🥰 Hi Susan, agree, headlines can make or break you in reads. People don’t realize the title ranks for SEO. And if it doesn’t align with your first paragraph, it’s not going to be favoured by the algo and harder for people to find.
That’s how the web works (technically). And from the human perspective, it has to hook the reader emotionally somehow. I spend hours writing and checking titles. It’s not an afterthought.
No different than a book cover. That’s why so much money/time is spent developing a front and back cover.
Add engagement. Here on Medium, spend a day or two off Medium and you will see your stats fall.