Blogging | Forum « How To Write An Awesome Title For Your Blog Post

How To Write An Awesome Title For Your Blog Post (17 posts)

Topic tags: blogging strategy, content

Are Morch said
1 year, 4 months ago:
Hi friends here at SME Blogging Network Club.
One of the challenges I often experience is come up with a great title that brings out the juice of my article.
If you found a formula that works and that let you keep title in basic requirements for a good blog title.
The Basic Requirements I primarily follow is;
1. Keep It Simple (under 40 characters)
2. Grap Attention
3. Meet a need
4. Describe
5. Use Keyword
Share some of your best practices for an awesome blog title with us.
Cheers..
Are MorchHotel Blogger
@aremorch | # | Top
Kristi Hines said
1 year, 4 months ago:
@aremorch I think a lot of times, people struggle with a good SEO title vs. a good attention grabbing title. I try to narrow the gap by doing one or more of the following:
- Keeping it under 65 characters – always a good rule for SEO and keeping the title at a tweetable length.
- Including a keyword phrase – pop the main keywords for your post into Google AdWords Keyword Tool for ideas.
- Including a number like Top 10, 5 Reasons, 50+ Resources, etc. when applicable.
There’s a nice list of headline / title resources here at Copyblogger - http://www.copyblogger.com/magnetic-headlines/. Plus there is a free PDF download of 102 proven social media headline formulas here - http://socialmediaworkbook.com/102-headline-formulas/. :)
- Including How to , Step by Step, Complete Guide, etc. when applicable
@kristi-hines | # | Top
Frederic Gonzalo said
1 year, 4 months ago:
@kristi-hines @aremorch Great topic! Indeed, I found that keeping titles short, and including a number, i.e top 4 trends, usually works best.
One piece of advice I picked up last year and I’ve tried to apply is thinking “Would this title work well in a tweet?” knowing you usually follow it up with the URL, and perhaps even a hashtag or two. So yes, keeping it short is a must. But it should also be “catchy”, if possible. Easier said than done, I know!
Frederic
@fredericgonzalo | # | Top
MaryAnn Shank said
1 year, 4 months ago:
Great topic, #aremorch ! @frederickgonzalo, it is a lot easier said than done — lol. I have really been struggling with this issue lately. “Writing a business plan” is at its root a dull topic, so I’ve been trying real hard to spice it up with “Mama Mia, What A Pizza!” and “Frost Your Buns With A Little Green Stuff”. It is a constant struggle on whether to please Mother Google or my readers.
I’ve been thinking about that Tweet issue too. I could have expanded each of those titles to include the word “business plan”, but opted to keep them shorter and snappier. So far the technique doesn’t seem to have hurt the number of readers per post, so I think I will stick with it for a while.
If you find a magic answer, I’ll toast you with a glass of great Cabernet from my Wine Bar Business Plan!
@bplanmaster | # | Top
Howie Nguyen said
1 year, 4 months ago:
@bplanmaster How about these titles?
Business Plans: What You Really Need to Know
7 Mistakes You Probably Have In Your Business Plan
Who Else Wants a Bullet Proof Business Plan
@aremorch Here are 10 title formulas that I use:
1. [Blank]: What You Really Need to Know
2. Warning: [Blank] Will [Blank]
3. The Shocking Truth About [Blank]
4. Stop/Start [Blank]
5. What [Blank] Can Teach Us About [Blank]
6. 7 Mistakes That You’re Probably Making
7. The Ultimate Guide to [Blank]
8. How to [Blank]
9. [X] Steps to [Blank]
10. Who Else Wants to [Blank]
I wrote about them with examples for my latest post at http://www.howwhowhen.com/10-sure-fire-headlines-for-your-next-blog-post-or-landing-page/
@howwhowhen | # | Top
MaryAnn Shank said
1 year, 4 months ago:
Sorry @howwhowhen , I don’t want to sound rude, but that is exactly what EVERYONE writes, and it is boring as heck. I am glad they work for others, but not my topic. Thanks anyway.
@bplanmaster | # | Top
Howie Nguyen said
1 year, 4 months ago:
@bplanmaster No problem. Everyone’s audience and writing style are different. Definitely stick to what works best for you.
@howwhowhen | # | Top
Glen Gorham said
1 year, 4 months ago:
well I am fixing to post in tonight or tomorrow for this week so I will use the ad words and let you all know how it goes.
@glengorham | # | Top
Argel Tiburcio said
1 year, 4 months ago:
@bplanmaster how about trying to link a headline to someone with authority in your field?
<authority’s name>’s top tips for <your topic>
or something unusual?
The Zen of <your topic>
@argeltiburcio | # | Top
Stefanie Frank said
1 year, 4 months ago:
Marcus Sheridan wrote an excellent post on having “keyword phrase goals” for your posts and enriching your titles with a keyword phrase.
He gives TONS of examples of what he’s talking about in the post and he gives links as well.
http://www.thesaleslion.com/common-business-blogging-seo-mistakes/
In addition to that I highly recommend the copyblogger resource on magnetic headlines that @kristi-hines gave earlier in this thread.
@aremorch
Cheers,
Stef
@stefaniefrank | # | Top
Dexter Eugenio said
1 year, 4 months ago:
in my exp there are 2 skools for blogging. 1 is personal with no initial plans for business. 2 is business straight up.
2 rarely goes back to 1, but 1 always seems to try and get into 2.
as for titles, most listed tips tend to be towards 2 and i think only a hand full apply to 1.
however titles for blog posts relating to 1 i find are better. not necessarily better for SEO, or better for traffic, but just in my opinion, better. you get more freedom with not a care about who reads them.
i like @bplanmaster am a little sick of tips, list posts, top 10s etc and yes im guilty of them. but it would nice to put more creative spin into them.
@dextereugenio | # | Top
Heather Wright-Porto said
1 year, 4 months ago:
Rich Brooks also suggests using some “number” in the post title (if relevant for your business) such as one of Social Examiner’s examples….10 Apps to create custom facebook pages or tabs. Or the top 3 this or that.
He also mentions the use of a colon in the title…with it you can almost create two titles in one!
Such as Email Marketing Strategies: 5 Tips to creating a power email blast!
Something like that.
Heather
@blogsbyheather | # | Top
Dea Irby said
1 year, 4 months ago:
great thread, thanks for all the input There is a need to consider the audience and the goal of the post and your “USP”, how unique are you if you are just like everyone else, yet “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” may come into play because people feel comfortable with the familiar and know what they are getting…. (circular reasoning is only good for exercise, I’m afraid) @howwhowhen @blogsbyheather @dextereugenio @bplanmaster @aremorch @kristi-hines
@deairby | # | Top
Monique Sherrett said
1 year, 4 months ago:
Hi @aremorch I see you have a ton of comments already but I still want to weigh in. I hear what you’re saying about the formulaic approach to titles and that you want to stand out while still reaping the benefits of SEO.
Looking at your blog posts, you already follow many of the SEO rules, maybe you just need to put the keyword first so you create more of a hook when your articles are shared or republished.
Social Media and Hotel Bloggers to Watch in 2012 would be:
Hotel Bloggers to Watch in 2012 Hotel Bloggers Killing it in Social Media: Watchlist for 2012Hotel Bloggers on Social Media: Who to Watch in 2012
You don’t want your titles to appear formulaic, but maybe just brainstorm different variations of the same title that move the primary keyword forward in the character count.
Cheers,Monique
@boxcarmarketing | # | Top
Are Morch said
1 year, 4 months ago:
Hi @boxcarmarketing
Thanks a lot for your feedback.
Sometimes my grammar and paragraphs comes out like I think. And sometimes it works.
But I work on finding the formula where I write great headlines, but still feel that it speaks to me. My main focus is to serve my audience.
Also want to reach to Hotel Decision makers with my content. So finding the perfect balance is something I want to work on in 2012.
Highly appreciate your feedback.
I use Scribe which is a must have tool for me. Helps a lot when I write my articles.
Cheers..
Are MorchHotel Blogger
@aremorch | # | Top
Leah Laker said
1 year, 4 months ago:
These suggestions are great if you are writing blog posts that actually describe how to do something. How about titles for post that are more specific, i.e. I write about the story behind my painting and that doesn’t fit with a “how to” title. I would welcome suggestions. You can see what I am trying to do at

Permalink: http://studiorimonim.com//2011/11/ancient-byways/
@leahlaker | # | Top
patricia troyer said
1 year, 4 months ago:
Great discussions and ideas from all of the above. I’m lucky enough to be able to bridge how-to and other subjects so have some experience doing both. It’s spot on that “Top 10″ headlines get more attention – just make sure you have interesting 10s. The reader assuming that if you have a numbered list it might be a shorter read might also play into that. Remember that you have tons of competition to grab someone’s attention – less than 6 seconds in most cases, not to mention just catching up on reading online is a challenge for most people, so…
And I always aim my titles at the reader, not strictly SEO, and have found that in general it works both ways anyway. Your title should tell your reader what to expect. Write about your subject because it interests/excites you, and pick titles you would want to check out.
(Are we having fun yet?)
@stonepeople | # | Top