![\"8](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/problogger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/08\/8-Secrets-to-Crafting-Blog-Post-Titles-That-Will-Set-the-Internet-Ablaze.png?resize=1430%2C800&is-pending-load=1#038;ssl=1\"\/)
![\"8](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/problogger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/08\/8-Secrets-to-Crafting-Blog-Post-Titles-That-Will-Set-the-Internet-Ablaze.png?resize=1430%2C800&ssl=1\")
<\/p>\n
Titles change the destiny of your posts.<\/strong><\/p>\n Those few words at the beginning of your blog post can be the difference between the post being read and spread like a virus through the web like a wild fire and it languishing in your archives, barely noticed.<\/p>\n This month we\u2019ve been talking about how to \u2018craft\u2019 blog posts<\/a> and are looking at key moments in the writing of blog posts that it is important to pause and put a little extra effort into.<\/p>\n While there will usually only be a handful of words in your post title \u2013 they are the most powerful words that you\u2019ll write<\/strong> because for most of your readers the decision as to whether to read the rest of your post rests upon them.<\/p>\n Blog post titles appear in:<\/p>\n In each of these occassions the title can be the only thing that people see and the sole thing that people make the decision to visit your post on. Write a boring, complicated or confusing title and it doesn\u2019t matter what you\u2019ve written in the post \u2013 very few people will ever read it.<\/p>\n There are many techniques that copywriters use in crafting titles or headings both online and offline \u2013 but there\u2019s generally one common goal behind them all. It can be summed up in the words of David Ogilvy who in Ogilvy on Advertising<\/a> (a great copywriting book) again and again echoes the refrain that:<\/p>\n \u201c<\/span>the purpose of a title is to get potential readers to read the first line of your content.\u201d<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n This is one of the lessons that has helped me the most in my own blogging and I\u2019ve seen it\u2019s power again and again.<\/p>\n Write a captivating and intruiging title and you\u2019ll draw people into reading it every time.<\/p>\n Before I share them \u2013 let me give one universal tip \u2013 Don\u2019t Rush<\/strong> \u2013 this is the main point of this whole series on crafting content. If there\u2019s nothing else you come away from today \u2013 take away that if you rush your titles you could well be wasting the time that you invest into your actual posts. Invest time into your posts, it\u2019s something that will pay off!<\/p>\n Now that we\u2019re taking our time \u2013 here are 8 tips that I use in the creation of blog post titles. Note:<\/b> you\u2019d not be likely to use all of them in the one post (although for fun I did my best to get quite a few of them into the image title above). Different techniques will work better in different situations.<\/p>\n This is SO IMPORTANT. If a potential reader comes across your post in Google search results or your RSS feed or on a site like Digg and they see a title that promises to meet a need they have \u2013 they\u2019ll click that link on almost every occassion. Identify a need in of potential readers (we talked about this in yesterdays post) and communicate that your post will solve this problem or need in your title. This is why posts with titles like \u2018How to Hold a Digital Camera\u2019 and \u201910 Ways to Take Stunning Portraits\u2019 (LINKSSSSSSS) have driven hundreds of thousands of readers to my photography blog in the last year. They are not \u2018clever\u2019 or \u2018cryptic\u2019 titles \u2013 they simply SCREAM at those that see them what they\u2019ll get if they visit the post. These titles don\u2019t draw everyone that see\u2019s them to them, but they\u2019ll certainly draw in people with the needs that you\u2019re aiming the post at.<\/p>\n Another technique that can be very good at drawing people into a post is to set the scene for controversy, debate or a strong opinion. You need to be willing to back these types of titles up with posts that reflect the title \u2013 but controversy is one of those things that tends to pique people\u2019s interest. Keep in mind that when you create controversy you\u2019ll attract strong reactions in people.<\/p>\n When you ask a question those who read it are wired to respond (or to see what the response is). I find that questions at post titles can be very popular at not only drawing in readers \u2013 but particularly effective at getting readers to leave comments \u2013 particularly if the comment directs a question AT the reader (ie use the word YOU in the question) rather than just being a random question. I\u2019ll write more on personalizing titles below.<\/p>\n Keywords in titles are good for two main reasons:<\/p>\n So use keywords that relate to your post in your titles. This is a particularly useful tip if you write about products, people or companies as these types of \u2018names\u2019 are some of the most searched for terms on the web.<\/p>\n One more tip for keywords \u2013 if you can include them at the start of your title they can have more impact with SEO than if you include them at the end of a title (particularly if the title is long).<\/p>\n Not all words are created equal \u2013 some evoke a powerful response in readers and it can be well worth your while to find out what they are.<\/p>\n It\u2019s difficult to compile a list of these \u2018power words\u2019 but a few that I\u2019ve found that can work (although read my disclaimer below):<\/p>\n Disclaimer<\/em> \u2013 power words can be very beneficial, however they can also trigger negative reactions. Some people get skeptical when they see titles with these types of words and will resist clicking them \u2013 others will click them but get angry if the post itself doesn\u2019t live up to the title. Proceed with caution.<\/p>\n I\u2019ve mentioned this technique already but it does deserve a little further exploration as it is a definite way to draw people into a post. Making a bit claim or promise really extends upon my first technique \u2013 \u2018Communicate a Benefit\u2019<\/strong> \u2013 but takes it to a place where the benefit being shared in the title just cannot be ignored.<\/p>\n These sorts of \u2018big claims\u2019 make guarantees that even people without a real need in your topic will want to check out.<\/p>\n The only problem with big claim posts is that if you can\u2019t actually back them up with the post itself, you run the risk of putting readers offside.<\/p>\n The risk with humorous posts is that they can also fall flat on their faces and leave you with a post title that not only fails to draw loyal readers in but which is not optimized well for search engines (unless you manage to incorporate some keywords).<\/p>\n Keep it short<\/b> \u2013 while it is possible to actually grab people\u2019s attention with a very long title (the length itself can draw people to it) \u2013 in most cases you\u2019ll want to keep it simple and easy to digest. This is good for readers but also search engines (they will only show 65 or so characters so if you go too long your full title doesn\u2019t appear in search results). What have you learned about writing blog post titles? Do you use some of the above approaches or have you found other techniques to work for you?<\/p>\n This post is part of a series on how to craft blog posts<\/a>. It will be all the more powerful if taken in context of the full series which looks at 10 points in the posting process to pause and put extra effort. Start reading this series here<\/a>.<\/p>\n \t\t\t<\/div>\nWhy Blog Post Titles Matter<\/h2>\n
\n
What should a Good Blog Post Title Do?<\/h2>\n
How to Craft a Blog Post Title \u2013 8 Tips<\/h2>\n
![\"Titles-1-2\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/problogger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/08\/titles-1-2.jpg?resize=250%2C284&is-pending-load=1#038;ssl=1\")
![\"Titles-1-2\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/problogger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/08\/titles-1-2.jpg?resize=250%2C284&ssl=1\")
<\/a>How do you craft a blog post title that get people to read your blog posts opening lines?
There are many techniques for crafting blog post titles that will draw readers into them. Below I\u2019ll outline a few (you won\u2019t be able to do all of them in every single post).<\/p>\n1. Communicate a Benefit<\/h3>\n
2. Create Controversy or Debate<\/h3>\n
3. Ask a Question<\/h3>\n
4. Personalize Titles<\/h3>\n
![\"Titles-3\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/problogger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/08\/titles-3.jpg?resize=250%2C333&is-pending-load=1#038;ssl=1\")
![\"Titles-3\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/problogger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/08\/titles-3.jpg?resize=250%2C333&ssl=1\")
<\/a>When you write blog posts you are potentially writing to vast audiences of many thousands of readers \u2013 however readers can feel like the post is laser targetted in on their own specific situation, particularly if you personalize the language that you\u2019re using. One of the easiest ways to do this is simply to use the word \u2018you\u2019 in your posts. I wrote a little about this in First Person Blogging about \u2018You\u2019<\/a> but mainly talked about using the word \u2018you\u2019 in the post itself but in the title of your posts it can have an even bigger impact. Example \u2013 21 Ways to Make <\/a>Your<\/a><\/strong> Blog or Website Sticky<\/a>.<\/p>\n5. Use Keywords<\/h3>\n
\n
6. Use Power Words<\/h3>\n
\n
7. Big Claims and Promises<\/h3>\n
8. Humor Titles<\/h3>\n
![\"Titles-2\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/problogger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/08\/titles-2.jpg?resize=250%2C333&is-pending-load=1#038;ssl=1\")
![\"Titles-2\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/problogger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/08\/titles-2.jpg?resize=250%2C333&ssl=1\")
<\/a>The humorous title is yet another technique that can be very effective at drawing readers into you blog \u2013 that is IF you pull it off.<\/p>\nTwo More Quick Tips on Writing Blog Posts:<\/h2>\n
Don\u2019t use Periods (full stops)<\/b> \u2013 this one might just be my personal preference and open for debate (although I\u2019ve seen a number of copywriters talk about it) but using full stops or \u2018periods\u2019 at the end of titles can stop the flow of your readers<\/a>. It\u2019s not a big one but something that could have an impact.<\/p>\nFurther Reader on Blog Post Titles:<\/h2>\n
\n
Read the Full Series<\/h3>\n