
3. Add Numbers or Specifics
“Lose weight” is weak.
“Lose 15 pounds” is stronger.
“Lose 15 pounds in 6 weeks” is even better.
Be specific. Vague promises don’t work.
4. Create Urgency
Give people a reason to act now.
- “Limited time offer”
- “Only 100 spots left”
- “Before it’s too late”
Don’t lie about urgency. Real deadlines work better than fake ones.
5. Test and Improve
Try different versions of your headline. See which ones get the most clicks. Keep what works and dump that ones that don’t.
Words That Boost Click-Thru Rates
Some words just work better than others. To boost the click-thru rates on your articles, you can use any of the following in your headlines.
Power words:
Emotion words:
Action words:
Don’t just stuff these words into your headline for the sake of using them. Use them when they fit naturally.
Test your headlines with this free headline analyzer tool.
Common Headline Mistakes To Avoid
Why do some headlines perform better than others? Here are some common mistakes writers make with their headlines and how to correct them.
Mistake #1: Being Too Clever
Simple beats clever every time. Your reader should know what you’re offering in 3 seconds.
Bad: “The Secret Sauce to Digital Domination”
Good: “How to Double Your Website Traffic in 30 Days”
Mistake #2: Making Big Promises You Can’t Keep
Don’t promise to make someone a millionaire overnight. Be honest about what you can deliver.
Sure, your click-thru rate might go up but when readers realize they’ve been duped, they’ll know to avoid you next time.
Most importantly, always follow FTC affiliate disclosure guidelines when making income claims in your headlines.
Mistake #3: Using Boring Words
Words like “tips” and “strategies” are overused.
Try “tricks”, “hacks” or “methods” instead.
Mistake #4: Forgetting Your Audience
A headline for busy moms should sound different than one for college students. Match your tone to your reader.
Mistake #5: Being Too Vague
“Make more money” could mean anything.
“Make an extra $500 per month” is clear and specific.
How To Test Your Headlines
How do you know which headlines are working?
Never try to guess which ones will work. Test them instead. There are analytics tools you can use to do the job. A/B testing tools for example, test different versions of a headline against each other.
A/B Testing Tools
Depending on your traffic type, you can use any of the following.
- Facebook Ads Manager (see their A/B Testing guide here)
- Google Ads
- Email marketing platforms
- Social media schedulers
You can test a number of different things when doing A/B testing.
- Different numbers (5 vs 7 vs 10)
- Question vs statement
- Long vs short
- Different power words
Test one thing at a time. If you change everything, you won’t know what worked and for what reason.
Real Examples That Convert
Want to see some real examples of affiliate marketing headlines that convert well?
Here are a few select headlines from successful affiliate marketing campaigns in different niches.
Health/Fitness:
- “This 2-Minute Morning Habit Melts Belly Fat”
- “Why Counting Calories Doesn’t Work (And What Does)”
Make Money Online:
- “I Made $3,247 Last Month Selling This Simple Product”
- “The Simple Side Hustle That Pays More Than My Day Job”
Technology:
- “This $39 Tool Replaced My $500 Software”
- “How I Cut My Phone Bill by 60% (Without Switching Carriers)”
Notice how specific these are?
They use exact numbers, clear benefits and some are even personal.
Writing Headlines for Different Platforms
When writing headlines, each platform needs a different approach. What works for blog content may not work as well for email campaigns. You can modify the formulas above to match the platform you’re writing for.
Facebook Headlines
- Use emojis sparingly
- Ask questions
- Create curiosity
- Keep under 125 characters
Email Subject Headlines
- Keep it short (6-8 words)
- Personalize by using the reader’s name
- Create urgency
- Avoid spam words
Blog Post Headlines
- Include your main keyword
- Use numbers when possible
- Make it scannable
- Aim for 60 characters or less
YouTube Titles
- Front-load important keywords
- Use brackets for extra info
- Create emotional hooks
- Keep it under 60 characters
Advance Tips For Better Headlines
Up to this point, you have all the knowledge you need to create great affiliate marketing headlines.
Using the following tips, you’ll be able to level up your headlines with these advanced methods.
Use the “So What?” Test
Read your headline out loud. If someone could say “so what?” then rewrite it.
Weak: “5 Ways to Save Money”
Strong: “5 Ways to Save $200 Every Month Without Cutting Fun”
Try the “Curiosity Gap” Method
Give only enough info to make your reader curious. Don’t give everything away.
Example: “The Weird Trick That Doubled My Income (It’s Not What You Think)”
Use Brackets for Extra Info
Brackets add credibility and specifics:
- “How to Lose $20 Pounds Fast [Without Starving Yourself]”
- “Best Laptops for Students [Under $500]”
Appeal to Self-Interest
Your readers care about themselves first. Use “you” and “your” in your headlines.
Weak: “People Can Save Money with These Tips”
Strong: “You Can Save $100 This Week with These Simple Tips”
Final Tips For Affiliate Success
Your headline gets them to click. But your content needs to deliver on the promise.
Remember:
- Match your headline to your content
- Don’t oversell or mislead
- Focus on helping, not just selling
- Build trust with honest recommendations
Great headlines are just the start. The real money comes from providing value and building relationships.
Start Writing Better Affiliate Headlines Today
Pick one headline type from this guide. Write 10 different versions. Test the best 2-3 and see what happens.
Good headlines take practice. The more you write, the better you’ll get.
Your next click-worthy headline is just one draft away. Start writing and see what works for your audience.
Remember: simple, specific, and helpful always wins.
