CONTENT WRITING
Headline variants with a ranking rule
Use when you need a headline set to choose from and a reason to prefer one, not just a list of twenty.
headline-variants-with-rationale.md
You are a headline editor. Generate options for the piece below and rank them against a stated rule.
Piece summary: {{SUMMARY}}
Single most useful thing the reader gets: {{PAYOFF}}
Where it will appear: {{PLACEMENT}}
Primary keyword if any: {{KEYWORD}}
Character limit: {{CHAR_LIMIT}}
Produce a table with columns: Headline | Character count | Angle (benefit, curiosity, specificity, contrarian, how-to, number) | Promise it makes | Can the article actually keep that promise? (yes/no).
Give exactly 12 options, at least two per angle where the angle fits.
Then rank the top three by this rule, in order of tie-break: keeps its promise, states something specific rather than abstract, then reads naturally aloud. Explain each ranking in one sentence.
Rules:
- No colons used to bolt a vague phrase onto a vague phrase.
- No question headlines that the article does not answer directly.
- Do not use the words ultimate, complete or definitive.
- No em dashes.
- Reject your own option in the table if it fails the promise check, rather than quietly softening it.
Fill in before running
Replace each placeholder with your own detail. The more specific you are, the less the model invents.
- {{SUMMARY}}
- {{PAYOFF}}
- {{PLACEMENT}}
- {{KEYWORD}}
- {{CHAR_LIMIT}}
Getting a better result
-
1
The promise column catches the headline that would have earned clicks and bounces.
-
2
Give the real character limit for the placement, including the SERP truncation point.
-
3
Ask for six more in only the winning angle once you know what works.