About this tool
Headline analyzer, explained
A headline analyzer checks a title against a set of copywriting rules of thumb and scores it out of 100. Type a headline and each word is colored by its role, the score updates as you type, and you can compare several variants side by side. Nothing leaves your browser.
How to use it
- 1Type or paste your headline in the big field at the top, or start from the How-to, List, Question or Announcement example.
- 2Look at the colored words: power words, emotional words, numbers, and filler words struck through. The line above the field shows the character count and the format detected.
- 3Read the breakdown next to the score: each criterion shows its points and what it found, and the sentence beside the score names the change worth the most points.
- 4Click + Try a variant to write another version, up to six. Each variant keeps its score, the best one gets a Best badge, and Copy all variants or Share link keeps the comparison.
How it works
How the score is calculated
The score adds up seven weighted criteria, for a total of 100. Length (20 points): full marks between 40 and 60 characters, 11 points between 30 and 70, 4 points otherwise. Word count (15 points): full marks for 6 to 12 words, 8 points for 4 to 15, 3 points otherwise. Number (10), power word (15) and emotional word (15) are all or nothing. Tight wording (10) gives 10 points with no filler word, 5 with one and none with two or more. Format (15) gives full marks to a how-to, a list or a question, and 7 points to a plain statement. A score of 80 or more reads Strong, 60 Good, 40 Fair, and anything lower Needs work.
Characters are counted the way you see them, so an emoji counts as one. A headline is a how-to when it starts with How or contains how to, a list when its first word is a number, and a question when it ends with a question mark or starts with a word such as why, what, when, is, can or should.
Words are matched against fixed lists after punctuation is removed. Power words include free, new, proven, easy, fast, simple, save, best, quick, powerful, ultimate, unlock and discover. Emotional words include love, fear, surprising, mistake, worst, never, truth, hidden and unexpected. Filler words are very, really, just, actually, basically, things and stuff. Numbers can be digits, such as 7, 2025, $100, 10x, 50k or 3rd, or written out, such as seven, twenty or dozen.
Where it gets cut shows your headline trimmed at 60 characters for a Google result, 70 for a social link card and 40 for an email subject on mobile. These are common rules of thumb: the real limit depends on the screen and the font.
These are transparent rules, not a prediction of clicks: use the score to spot weak points and keep the final judgment for yourself.
When to use it
Ways people use it
Blog post titles
Write three or four variants of a title and keep the one that is specific, short and free of filler.
Landing page headlines
Check that the main headline of a page says something concrete, with a number or a clear benefit, in fewer than 12 words.
Email subject lines
Watch the Email subject on mobile line, which cuts at 40 characters, and the filler check, since every wasted word costs space in an inbox.
Social posts and video titles
Sharpen the first line of a post or the title of a video, where a power word or a number helps it stand out in a feed.
FAQ
Questions people ask
What makes a good headline?
A good headline tells a specific reader what they will get and why it matters. Clear beats clever: a concrete promise, plain verbs and a number when it fits. This tool checks the mechanics, while the promise is yours to keep.
How long should a headline be?
Six to twelve words leaves room for a specific promise without padding. For a page title that may appear in Google results, 40 to 60 characters is a useful target, since search results truncate long titles. The analyzer shows where your headline would be cut.
What are power words in copywriting?
Words that add value, ease or urgency to a sentence, such as free, new, proven, easy or instantly. One power word sharpens a headline. Several in a row make it read like an ad.
Should I use numbers in headlines?
Numbers make a promise concrete: 7 ways tells the reader how much to expect and is easy to scan. They suit lists, results and data. A number that does not match the content costs trust, so only use one the article delivers.
Should a headline be a question?
Questions work well when they mirror what people type into a search bar, since many searches are questions. This analyzer gives questions, how-tos and lists full marks for format. The answer should then come quickly in the content, or the question feels like bait.