They are the magnet that draws a reader in, making their effectiveness directly proportional to your results.
Will they click the link, or move on to the next best thing?
To grab attention and persuade the reader to hang around your blog for a while, you need to create a deliciously irresistible blog post title.
As a marketer,understanding that while content is important, it is nothing without a title that will attract readers.
Below are five simple ways to effectively market your content through clickable titles, but first, let’s take a look at why spending time crafting the perfect title matters.
Why Your Title Matters
Copyblogger expresses the importance of a catchy title:
“On average, 8 out of 10 people will read headline copy, but only 2 out of 10 will read the rest. This is the secret to the power of your title, and why it so highly determines the effectiveness of the entire piece.”
Think of your title as the front entrance sign to your business.
Do you want a flashy sign that drives traffic to your blog or a lackluster sign that encourages those who might have been interested to keep on moving? I can’t imagine the jury is out on this one.
To maximize blog traffic, you need to write alluring and persuasive blog titles that entice readers to click on your post, and also keyword rich titles that will give search engines the ability to find you.
So what exactly does that mean?
Your Blog Title Should:
- Pique curiosity and create excitement
- Spell out the purpose of your article
- Give a reason to take immediate action
- Allow readers to find your post via keyword search
It’s the why, what and how of your article.
Now that you know what your titles purpose is, you’re ready to learn how to make it POP!
Create a Deliciously Irresistible Blog Post Title
1. Let the Reader Know What to Expect
For a reader to feel the need to click on your article, there must be something in it for them. Your title should immediately convey what they will learn, and how the reader will benefit.
Which article are you more compelled to click through to:
“The Importance of Active Community Participation”
Or would you rather click through to this one?
“10 Dynamic Ways You Can Engage Your Audience”
While the first option might explain the “what,” it certainly isn’t compelling. The bottom line: ensure that your title will stimulate the desire to know more.
2. Engage the Reader
Engaging your reader requires that you predict the experience they will receive. Let your title be fun, witty, captivating, engaging and most of all – accurate.
Let it challenge the reader to take action. People have a desire for knowledge. They also have unique needs and unanswered questions. If you can provide the solution, you have a much better chance of gaining readership.
For example, lets say your niche is in SEO. You write an article and title it:
“5 Changes Implemented by Google’s Hummingbird Update”
This title answers the what, but does not answer the why or how. Why should your reader care and how will it help them? Instead, change that title to:
“5 Changes Implemented by Google’s Hummingbird Update ( and how your business can recover)
The second title answers the question and provides a solution.
3. Be Straightforward
In as much as it’s important to be creative with your words, it is equally as important to keep them accurate and transparent.
Have you ever clicked through to an article only to find a landing or sales page? Imagine your frustration when the article was sold as a “how-to” or solution when in reality it was a slick marketing tactic?
That is exactly how your readers feel if you haven’t properly “sold” the purpose of your article.
Do away with the sales speak and focus on the message. What are you trying to convey?
Your readers should quickly surmise what they will find on the other side of that click. Otherwise, you take the chance that they leave frustrated, never to return.
4. Include a Hook, but Keep it Concise
According to Unbounce, there is an optimal blog post title length.
“Eight words or less. Titles of eight words or less are the generally accepted standard and have been found to be the most effective. Twitter limits posts to 140 characters, and re-tweets add to the overall length of a tweet. Therefore, shorter titles are better suited for social sharing.”
As you work to keep your title short, make sure you include your hook, but never mislead your potential reader.
The key is to strike a balance: include enough details in a fun and snappy way that intrigues and whets the readers appetite.
5. Make it Actionable
The title needs to compel your reader to take action. After all, if a potential reader never clicks through to your article, were they ever a potential reader in the first place? Probably not.
If you can’t compel a browser to become a reader, your post may die an untimely death.
Thank you so much for sharing this informative post. Hope this will help all the newbie bloggers to write amazing article with a great title.
Making a captivating title is one of the tough things I encounter when creating a blog post. Well thanks to this article I have gathered new ideas of how I can make a good title. Will surely try this out soon.
Hi Rebekah,
Great advice on creating titles.
I myself mostly click on the titles that have a problem with a solution, like the one you have used in your article i.e
“5 Changes Implemented by Google’s Hummingbird Update ( and how your business can recover)”
I totally agree with your point that blog titles can make or break your blog.
-Tauseef
Wow! very nice post. I loved all the post, you have written so clearly. Thanks for sharing. My blog post titles are usually 9-12 words including stop words.
I have a question. Shall it should be maximum of 8 words including stop words?
Thanks for sharing. Please revert back 🙂
Thanks for the information. Once of my blog posts was names “How My Sister Became a Cannibal”. If you couldn’t tell, I write humor. Killer titles are important. (Pun intended.)
Its evident from your post, you really know how to write a good blog post which has a flavour of all the 5 points you mentioned
I’m going to try and keep it to 8 words or less and see if I can include a “concise” hook at the same time. Great tip Rebekah!
interesting ways to write blog titles very nice post uv written
Excellent advice there, Rebekah
Thanks Rebekah.
This is great advice. I have been trying to improve my titles recently. To get spicy titles for my blog post. I do couple of write ups, and brain storming for best options.While I have had some success, your tips will me to make further improvements.
Thanks for your ideas. Your catchy blog post title is what brought me to your site. 🙂 I’m starting to realize that great content is only as good as it’s title. Thanks for your help.
Nice to hear it worked Bo! 🙂
Thanks for your advice, I won’t be writing articles for my blog, my goal is to come up with impressive titles and a short sentence or two with a related link to the content. How successful do you think this could be?
I taped this to my monitor, I hope it keeps me on track.
Your Blog Title Should:
Pique curiosity and create excitement
Spell out the purpose of your article
Give a reason to take immediate action
Allow readers to find your post via keyword search
Great reminders Mark and an excellent way to always remember what matters when it comes to grabbing the attention of your fans, followers and subscribers!
A good post with a practically under-performing title is as bad as an overall bad content.
People also need to take care about the URL slugs. I mean, look at the slug of this post. It’s small and nice. Talking from my personal experience, very long URLs tend to discourage users from clicking them.
Keep up the good work! 🙂
So true. A title can truly make or break it’s chances of finding an audience.
Great Read, and i took down alot of tips, Thanks
I find myself trying very hard to avoid using numbered lists as titles or using Who, What Where, etc. I feel like that’s too easy and if I put more effort into it I can usually come up with something much stronger. Though, there are so many posts that go against that strategy, I might be missing the boat. Great post by the way 🙂
It’s been found time and again that numbered posts perform well. Not sure about the psychology behind that, but it could be that they feel easy to share. Bottom line Joe, if numbered posts aren’t your thing, you need to do what works best for you and feels right for your biz.
I’ve been reading way too much about headlines recently, but I just couldn’t resist your post Rebekah! Great word choices!
Glad it worked in dragging you over Dustin! 🙂
Hey Rebekah,
I arrived on this post because of your great title! Good titles take time but are worth it!
Ian
Thanks Ian and you certainly know something about great titles! They do take time, but are worth every second of it.