Stop the scroll with this 4-part "How To" headline formula

+ 18 sticky templates you can use in the next 10 minutes

If you’ve ever struggled to come up with something to write about, welcome to the club.

Whether it’s an article, email, or a X/Twitter post, the hardest part of content creation is figuring out where to start.

Here’s a no-fail tip:

Start with “How to.”

It’s not fancy. It’s not trendy. But it works—every time.

Why?

Because "How to" is the easiest way to grab attention, stop someone from scrolling, and promise exactly what your audience wants: results.

And in today’s email, I’m going to break down:

1. Why “How to” works so well (and the psychology behind it).

2. How to customize it for your audience.

3. A proven list of templates you can use to generate unlimited ideas.

Let’s dive in.

Why “How to” Works

The reason “How to” is so effective is simple:

It promises a transformation.

Think about the last time you searched for something online. Odds are, you were looking for a solution to a specific problem:

• How to grow an audience on X in 2025

• How to use AI to write fast—and in your voice

• How to stop procrastinating and still watch Netflix for 2 hours / day

Your brain loves “How to” because it creates a straight line between where you are and where you want to be.

But there’s more.

“How to” also works because it taps into what the Jobs to Be Done theory teaches us:

• People don’t consume content for entertainment alone.

• They “hire” content to help them solve a problem, learn a skill, or achieve a goal.

By framing your content as “How to,” you’re positioning it as a tool your audience can use to move forward.

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The 4-Part “How to” Headline Formula

The best creators know how to adapt this template to their audience’s specific needs.

Here are a few ways to tweak it:

1. Keep it broad:

   • “How to start a newsletter”

2. Add a mechanism:

   • “How to grow your newsletter using AI”

3. Overcome an objection:

   • “How to grow your audience without spending hours on social media”

4. Make it personal:

   • “How I grew my newsletter to 10,000 subscribers in 6 months”

Each version meets your audience where they are, making it impossible for them to ignore.

Here’s How to Use This Framework To Generate Thumb-Stopping Titles In The Next 10 Minutes:

Want to start using “How to” today?

Here’s a proven list of templates to help you brainstorm content title ideas for articles, newsletter issues, LinkedIn posts, or even a digital product:

👉 AI Prompt:

Generate 18 ideas for {articles, emails, social posts, products, etc.} using the following templates for my {target audience}.

1. How to {do something}

2. How to {get a result}

3. How to {get a result} on/with/using {mechanism}

4. How to {avoid a problem} on/with/using {mechanism}

5. How to {get a result} without {obstacle, objection, or common wisdom} in {industry}

6. How to use {mechanism} to {get a result}

7. How to {get a result} without {common barrier}

8. How to use {mechanism} to {get a result} without {pain point}

9. How to {do something} even if {limitation or objection}

10. How to {get a result} using {mechanism} even if {you lack resources/skills/etc.}

11. How to {get a result} when {facing a specific challenge}

12. How to use {mechanism} to {get a result} when {timing/situation}

13. How to {get a result} in {specific situation or timeframe}

14. How to use {mechanism} to {get a result} in {specific niche/industry}

15. How to {do something} that {achieves a specific benefit or solves a pain point}

16. How to {avoid a problem} using {mechanism} that {achieves a benefit}

17. How to {do something} so {outcome or result}

18. How to use {mechanism} so {pain point is avoided or result achieved}

Bonus Tip:

Want to change the perspective?

Swap “to” for “I.”

Instead of “How to write faster,” try:

• “How I write 10 articles in a single day.”

It’s a subtle shift, but it makes the content more personal and relatable.

Your Turn:

Grab the list of templates above, plug them into the prompt, and start brainstorming.

And if you want turn your “How-To” idea into a “How-To” article, then check out the link below:

https://writewithai.substack.com/p/the-secret-to-writing-medium-articles

Chat soon,

—Dickie & Cole

Co-Founders of Ship 30 For 30

Co-Founders of Premium Ghostwriting Academy

Co-Founders of Typeshare

Co-Founders of Write With AI