Have you ever lingered over a blog post, trying to find the right title for it?
Well, you’re not alone. Thousands of bloggers struggle to write a title that can stand out in this crowded platform. If the title isn’t attractive, readers are less likely to click on the content and that can have an impact on traffic.
Fortunately, there are smart and easy ways to write stellar titles for your blogs! Just follow the steps described in this article.
1. Add Numbers and Specific Data
Take this very article as an example and look at its title. Why does “5 Smart and Easy Ways to Write Better Titles” sounds better than just “Smart and Easy Ways to Write Better Titles?”
This is because numbers and specific data make the content sound logical. Our brain loves logic because the data is organized, which is easier to understand.
When you click on such articles, you know you’re going to get a numbered list of content and that is remarkably appealing to readers, according to newyorker.
As hubspot’s stats suggest, numbers are also effective because most people skim over articles instead of reading them fully. They’ll look at the ordered list and get a gist of it easily. In order to use numbers effectively, keep these tips in mind:
- Include small numbers instead of large values as they’re easier on the mind. For example, 10 is better than 250 because 250 is an intimidating number. People will immediate think the article will need more time or focus and they might skip it.
- People find odd numbers a little more appealing than even numbers. If you look at viral articles, you’ll notice their titles often include odd numbers like 7, 9, 17, etc. These articles often appear to be more authentic.
- Limit the number of step-by-step articles by around 9 because more steps than that can overwhelm the reader.
Include numbers in as many blog post titles as you can to build an audience over time. Numbers and specific facts will also make the content appear more concrete and authoritative.
2. Unique and Specific Headlines
Have you ever searched for a title and found dozens of articles with the same heading? Unfortunately, this happens a lot, even if you add numbers to your titles.
Creating unique headlines might seem challenging, but it is actually quite easy to do. There are just some rules you must follow to make sure the headline attracts readers and has the right message. These tips are mentioned below:
- Search the Headline – Create a generic headline and search it on Google. The top few results will include highly ranked articles, which means they’re a good source of information. Consider their titles carefully to find the most appealing option.
- Tweak the Title – Once you have found a great title, tweak it by adding numbers, impactful words, or actionable words. For example, if the popular article title is “10 Ways Create a Stellar SEO Strategy”, you can tweak it to something like “13 Ways to Nail SEO Strategy TODAY.” You have added an odd number and created a sense of urgency with “TODAY.”
- Be Specific – It is important to be as specific as you can be with these titles. If you’re specific, readers have a clear idea of what to expect from the article and they’re more likely to click on the link.
Creating unique titles that encourage a sense of urgency and are very specific will help you draw more traffic to your website.
3. Don’t Make It Too Complicated
In the quest to make titles unique, it is possible to make it a little too complicated. Your readers must understand the title and get a good idea of the content immediately. This is especially important if you work in an industry with unique lingo and descriptors.
For example, titles like “10 Ways to Get Great CTR on PPC Ads” provide a lot of information to anyone familiar with digital marketing, but most business owners or newcomers in this field won’t recognize what it means.
A better title will have more generic terms that even a layman can understand. For example, “10 Fun Ways to Increase Traffic to Your Website through Paid Ads” is more general but still attractive title. Here are some tips to keep in mind:
- Avoid using highly technical terms
- Stay away from complicated or obscure words
- Make sure the title is straightforward and useful.
- Make sure the title is relevant to the content in the blog post
Most people find simple titles to be more appealing and also consider them more professional. Professional writers should be able to present information in a way that even the most inexperienced individual can understand it well.
You can also read Ways to Increase Traffic to Your Website
4. Adjective Are the Key
Adjectives act as hooks that attract a prospective reader’s attention and will help keep them engaged.
If you look back through this article, you’ll notice every title example mentioned has an adjective. Words like “smart and easy,” “great,” “fun,” “stellar,” etc, are all attention-grabbing adjectives. They immediately give your title an extra flair that can help it stand apart from other content. You can incorporate adjectives like:
- Best
- Quick
- Fast
- Exciting
- Fool-Proof
- Smart
- Excellent
Words like these can make an ordinary sounding title seem a little more dramatic and impactful.
5. The Importance of Rationale
Why should a reader click on your article? This should be clear in the title itself. Rationale is the reason for doing something.
It tells readers kind of benefit they will get if they click on your article. A unique, interesting, and straightforward rationale will draw attention and increase click rates quickly. Consider the following titles:
Both are interesting and attractive with a clear rationale mentioned. The rationale is to “maintain a healthy lifestyle.” If that’s what your reader wants to know, they will click on the article. The title shows the article is useful to them, that’s why mentioning it can help create the best title for your blog.
Did you know traffic to a post can change by up to 500% based on the title? That’s why it is you need to make sure the titles are clear, attractive, and well-structured. These tips should help you nail the titles every time.
Author bio:
Smith Andrew is a Jr. content writer working with Ranking by SEO. In his corporate life he write many blogs and articles on SEO, Link building, SMO and many more.
