Score Your Headlines for SEO

Why Headlines Matter for SEO

Your headline is the single most important on-page element for click-through rate. Studies show that 80% of people read the headline but only 20% read the article. In search results, your title tag competes directly with nine other results on the page — a compelling headline is what earns the click.

Beyond CTR, headlines influence how search engines understand your content. Google uses the title tag as a primary ranking signal, so including your target keyword naturally in the headline is essential. But keyword placement alone is not enough — the headline must also be compelling enough to earn clicks, which signals relevance to search engines.

The Anatomy of a High-Performing Headline

The best-performing headlines share common characteristics: they are 6-12 words long, include at least one power word, use numbers for specificity, and trigger an emotional response. For example, "7 Proven SEO Strategies That Doubled Our Traffic" scores well because it has a number (7), a power word (proven), specificity (doubled), and sets clear expectations.

How the Scoring Algorithm Works

Our analyzer evaluates six weighted dimensions. Word count is worth 25 points (6-12 words is ideal). Character count contributes 15 points (50-60 characters fits Google's display). Power word detection adds up to 20 points. Emotional sentiment scores up to 15 points. Number usage adds 10 points. Uncommon word ratio contributes 15 points, rewarding unique vocabulary that stands out in search results. These weights reflect real-world data on what drives clicks in organic search.