Do Your Article Titles Suck?

21 replies
Be honest and objective...do they?

I constantly test my article titles. I will write boring ones on purpose to see
how they perform against others.

Which one of these titles do you think got more views?

Internet Marketing Tips - Start With Something Simple

Or

The 7 Dirty Words Of Internet Marketing

You guessed it...by 5 times as many views.

People like sensational crap...it's human nature.

Another great performing title...Who Can You Trust?

When it comes to trust, you'll have them lining up at the door if you
can incorporate that question into your niche or a variation on it.

Acne Cures...Which Ones Can You Trust?

Autoresponders...Which Company Can You Trust?

And the list goes on an on.

Boring titles bore people. You can't get clicks if you can't get views.

As long as you fulfill the promise of your title (the key) you can make
your title as outrageous as you want.

You should spend more time thinking of your title than you spend writing
your article.

Because if they don't read the article...it doesn't matter how good it is.

So...do your article titles suck?

Be honest.
#article #titles
  • Profile picture of the author CodyTemke
    nice, i think i need to improve my articles titles..
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  • Profile picture of the author DogScout
    Thank you Steven. You could have probably added a couple of pages of fluff and 12-20 more examples and sold that as a report.

    You definably one of the 'good ones' in my book!
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    • Profile picture of the author Kitty Kiki
      I think my article title still sucks..

      A Warrior member(forgotten his/her name) here recommended this site :Advanced Marketing Institute - Headline Analyzer which analyzes the title. What do you think of this?

      However, do you write title for the same article that is to be posted in your site and article directories differently or same?

      Thank You.
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  • Profile picture of the author VeitSchenk
    judging by my sales-stats, my headlines definitely suck...

    just "can't get myself to be outrageous...

    working on it though

    Veit

    PS: after submitting I saw my signature ... rest my case...
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    Connect with me on FB: https://www.facebook.com/veitschenk

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    • Profile picture of the author Liam Hamer
      Up until a couple of weeks ago, I'd say 60% of my titles were really good and 40% pretty poor. I'm going to be completely honest and say I didn't 100% grasp how to consistently come up with good titles that would compel my readers to click on my articles.

      What happened a couple of weeks ago that changed all this? I bought Tim Gorman's Article Marketing Lifeline package He made me truly understand what does and doesn't work, and in terms of titles - he actually demonstrates by going through the EZA homepage and saying what he thinks of the titles he comes across.

      My point is, if you are a new article marketer, or one that isn't as successful as you like - you need to listen to and learn from people like Steven and Tim(and many others here too). Why? Because they have been there and done it and know exactly what they are talking about. Steven - I read pretty much every article you submit and always take something away from every single one

      It really is true - people are drawn to dramatic and even shocking titles. If you can incorporate exactly what they are going to get from reading your article into your title, you're going to be onto a winner more often than not too. Add this to a compelling summary that connects with the reader, and you've gotten off to a great start with them before they have even read the article
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  • Profile picture of the author JaySchmidt
    EzineArticles just started a "Title Suggestion" feature. Here are some that they suggest for the keyword "acne":
    *How to curb an acne breakout
    *I have back acne (bacne) -- what should I do
    *How to avoid butt acne
    *Getting rid of acne in a day -- is it possible?

    Their titles have good keywords, but they're not very sensationalistic.
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    • Profile picture of the author red dog
      Thank You Steven I need to work on my article writing.
      This gave me a few ideas.
      Signature

      Keep trying and never give up! Wanna workout from home need to lose some weight? Visit my blog Strength Training Workouts

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    • Profile picture of the author jennypitts
      Originally Posted by JaySchmidt View Post

      EzineArticles just started a "Title Suggestion" feature. Here are some that they suggest for the keyword "acne":
      *How to curb an acne breakout
      *I have back acne (bacne) -- what should I do
      *How to avoid butt acne
      *Getting rid of acne in a day -- is it possible?

      Their titles have good keywords, but they're not very sensationalistic.
      Hilarious... I have heard of the ezine articles title suggestion part and Thank goodness I never used it. Especially if it is going to suggest things like "How to avoid butt acne."... YIKES!!

      What I usually do for my article titles is this. Once my articles are complete, I skim through each one, picking out phrases or entire sentences that jump out at me. I then try to sensationalize them a bit by adding an extraordinary word or two. This method seems to be working. Especially if I outsource the articles. Since I did not write it, whatever I see in the article that immediately catches my attention, that is what I use as my title.
      Signature
      Traffic Exchange - Solo Ads - Contact Solo Ads
      Social Networking For Internet Marketers to Increase Traffic to Referral Program or Site.
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  • Profile picture of the author DaveManTheCaveMan
    Banned
    Thanks. I'll use some of these tips today. I'm doing 10 articles today
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  • Profile picture of the author VeitSchenk
    the one thing I'm going to do this week is try headlines
    using PPC. Just use those that give me the highest CTR.

    Veit
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    Connect with me on FB: https://www.facebook.com/veitschenk

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  • Profile picture of the author Ben Bergmann
    Thank you Steven! Great advice!

    I think worth reading in this context is also Jay Abraham's 100 Greatest Headlines Ever Written:

    Jay Abraham: 100 Greatest Headlines Ever Written
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  • Profile picture of the author rayx
    Why not just look at the most viewed articles in your niche on EZA then use that to come up with your own titles... I like to use words such as 'secret' or 'reveal' to add a little curiosity
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    • Profile picture of the author Liam Hamer
      Originally Posted by rayx View Post

      Why not just look at the most viewed articles in your niche on EZA then use that to come up with your own titles... I like to use words such as 'secret' or 'reveal' to add a little curiosity
      I don't do this because some of the 'most viewed' lists are manipulated by people buying traffic and sending it to their articles. Instead, I look at the top 3-5 authors in the niche I am writing in and take some inspiration from them. You often see them using very similar groups of words within their titles, which tells you that they must be effective if they keep using them

      Another thing I like to do is to simply type in a phrase to do with the niche into Google and see what the suggestion tool comes up with in terms of 'completing' your query. Example - if you type in 'how to lose weight', it will bring back:-

      How to lose weight in a week
      How to lose weight fast at home
      How to lose weight in your thighs
      How to lose weight without exercise

      ...and more.

      These are actual queries people are typing in to Google, are usually great starting points for titles and in some cases you can hit the jackpot in terms of little competition amongst the top 10
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  • Profile picture of the author kvnkane
    great experiment, thanks for letting us know
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  • Profile picture of the author Dennis Gaskill
    Good post, Steven. There are many title styles that work and can help you improve your "read" rate. I actually wrote a small report about this a few years ago. Here's another title style that works well:

    Problem Titles

    Problem titles are similar to benefit titles in that they convey an implied benefit, only they do so through the mechanism of raising a problem.

    This style of title works by asking a pointed question, which leads the reader to feel hopeful that a possible solution to the problem can be found in the content of the article, or that it at least points to where the solution can be found (think affiliate programs or your own products here).

    Example Problem Titles:

    • Are You Suffering from Loneliness?
    • Is Your Lack of Education Holding You Back?
    • Are Your Co-workers Out to Get You?

    Problem titles should never beat around the bush. The reader has an emotional, psychological, or physical problem and wants a solution. If you can identify a common problem, those who suffer from that problem will want to read your article.
    Signature

    Just when you think you've got it all figured out, someone changes the rules.

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    • Originally Posted by Dennis Gaskill View Post

      Good post, Steven. There are many title styles that work and can help you improve your "read" rate. I actually wrote a small report about this a few years ago. Here's another title style that works well:

      Problem Titles

      Problem titles are similar to benefit titles in that they convey an implied benefit, only they do so through the mechanism of raising a problem.

      This style of title works by asking a pointed question, which leads the reader to feel hopeful that a possible solution to the problem can be found in the content of the article, or that it at least points to where the solution can be found (think affiliate programs or your own products here).

      Example Problem Titles:

      • Are You Suffering from Loneliness?
      • Is Your Lack of Education Holding You Back?
      • Are Your Co-workers Out to Get You?

      Problem titles should never beat around the bush. The reader has an emotional, psychological, or physical problem and wants a solution. If you can identify a common problem, those who suffer from that problem will want to read your article.
      I could not agree more. I think the title should tell the reader WHAT they want to know. It should convince them to read the article, because the solution to their problem will be in the article. It should be catchy, BUT direct.

      I always recommend to people to write the title after the article has been written. Believe it or not, the result will always be, a better, more attractive and eye-catching title.
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      • Profile picture of the author MissV
        Thanks Steven, as always very
        useful information.
        V
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  • Profile picture of the author precious_ngwu
    Banned
    [DELETED]
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    • Profile picture of the author Liam Hamer
      Originally Posted by precious_ngwu View Post

      what of a tile like: The 7 Easy Steps To Online Profits.
      does it suck?
      I don't think it 'sucks', but I'd personally use something like:-

      7 Steps To Online Profits - So Easy A Monkey Could Follow Them and Make Bank

      ...or something like that
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    • Profile picture of the author Dennis Gaskill
      Originally Posted by precious_ngwu View Post

      what of a tile like: The 7 Easy Steps To Online Profits.
      does it suck?
      It depends on who you're targeting. I wouldn't click it, but I'm not a newbie, which is who I'm guessing you'd be trying to appeal to with that title. I'd guess it would have some appeal to newbies. Step-by-step style articles can do well.


      @ Liam - haven't seen you around for a while, hope everything is going well.
      Signature

      Just when you think you've got it all figured out, someone changes the rules.

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      • Profile picture of the author Liam Hamer
        Originally Posted by Dennis Gaskill View Post

        @ Liam - haven't seen you around for a while, hope everything is going well.
        Hi Dennis,

        I've been around, just not as much as usual. Everything is going great thanks - got a really busy week ahead
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  • Profile picture of the author DamianLeon
    Think of Your article Title to be like a headline- so it draws them into the text - sell them to be drawn into the text- then sell them to keep reading every paragraph- then sell them in the bio line with a continuation of your theme- eg a bio box could be: List building is the key to building leverage and reach on the Internet which multiplies every effort you give out more and more as time proceeds- for more tips, tricks and strategies see http://YourSite.com -
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