Writing kick arse blog articles that get read - its all in the title.. or is it?
After writing heaps of blogs, Ive started to realise if the title is crap the blog is a waste of my time.. without engagement in the title my blog is doomed.
When I write blogs for clients I simply ask for a topic and their keywords and then I go ahead and craft the blog to suit their business. The process of researching and writing, and fine tuning then begins, but sometimes one of the hardest parts is creating the perfect title.
Whether the blogs are part of an inbound marketing strategy or for SEO, a great title is key.
Titles that are drawn out, sensational or downright boring are a waste and will be detrimental to the blog, title that are catchy and engaging will get shared across social media channels, providing a huge opportunity for your content marketing and reach.
I know I would personally read around 12 blogs or more a day, and the title needs to really engage with me and hit me in the face to get my attention.
Here are a few tips from Hubspot which nail the concept of the perfect blog title.
Topic generators -
There are plenty of topic generators available online which can be helpful (while at the same time sometimes they can come back with rubbish), however these tools can help if youre completely stumped.
Focus on keywords -
Use a keyword planner tool to find the best keywords to try and integrate into your catchy title.
Have a working title -
To get started add in a working title for your blog - while it may seem a little naff at first, it is a starting point and will allow you to get started and have a focus on what youre writing.
Dont use a title that is in accurate -
Creating a sensational title that is completely inaccurate just to add shock value is a bad move, and it is also annoying for the reader and usually a bit of a turn off. Be accurate and make sure your title reflects what is in the post.
Avoid boring -
While the content of your blog may be a little dry, try and make your title engaging and pack a punch. Catchy titles that are clear and easy to read will be far more engaging that long-winded posts that make your audience yawn before they are even read the blog.
Keep your title shot -
While the jury is out, around 70 characters or less is the perfect length of the blog title. This can come down to around 8 to 12 words. So dont waffle, find the perfect combo of words and fine tune until you are 100% happy with your blog title.
Share your title and blog -
Dont be shy, share your blog with a colleague and ask them what they really think of your blog. Get them to tweak it ahead of publishing.
Here's the original hubspot article - How to Write Catchy Headlines and Blog Titles Your Readers Can't Resist
Leading on from this, a few of my own suggestions would be:
Write your blog and leave it for a day -
I would also suggest making sure you write your blog and leave it for a day if you can, this will allow you to re-visit the blog with a fresh set of eyes. This may also allow you to ensure the title encapsulates the whole blog.
Use some stats -
As well as this, you might consider adding in some stats in the title to really give your title an intro that people cant avoid to ignore - titles such as ## ways to improve your earnings by 200% are catchy and make readers want to read on.
Grab your thesaurus -
Some titles need some creative thesaurus action so you get your audience interested. Dont be afraid to dust off the thesaurus and get some inspo.
If youre totally stuck for blog titles, heres a couple to get your blog title juices flowing:
Salami suicide - processed meats linked to heart disease
21 easy Ways To Build An Email List That Will Skyrocket By 552% in 1 Year
What are some of your tips for writing catchy blog titles?
Feel free to share your favourite blog titles too
When I write blogs for clients I simply ask for a topic and their keywords and then I go ahead and craft the blog to suit their business. The process of researching and writing, and fine tuning then begins, but sometimes one of the hardest parts is creating the perfect title.
Whether the blogs are part of an inbound marketing strategy or for SEO, a great title is key.
Titles that are drawn out, sensational or downright boring are a waste and will be detrimental to the blog, title that are catchy and engaging will get shared across social media channels, providing a huge opportunity for your content marketing and reach.
I know I would personally read around 12 blogs or more a day, and the title needs to really engage with me and hit me in the face to get my attention.
Here are a few tips from Hubspot which nail the concept of the perfect blog title.
Topic generators -
There are plenty of topic generators available online which can be helpful (while at the same time sometimes they can come back with rubbish), however these tools can help if youre completely stumped.
Focus on keywords -
Use a keyword planner tool to find the best keywords to try and integrate into your catchy title.
Have a working title -
To get started add in a working title for your blog - while it may seem a little naff at first, it is a starting point and will allow you to get started and have a focus on what youre writing.
Dont use a title that is in accurate -
Creating a sensational title that is completely inaccurate just to add shock value is a bad move, and it is also annoying for the reader and usually a bit of a turn off. Be accurate and make sure your title reflects what is in the post.
Avoid boring -
While the content of your blog may be a little dry, try and make your title engaging and pack a punch. Catchy titles that are clear and easy to read will be far more engaging that long-winded posts that make your audience yawn before they are even read the blog.
Keep your title shot -
While the jury is out, around 70 characters or less is the perfect length of the blog title. This can come down to around 8 to 12 words. So dont waffle, find the perfect combo of words and fine tune until you are 100% happy with your blog title.
Share your title and blog -
Dont be shy, share your blog with a colleague and ask them what they really think of your blog. Get them to tweak it ahead of publishing.
Here's the original hubspot article - How to Write Catchy Headlines and Blog Titles Your Readers Can't Resist
Leading on from this, a few of my own suggestions would be:
Write your blog and leave it for a day -
I would also suggest making sure you write your blog and leave it for a day if you can, this will allow you to re-visit the blog with a fresh set of eyes. This may also allow you to ensure the title encapsulates the whole blog.
Use some stats -
As well as this, you might consider adding in some stats in the title to really give your title an intro that people cant avoid to ignore - titles such as ## ways to improve your earnings by 200% are catchy and make readers want to read on.
Grab your thesaurus -
Some titles need some creative thesaurus action so you get your audience interested. Dont be afraid to dust off the thesaurus and get some inspo.
If youre totally stuck for blog titles, heres a couple to get your blog title juices flowing:
Salami suicide - processed meats linked to heart disease
21 easy Ways To Build An Email List That Will Skyrocket By 552% in 1 Year
What are some of your tips for writing catchy blog titles?
Feel free to share your favourite blog titles too