Copywriting

Mastering the Art of Headlines

Sales Guy

Sales Guy

— 3 min read

Your headline is the gatekeeper to engagement.

It’s the make-or-break moment where readers decide: Click or scroll?

For inspiration, look no further than Kitchn, a blog that masters the craft of irresistible headlines.

While their focus is food, their formula translates seamlessly to sales and marketing.

Let’s dissect their tactics and adapt them to your niche.

1. Specificity Sells: Ditch Vagueness for Precision

Kitchn’s headlines leave no room for ambiguity.

They specify the product, price, and payoff, creating instant clarity.

Kitchn Example:
“The $4 Aldi Grocery I Wish I’d Tried Sooner (Now I Buy It Every Single Week)”
→ Why It Works: Price, location, and a strong benefit are packed into one line.

Your Blog Translation:

  • Weak: “Improve Your Email Strategy”
  • Strong: “The $10 Tool That Skyrocketed Our Email Open Rates by 40%”
    → Pro Tip: Replace generic terms with concrete numbers, tools, or outcomes.

2. Leverage FOMO and Urgency

Fear of missing out (FOMO) drives action.

Kitchn uses phrases like “Before They Sell Out” or “Everyone’s Buying” to create urgency.

Kitchn Example:
“The Victorian-Inspired Plates I’m Buying at T.J. Maxx Before They Sell Out”
→ Why It Works: Implies scarcity and trendiness.

Your Blog Translation:

  • Weak: “Effective Marketing Tactics”
  • Strong: “The LinkedIn Strategy Top Brands Are Using Now (Before Algorithms Change)”
    → Pro Tip: Highlight limited-time opportunities or insider knowledge.

3. Personalize with “I,” “My,” and “You”

Kitchn’s personal pronouns build relatability. Readers trust real experiences over abstract advice.

Kitchn Example:
“My Brilliant Tip That’s Saving Me $1,900 on Groceries in a Single Year”
→ Why It Works: A personal story with a quantifiable result feels authentic.

Your Blog Translation:

  • Weak: “Tips for Better SEO”
  • Strong: “How I Tripled Organic Traffic Using One Underrated SEO Tactic”
    → Pro Tip: Share case studies or first-hand successes to humanize your content.

4. Authority and Expert Endorsements

Kitchn taps into credibility by citing chefs, celebrities, or crowdsourced opinions.

Kitchn Example:
“We Asked 3 Bartenders to Name the Best Whiskey for a Manhattan”
→ Why It Works: Positions the post as a definitive guide backed by experts.

Your Blog Translation:

  • Weak: “Best CRM Tools”
  • Strong: “7 Sales Leaders Share the CRM Tools They Swear By in 2025”
    → Pro Tip: Use surveys, expert quotes, or influencer partnerships to add authority.

5. Emotional Triggers: Curiosity, Amazement, Nostalgia

Emotional words like “Secret,” “Brilliant,” or “Perfect” hook readers by sparking intrigue.

Kitchn Example:
“The ‘Amazing’ Countertop Dishwasher TikTokers Swear By”
→ Why It Works: “Amazing” and TikTok validation trigger excitement.

Your Blog Translation:

  • Weak: “Time-Saving Apps”
  • Strong: “The ‘Secret’ Automation Tool That Saves Teams 10 Hours/Week”
    → Pro Tip: Use power words that align with your audience’s desires (e.g., “easy,” “profit,” “growth”).

6. Brackets and Subheadings: Double the Hook

Kitchn often adds a subheading or parentheses to reinforce the main headline.

Kitchn Example:
“The $9 Sam’s Club Staple I Stock Up on Ahead of the Holidays (It Saves Me Hundreds)”
→ Why It Works: The parenthetical adds a secondary benefit.

Your Blog Translation:

  • Weak: “Free Marketing Templates”
  • Strong: “Download Our 5 Free Sales Funnel Templates (Used by 500+ Startups)”
    → Pro Tip: Use subheadings or brackets to clarify the payoff or add social proof.

7. Problem-Solving and How-Tos

Headlines that promise solutions or quick wins resonate deeply.

Kitchn Example:
“The Easy Italian Trick for the Perfect Roasted Potatoes”
→ Why It Works: Solves a common pain point (bland potatoes) simply.

Your Blog Translation:

  • Weak: “Writing Better Proposals”
  • Strong: “The 10-Minute Fix for Proposals Clients Can’t Resist”
    → Pro Tip: Frame content as a shortcut, hack, or time-saver.

8. Test, Refine, Repeat

Kitchn’s headlines aren’t accidental—they’re tested. Use A/B testing to see what resonates.

Try variations like:

  • “How [X] Helped [Y] Achieve [Z]”
  • “Why [Industry] Pros Are Ditching [Old Tactic] for [New Tactic]”

Final Takeaway

Great headlines blend art and science.

Take a page from Kitchn’s playbook: be specific, evoke emotion, leverage authority, and always prioritize the reader’s benefit.

Whether you’re selling kitchen gadgets or SaaS platforms, the right headline transforms passive scrollers into engaged readers—and customers.

Write headlines that make your audience stop, click, and crave more.

Keep Crushing!
- Sales Guy

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