How to Write Content That Converts: Real Copywriting Tips, Hooks & Headlines That Work!

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“The most powerful words in marketing are the ones your audience is already thinking.” — Joanna Wiebe

If you’re consistently creating content but still getting low clicks, low engagement, and no conversions, you’re not alone.

I’ve been there.

In my early days of building a content-based side hustle, I believed that helpful content would naturally get traction.

I focused on value, consistency, and delivery.

But it didn’t convert.

That’s when I realized: writing content that converts is more than just showing up it’s about how you show up.

And most importantly, it’s about what happens in the first 3 seconds someone sees your content.

Let me walk you through the content strategy that helped me turn flat, overlooked posts into high-performing pieces using the right content hooks, headlines, and copywriting tips I wish I had known earlier.

My Early Struggles With Low-Converting Content

Back when I left my 17-year corporate leadership career and stepped into content creation, I made a classic mistake:

I wrote like I was addressing a boardroom, not a real person.

My posts were polished, logical, even educational but they lacked one thing: Emotional resonance.

Here’s an example from a blog post I wrote early on:

Original headline:

“3 Productivity Hacks You Should Try Today”

It sounded informative… but it didn’t get clicks.

Why? Because it lacked urgency, uniqueness, and emotional pull.

It wasn’t until I studied copywriting tips from people like Joanna Wiebe and Ann Handley that I realized, people don’t want more content.

They want results.

And your headline is the first test of whether you understand that.

What Makes Content Convert? Psychology Over Pushing

The secret behind content that converts is simple:

It answers the question your audience is already asking in a way that makes them curious to learn more.

Here’s where content hooks come in.

A great hook doesn’t explain everything.

It teases. It hints. It stirs a little FOMO.

Compare these two:

• “How to Be More Productive at Work”
• “I Wasted 10 Hours a Week Until I Found This One Shift”

Which would you click?

The second headline creates curiosity, implies a personal story, and invites the reader into a transformation.

That’s the kind of hook that gets clicks.

If you’re looking to master this, I highly recommend Everybody Writes by Ann Handley. It breaks down how to make your writing serve your reader, while keeping it human, relatable, and strategic.

Real Headline Rewrites From My Own Content Strategy

Here are a few headline transformations from my actual content that brought better results:

Original: “How to Choose a Podcast Topic”

Rewritten Headline: “Nervous About Starting a Podcast? Here’s the Topic Strategy I Wish I Knew Earlier”

Why it worked: empathy, emotion, and a promise of real help.

Original: “Affiliate Marketing Tools You Can Use”

Rewritten Headline: “I Tested 9 Affiliate Tools – Only 3 Are Worth Your Time”

Why it worked: specificity, curiosity, and implied time-saving.

You’ll notice a pattern here: these headlines use emotional tension and open loops. They hint at a payoff without giving it all away.

That’s the foundation of a strong content hook and it’s a core part of any content strategy that works in the long run.

Behind-the-Scenes: How One Post Got 5x Engagement

Let me show you how I applied these principles in a real piece of content that took off.

The headline?

“I Almost Quit Creating Content. This Changed Everything.”

Here’s the breakdown of the content structure:

• Hook: I opened with an honest story about burnout.
• Tension: Explained why my early content wasn’t converting, and how it drained me.
• Shift: Introduced the idea of “Minimum Viable Content” and my new approach.
• Payoff: Shared the engagement metrics I saw after applying this shift.
• CTA: Invited readers to reply with their own struggles.

This wasn’t just a post. It was a personal moment with a lesson wrapped inside.

That’s the kind of storytelling that makes content convert when your audience sees themselves in your words.

3 CTA Formulas That Actually Drive Conversions

You’ve nailed the headline.

You’ve pulled them into the story.

But if you want content that converts, you need to guide your reader clearly and kindly toward the next step.

Here are 3 copywriting tips for effective CTAs that have worked for me:

1. The “Join Me” Invite

“If you’ve been feeling stuck too, hit reply and tell me where you are. I’ll reply personally.”

2. The “Quick Win” Prompt

“Pick one tip from above and try it today. Which one’s your favorite?”

3. The “Curiosity Tease”

“Want the full template I use for my content hooks? Reply ‘send it’ and I’ll share it with you.”

These don’t demand anything.

They create permission-based action which is far more powerful in today’s crowded content landscape.

Want Better Results? Fix Your Content Strategy First

Let me be blunt.

If your content isn’t converting, the problem isn’t that you’re not creating enough.

It’s that your content strategy isn’t aligned with how people think and decide online.

So here are 4 fast questions to pressure test your next piece of content:

1. Does your headline trigger curiosity or solve a felt need?
2. Does your hook open a story loop that begs to be closed?
3. Is the content body skimmable, emotional, and actionable?
4. Does your CTA make it easy to take the next step?

When these elements are aligned, you go from being ignored… to being remembered.

And that’s when you create content that converts.

3 Books That Will Make You a Content Powerhouse

1. Everybody Writes by Ann Handley – Learn how to write with clarity, empathy, and results.
2. Made to Stick by Chip & Dan Heath – Master the psychology of memorable messaging.
3. The Copywriter’s Handbook by Robert Bly – Great foundational copywriting tips even if you’re just getting started.

Over to You Now

You don’t need to be louder.

You need to be sharper.

Pick one piece of underperforming content this week. Just one.

Rewrite the headline. Tighten the opening. Add a better CTA.

Then watch how your audience responds.

That’s the magic of writing content that converts.

Recommended Newsletters

Here are few newsletters that I would recommend that you sign up to if you are interested in learning the art of running a side-hustle:

• Write, Build, Scale
• Why we buy
• The Book Bub
• The Stacked Marketer
• The Growth Bulletin
• Unconventional Productivity for Online Business Owners
• Side Hustle Weekly
• The Affiliate Guy
• How Brands win
• For the Interested
• Send and Grow

Sign up to these and follow them. You will get a lot of information and content for your blog posts, podcasts and even social media posts.

I will share more such ideas in my future newsletters.

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What am I reading?

I absolutely love books and I read a lot.

In fact, I don’t just read a lot, but I also take notes on every book that I read.

I have pages and pages of information in my Notion Second Brain, so that I can find them and use them when ever I need.

I have added some of the newest books that I have been reading, to the Amazon store, so you might want to check it out.

Want to know more about the books I read. You can check it out here!

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