A title determines the success of any piece of writing. Most people decide whether to go through your post or not by simply reading the title. Therefore you should not underestimate its power. Below are several tips on how to write catchy headlines and blog titles your readers can’t resist:
Use of Question Titles
Question titles are usually popular amongst many readers. They make the readers curious to know the answer to a particular issue, even if they weren’t searching for it. The use of question titles still works wonders. The main thing here is not to utilize the question mark at the end. When you end up utilizing it, your readers might think that it is a question directed at them and thus doubt your expertise.
Questions words that you might make use of include:
- Where – ‘Where To Get The Best Holiday Deals,’ or ‘Where Do You Find The Best Coffee In Town.’
- When – ‘When Is It The Right Time To Venture Into Business,’ or ‘When Is It The Ideal Time To Go On A Holiday.’
- How – ‘How to Write a Good Business Proposal,’ or ‘How To Avoid Procrastination.’
- Why – ‘Why You Should Practice Yoga Every Day,’ or ‘Why Should You Get An Education.’
If you encounter writer’s block and can’t think of a captivating title, simply ask a question that your article answers.
The Use of Intriguing Words like ‘Tricks,’ ‘Mistakes’ or ‘Myths’
These kinds of titles are mostly used in interesting articles where the writer proves or disproves something or even shares his or her experiences about something. Your readers might either want to get resolutions to problems encountered or just satisfy their curiosity.
Here are a few examples:
- Popular Myths about Blogging That Have Been Debunked
- 10 Common Mistakes That Kill Your Writing Skills
Intriguing titles work best with the number and question ones. These combinations can be used for instructions or reviews.
Communicate a Solution to a Problem
We can be lazy at times. If there’s an opportunity to get a ready solution to a problem, instead of taking the harder route, most people will go for the ready solution. An answer to a critical question is a good way to build your title on. Simply select a problem, provide a solution for it in your post and hint on that solution in the title.
Examples of such titles include:
- Here Is How To Get Rid Of Stretch Marks
- How To Go Vegan
Personal Experience
Individuals tend to trust those who’ve done something more than the individuals who only think about it and make assumptions. For instance, look at these two headlines; “How to earn $2000 in seven days” and “How I earned $2000 in seven days”. Which post would you prefer?
Below is another example of such titles:
- How I Lost 25 Pounds In A Month
(Also, it doesn’t really have to be your experience. You can utilize a third person. What’s more, the more famous this individual is, the more trust you will gain from your audience.)
- How Oprah Winfrey Got Her Breakthrough
- Which Exercises Does Lebron James Do During The Offseason?
Use Numbers
Most people tend to trust numbers. Utilizing numbers in blog titles is a sure way of attracting more readers. One trick when dealing with this is to use odd numbers. Research has revealed that posts with odd numbers in titles get around 23% more clicks than those with even numbers.
For instance;
- 7 Sources of Essay Inspiration
- 9 Proven Ways of Getting Rid Of That Extra Body Fat
- 5 Interesting Facts about Instagram
Fear Factor
Fear is a strong motivator. If you end up making people scared with your titles or headlines, they will read the content. Individuals tend to avoid all the negative elements. If they can find any information that will keep them safe, they will read it.
For instance;
- You Lose $100 Monthly Without This Skill
- Combining These Things Will Make You Age Slowly
Utilize References, Quotes or Sayings
To make your headline intriguing, you can utilize several idioms or even references to pop culture. You can make use of catchy phrases from your favorite films or books the next time you write another article.
Keep It Short
There is no definite answer to the exact length of your headline or title. It depends on what your objectives are, and where your title will appear. If you want your post to rank well, try to keep the title under 70 characters so that it won’t be cut off in search engine results.
Research has indicated that titles between 8 and 12 words in length got the most Twitter shares, while on Facebook, titles between 12 and 14 words get the most likes. Also, titles with 8 words had a 21% higher click-through rate than the average title.
Try To Optimize For Search and Social
Going overboard when it comes to optimization can make your headline sound odd. You should keep in mind that the title needs to be optimized for your reader. However, it would be great if you can optimize for both search and social.
The key thing to do here is to simply concentrate on the keywords that you know your readers are already searching for and then look into the search volume for those words.
When you have a keyword in mind, ensure that you put it as close as possible to the beginning of your title to grab the attention of your reader. Moreover, you should remember to keep the title under 70 characters so that it won’t get cut off in search engine results.
Brainstorm Potential Titles for Options
Most bloggers treat the titles for their posts or articles as an afterthought and tend to use the first idea that pops up in their minds. However, most times, these initial headlines aren’t the best. To come up with the most suitable headline for your content, you need to brainstorm possible headlines with other people. This will provide you with several options from which to select the best headline that will grab your reader’s attention.
Controversial Statements
Controversial posts usually generate many comments (be it positive or negative) as compared to just any other post. They bring about various discussions and thus bring people to your site. Many people tend to react to bold statements.
Conclusion
There you go. Make use of these tips to come up with interesting titles that will excite your readers. As much as writing catchy headlines is important, your conclusion holds equal weight. You could be working against the effort that you put in to come up with a title that draws readers by having a weak conclusion. After you master how to create killer headlines, learn how to write a conclusion.
Are there any other tips on writing catchy titles that you can think of?
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