Free SEO Tool

Headline Analyzer

Score your blog post titles, H1 tags, and ad headlines. Get instant feedback on word balance, length, power words, and emotional appeal.

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Enter a headline and click Analyze

What Is This Tool?

What Makes a Great Headline?

A headline is often the most important piece of copy on any page. It determines whether a user clicks from a search result, whether an AI engine cites the page, and whether a blog post gets shared. Yet most headlines are written in under 30 seconds with almost no analysis.

Great headlines balance four word types: common words (30-50% of words), uncommon words (10-20%), emotional words (10-15%), and power words (at least one). They are typically 6-10 words long, include a number or trigger word, and clearly state the benefit or outcome.

  • Headlines with numbers get 36% more clicks than those without (Conductor)
  • The ideal headline length for CTR is 6-10 words
  • "How to" headlines are among the top 5 highest-performing formats across all content types
  • Including a power word typically increases CTR by 10-20%

How to Use

How to Use the Headline Analyzer

  1. 1
    Enter Your Headline

    Type or paste any headline, blog post title, or H1 tag into the tool. The analyzer works on any length of text, though headlines under 20 words work best.

  2. 2
    Review Your Score

    Get an overall headline score out of 100, plus a breakdown of word balance, character count, type, emotional appeal, and power words found.

  3. 3
    Refine and Rescore

    Adjust your headline based on the feedback and run it again. Try adding a number, a power word, or a stronger emotional trigger to improve the score.

Learn More

The Science of Headlines That Perform

The four word types that make headlines work

Headline research identifies four word types that predict performance. Common words (the, how, to, a) form the backbone of the sentence. Uncommon words (specific, unusual) add interest and memorability. Emotional words (secret, powerful, proven) trigger psychological responses. Power words (free, instantly, guaranteed) drive action. The best headlines have a balanced mix of all four.

Why headline length matters

A headline of 6-10 words performs better than shorter or longer options in most contexts. Under 5 words lacks context. Over 12 words gets truncated in search results (Google shows ~600px, roughly 60 characters) and loses focus. The sweet spot is specific enough to be meaningful, concise enough to be scannable.

Headlines for SEO vs AI search

For Google, the best headlines include the target keyword in the first few words and clearly match search intent. For AI engines, headlines phrased as questions or statements of fact ("What is X", "How to do Y") are more likely to be cited. A good headline for both is specific, uses natural keyword placement, and states a clear outcome or answer.

FAQs

Headline Analyzer FAQs

What is a good headline score?
A score of 70 or above is considered good. Above 80 is excellent. If your score is below 60, try adding a number, an emotional trigger word, or rephrasing to be more specific about the outcome.
What are power words in headlines?
Power words are emotionally charged terms that provoke curiosity, urgency, or desire. Examples: free, proven, secret, ultimate, guaranteed, instantly, exclusive, critical. Including at least one power word typically increases CTR.
How long should my headline be?
6-10 words is the optimal range for most contexts. Longer headlines get truncated in search results (Google cuts off around 60 characters). Shorter headlines often lack enough context to explain the value.
Should headlines include the target keyword?
Yes. For SEO, the keyword should appear in the H1 and ideally in the first few words. For AI citations, the keyword signals topic relevance. Always include the primary keyword, placed naturally.
Can I use this for ad copy too?
Yes. The same principles apply to Google and social ad headlines. Strong word balance, clear benefit, appropriate length, and an emotional or power word all improve ad headline performance.

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