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Blog Post Titles Are Important!

The most important part of your blog post…is your title.

Wait…is that what you thought I would say?
What about the carefully crafted content, and the seamless linking efforts you spent hours on?

Well, think about it this way: if you don’t grab your reader’s’ attention with the title and get them to actually read the post, nothing you put inside the post matters!

If you can’t get them to read it, the blog post doesn’t do you much good. On top of that, you have mere seconds to grab your reader’s attention!

That goes for getting traffic from, and ranking in, search engines as well. Yes, there are plenty of other factors that go in to a stellar blog post title, but a good title (and permalink) with the right keywords in it will do more good than anything else, SEO wise.

So then, how do you go about writing a good, attention-grabbing blog post title?

Don’t Sweat It In The Beginning

When you first start writing, don’t stress about a title. Name your draft post with a simple working title and spend time crafting your content. Then later, come back and work on the finalized headline, implementing as many of the tips below as you can.

#1: Tap into Your Prospects’ Emotions

According to psychologists our buying decisions are based first and foremost on our emotions. So it’s important to use headlines which offer your readers a strong emotional benefit or reaction.

For example, the title ‘The 20-Minute Step that Will Make You a Business Genius’ taps into a readers’ desires to feel smart and powerful. Wouldn’t you like to click on a title like that? See how that works?

Other emotions you can tap into are a desire to feel:
1. Attractive
2. Sexy
3. Assertive
4. Confident
5. Energetic
6. Pampered
7. A sense of belonging
8. In control of their own destiny
9. Wealthy
10. Proud
11. Respected
12. Safe

#2: Make it Interesting and Tell The Truth

Write an attention grabbing headline >>> Yes!
Overhype and make overinflated promises? >>> ABSOLUTELY NOT!

I know that there is the temptation to hype up and stretch the truth in your blog post titles…but don’t you do it!.

Look, everyone can recognize clickbait nowadays. We all hate it. Plus, it seems like it’s everywhere! While that may get you some extra clicks by tempting people with clickbait, there’s a definite trade-off.

You’ll lose credibility if you’re over-exaggerating or telling little white lies in your titles, and people will not click on your other content.

The very LAST thing you want is for your reader to click through and end up disappointed because the post doesn’t fulfill what the title promised.
Believe me!

Instead, make it interesting without all the hype and stick to the truth. A great way to do that is to think about what’s in it for your readers and craft a titillating title around that. Appeal to the WIIFM (what’s in it for me) that people have, while also using descriptive words that stir curiousity and desire to click.

#3: Let Your Reader Know They’re Important

The word YOU is a very powerful word. It lets your readers feel as if you’re talking to them specifically and interested in solving their problems, issues and helping them achieve their desires.

Instead of using I, Me or We in your headlines, use You.

Compare the two options:

Or

Again, people want to know what’s in it for them and when they can assess that information in the headline, they’re going to be compelled to continue reading.

#4: Make it Active

To write a compelling blog post title, it’s important to use active language (language that shows movement and commands attention).

For example, “Stop Your Sugar Cravings Today With This Simple Step,” is a fine headline however it doesn’t command action nor does it really tap into any emotions.

However, “Conquer Your Sugar Cravings With This Simple Step” reads better. Conquer is an active and emotionally powerful word, so readers receive the benefit of feeling powerful and in control.

#5: Keep It Short and Engaging

Shorter titles tend to do better both with click-throughs on your blog and social media. By shorter, I mean don’t let it become three lines long! Make it as succinct, compact, yet descriptive and to the point as you possibly can.

Also, think about engagement straight from the title of your post. Ask your readers a question. Make a statement that makes them think. Put numbers in your titles to get them thinking about what’s in the content (i.e. The 5 Best Tips To …)

Keep an eye out for titles that catch your attention. Copy and paste them into a swipe file and see how you can tweak them for your own needs and audience.

#6: Work In Your Keywords

Last but not least, don’t forget to work your keywords into the title (if possible). I tend to do this last. Always write for your readers first and then work in what you need to do to make sure the search engines and/or Pinterest recognize what your content is about.

Ranking well for something your readers don’t want to read or don’t want to click on doesn’t do you much good. Focus on your audience and then optimize for search afterwards, and you’ll do well.

Implement these tips in your first few blog posts and pay attention to what’s working and what isn’t. Each market, each blog, and each readership is different. Using these tips as a guideline will help you to find your own style that resonates well with your audience and gets you the results you want.

BONUS: How To Go Write Those Blog Post Titles!

So now you have some ideas about what types of headlines sell, how do you begin to write those powerful headlines?

Step One – Get to know your audience intimately. What are their hopes, dreams, desires, and problems? Understanding your audience will help you create an emotional and powerful headline directed specifically at your audience.

Step Two – Determine how your products or services are going to make your prospects’ lives better or solve their problems. For example if you sell fitness equipment and your audience struggles with feeling attractive then you can create a headline that highlights a specific benefit your fitness equipment offers to solve that problem.

Step Three – Write ten to twenty, yes twenty, possible headlines. Not only will this give you practice writing compelling headlines, it’ll help you hone in on that perfect headline. And if you think you have a few winners you can always test them for conversion rates to find out which headline is more effective.

Marketing and copywriting experts consider your title to be the most import element of any effective marketing piece. So, take the time to craft a compelling, and selling, headline and you’ll reap nothing but clicks and benefits!

If you liked this post, go ahead and grab a copy of my free Blog 101 checklist in the box down below!

To Your Success,