When and How to Use Question Headlines for Maximum Impact?

“The art and science of asking questions is the source of all knowledge.”

Thomas Berger

Starting an article with a question headline shows the content is ready to challenge the reader’s perceptions. If you saw the headline, “Is Climate Change Really Happening?”, you probably know the answer to that question.

Source: Freepik

That’s how, in the world of blogging, question headlines can have a huge impact on the blog’s click-through rate. If we think about what a headline is, the answer is simple. It is a phrase, a question, or a sentence that introduces us to the content of a blog. 

And it’s been found that when you start an advertisement with a question, you increase its readership by 137.30%. Now that’s a huge leap for your online presence!

Let us now try to understand question headlines and how they impact the user’s blogging experience.

Understanding Question Headlines

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Headline figures that have a question mark allow newspapers and media houses to present facts with a twist, while also allowing them to save face if a contrary turn of events occurs.

For example, an article by Mediapocalypse states that AI will replace mediocre artists and musicians. 

Source: Mediapocalypse

Now, this seems like a fact, but what if it’s not true? The website will face backlash for its use of a bold statement.

Let us take a look at another article by The Guardian which does not scare the reader as much as the first one. 

Source: The Guardian

The question headline, Should artists be terrified of AI replacing them? makes them think. The readers feel that they have a choice in the matter. They know that AI is powerful but the question headline allows them to view the topic with a new perspective.

As we just saw, question headlines have a really deep impact on blog readers. These questions speak to the psychology of the people searching for answers on Google and other search engines. When they see article headings in the form of questions, they know that they will find the answer in that article. 

Why Should You Use Question Headlines?

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After taking a look at the history of question headlines and their impact on the reader, we can move on to the next step: using question headlines in your blogs. 

According to Google, the search engine answers 100,000 search questions every second. So, how does Google answer all these questions? The answer: blogs. 

Google selects information from the thousands of blogs published online. If your blog has a question headline, it will be immediately picked up by Google’s search engine.

Here are a few other reasons that will help you understand the importance of question headlines:

Enhance The Reader’s Curiosity

It is in our nature to answer a question as soon as we see it on the blank page. That is why question headlines work so well. They build up a sense of mystery. They allow the users to satisfy that curiosity by reading your blog and understanding the message you are trying to convey.

Increase Click-Through Rate

Question headlines reduce the time a user takes to make a decision. As soon as a user reads a question, they would like to know the answer to that question. So they will click on your blog post and continue reading until they find what they are looking for. 

Improve SEO Ranking

Question headlines are easily chosen by search engines. You can add keywords at the beginning of question headlines like “Why are online stores better for your budget?” In this example, the keyword online stores will be picked up by the search engine in an instant and give your website a boost.

When to Use Question Headlines?

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There is a time and place to use a question headline. You must have good reason to use a question headline to make it impactful. Ian Betteridge believed that a question heading should only be used if the answer to the question is “no”. In other words,

 “Any headline that ends in a question mark can be answered by the word no.” 

However, this law does not always apply to blogging or copywriting. Trending blogs aim to provide value and context and also entertain the reader. That is why you should consider these three things while drafting a question headline.

Addressing The Problem

A valid question headline should address the problem head-on. For example, “How To Create A Website in Three Simple Steps?”. Now this is a question that many people have. You need to explain the process of creating a website after the introduction to solve the reader’s problem.

Backing Up Your Statement

When you start a question headline with “Did You Know…”, it means that the article has something important to share with the audience. However, you must provide the answer to the question headline in the body of the article to maintain the reader’s interest.

Pointing To A Benefit

Always point to the perks of a product or service while writing a question headline. For example “Want to back up all your data in a safe space? Check out our cloud service.” This type of headline provides value to the customer and helps them read your blog through and through.

Examples of 5 Successful Question Headlines

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Question headlines can succeed if you pick the right tone of voice to deliver your message. Here are a few real-life examples of question headlines to help you out.

1. The Direct Question Headline

The direct question headline addresses the main question of a user. The question headline, What Are Personal Blogs and Why Are They So Popular? sparks the readers’ interest. As soon as you read this title, you will know that this article has everything you need to know about personal blogs.

2. How To Question Headline

Most blogs aim to solve problems and help readers find solutions for themselves. The question headline, How to Fix Your Refrigerator in 6 Easy Steps promises us a quick solution. Moreover, the use of “Six Easy Steps” shows that the article will provide a step-by-step guide for the reader.

3. Yes Or No Question Headline

The most successful question headlines are those that provide a “yes” or “no” answer. The headline Should I Replace My Roof? Here’s What to Consider dives directly into the problem. You may reply “yes” as they read the title and verify your decision after reading the article.

4. Questions That Point To A Solution

Some question headlines give you a solution when you are doubtful about a subject. Take the question headline, When is AI Content a Good Idea? as an example. The headline hints at the various situations where AI content SEO can be used for the best results. 

5. The Comparison Question

A headline that compares two or more subjects in the form of a question appeals to the audience. The question headline, What’s More Important: Exercise or Diet?, clearly states the two options. It shows that the article will provide a clear-cut difference between the two points.

5 Tips to Craft Click-Worthy Question Headlines

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When you write a question headline, you convince the audience to think about a particular problem. So, how do you make the reader think? 

The following are a few tips that will help you create dynamic question headlines for your blogs.

1. Use The Three Ws

Use the three Ws when crafting a question headline; what, why, and when, as it can increase the impact of your article. These three interrogative words push the reader to think about the answer to your question headline. They imply a sense of urgency and help you create an engaging headline.

2. Perform A/B Testing

When you are writing a blog headline, try writing two and seeing which performs better. This is called A/B testing. One headline could be a statement whereas the other could be a question. Using the question headline might help you perform better, further cementing its impact.

3. Track The Analytics

Check to see if your blogs are doing well with question headlines by tracking the visibility and click-through rates of your blog. This will help you understand whether one type of question headline is working. 

4. Discuss Pain Points

Discussing a pain point of the audience helps them decide whether they need the information or not. For example, the question headline “Are you fed up with your high electricity bills?” makes sure that the audience relates to your content on a personal level.

5. Pick the Readers’ Brain

Use phrases that push the reader to think. Question headlines that start with “Did you Know…” work better, as they assume that the reader must know that piece of information. “Want to be better at work?” or “Are you Reaching Your Full Potential?” are also great examples of such headlines.

Wrap Up

Question headlines help readers make a quick decision about opening your blog. That is why they are so popular. So, if you want to give your modern blog or entrepreneur blog a boost, you need to start writing question headlines. If you need any help in writing headlines, you can always use a blog post idea generator to help you out.