If you have been writing your blog post titles all willy-nilly, you need to revamp your process pronto! Your strategic word choice needs to stop chronic web scrollers dead in their tracks. Earn more clicks by following these essential guidelines to produce an attention-grabbing headline for your blog post.
Your headline must always be accurate
I’m kicking off this list by stressing the importance of authenticity. You must evoke curiosity in viewers so they’ll want to read more. Some publications are shady about this and will say anything that sounds good, even if it doesn’t exactly match what’s found in the article. Don’t fall into the clickbait pattern!
Failure to deliver is a recipe for disappointment and will erode trust swiftly. If your audience is constantly left unsatisfied, they’ll stop visiting your site. Support your title’s claims, so readers get what they expected every time.
Include these words for standout titles
First and foremost, define your keyword. This search term or phrase will bring audiences to your website and is hopefully found throughout your article. Let’s say that you want someone who searches for “colorful wedding dresses” to find your post on that topic. Try to include “colorful wedding dresses” in your title to capture those searches.
Another key ingredient is picking an action or power word to add to your headline whenever possible. This marketing technique entices the reader by making something sound exciting, urgent, exclusive, authentic, emotional, simplistic, and otherwise rewarding in some way.
A few examples of power words that can improve a dull headline:
| discover | profound | ultimate | daring |
| astonishing | secret | quickly | riveting |
| instantly | amazing | proven | tantalizing |
| revealing | guaranteed | outrageous | forbidden |
| essential | incredible | simple | amazing |
| delight | brilliant | enchant | creative |
| remarkable | shocking | honest | fascinating |
Just reading these sensory words can have a huge impact! Can you describe your blog post in an alluring way that readers can’t resist? What would inspire them to take a peek inside your post?
Headline examples for “colorful wedding dress” keyword phrase:
- Turn Heads Instantly with Colorful Wedding Dresses
- Colorful Wedding Dresses for Radiant Autumn Brides
- Ultimate Guide to Colorful Wedding Dresses for Bold Brides
- Illuminate the Room with Colorful Wedding Dresses
- 25 Colorful Wedding Dresses for Extraordinary Brides
Make sure your headline is helpful
In an endless stream of online content, why should anyone stop to read your blog post? Time is valuable, so don’t expect readers to dig five layers into the depths of your article before uncovering a personal benefit. Find a way to make it obvious that your post provides value to the reader and improves their day.
If you’re struggling to figure out how to do this, consider reevaluating your topic to reframe its purpose. For example, if you are writing a more personal essay, think about what readers can take away from your experiences and possibly apply to their own situations.
A few examples of beneficial titles that encourage clicks:
- How to Gracefully Handle Tricky Interview Questions
- 7 Ways to Reinvigorate Your Stale Morning Routine
- The Secret to Taming Frizzy Hair in Humid Environments
- Coping with Winter Blues During Holiday Gatherings
- Why You Should Always Wash Your Brand New Linens
Why do these work? The titles above promise to solve a problem. Hardly anyone conducts an online search without seeking the answer to a question. You can help them by offering stellar information, but they’ll only find it if your title encourages follow through.
Prime your title for SEO success
I’ve discussed the importance of incorporating keywords above, so hopefully, you already earmarked this as an essential headline component. But keyword placement is not the only thing to keep in mind for search engine optimization.
You should target a title length of about 55 characters. This is the best length for appearing on search engine results because anything longer might end up awkwardly truncated. Placing keywords closer to the beginning of the headline helps, but without the full context, your true intent might get lost in translation.
Keep in mind that most topics are not wholly unique, so there’s always healthy competition for your target audience. Consider how your perspective adds something different to the mix and incorporate that into your title. You want to stand out in the crowd regardless of your placement in search engine results.
Tools to help you create the most effective blog titles:
WordPress plug-ins for improving SEO, such as Yoast and Rank Math, also provide basic advice for perfecting your blog post headlines.
When brainstorming my titles, I typically take a few minutes to jot down everything that comes to mind. The list is often between five and fifteen contenders, but there’s nothing wrong with going beyond that until you reach a stand-out option that really sells your story. The best way to figure out what works for your audience is to experiment and then analyze the results.
Becoming a great headline writer requires patience and practice, but applying these tips should help boost your success rate!