Creating a Blog Post Title That Captures Your Reader


You labored over your blog posts, but did you take the same care with the titles of those blog posts?

In today’s tip, you’ll find tips to help you create blog titles to capture your readers.

Create titles that spark (or join in) conversations

There are multiple conversations going around us all the time. Some are private. Some are personal. Others are lively and fun. Some conversations are with God. Some are with ourselves.

Your title should fit into a conversation. As you write your blog post, consider a conversation that might be taking place about your topic.

  • What is being asked?
  • What is the need behind that conversation?
  • What is the fear?
  • What is the hope?
Create titles that are searchable

When searching online, you are rarely vague. If you are looking for a recipe, you type in the name of the recipe. If you are searching for help to fix the microwave, you are pretty specific. Your titles are key in your ranking in a search engine. Consider key phrases, questions, or specific keywords that someone might use when searching on this topic.

Let’s look at these examples:

Leadership blogger post title:

  1. That prodigious pile of in-bound paper
  2. Six ways to overcome email fatigue

Parenting blogger post title:

  1. Am I still a good mom when I lose it?
  2. When you feel like Mount Mama

Social justice blogger post:

  1. Is a hash tag really enough to fight the sex trade?
  2. Going beyond the hash tag to stop the sex trade

The above titles may feel close. However, consider their searchability. What would happen if you typed in the title into a search engine?

Get personal in your title

Is this title a promise, encouragement, a real question, or something that will cause your friend to smile, think, or dig deeper?

YOUR ASSIGNMENT IF YOU CHOOSE TO ACCEPT

  1. Go to a former blog post. Would you change it, and why or why not?
  2. Share a compelling title from a blog post of one of your favorite bloggers. Why did it appeal to you? Share the link to the blog post, if possible.
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Comments

  1. I love reading through and I believe this website got some genuinely utilitarian stuff on it! .

  2. My favorite title I have is “The Candy Missionary”, though I do find I struggle with finding Titles that sound catchy and bring in a good SEO. If you could share more about what makes a it a great SEO title that would be awesome! I do believe I will start watching for catchy titles so I get inspired! Great post.

  3. Sometimes we can have analysis paralysis when it comes to titles. I really like this resource: https://coschedule.com/headline-analyzer

    When I am participating in writing challenges and limited on time, the Headline Analyzer tool is a quick way to check myself on my titles, but it is not foolproof. The tool scores titles based on several key words—power words, common words, etc., which should typically be in a catchy blog post title. But our best writing is not always going to fit into a formula.

    The good news is that we can go back and change a title—a blog post is “living”. The bad news is that if we shared that blog link and the title changed, the link could no longer match the title, unless we intentionally keep the old title as the link.

  4. My struggle is how long is too long for a title? I usually keep them short, but I think I miss it altogether because of that sometimes.

    • Sarah, I have seen a mix of both long and short titles that work. It’s less about the length (though that matters) and more about the fresh hook.

  5. These are great reminders! I write blog posts for my current p/t job, so your information here is great! Thank you!!

  6. When I first started my blog, I tended to use short, creative, fun titles. I thought if they were somewhat vague, people would be inclined to read the post to know more. Now that I’m learning more about how to attract readers, I recognize the value of longer and more specific titles. In fact, I went back through my old posts and added a “sub-title” to them so that people scrolling through them would find it easier to know what the post was about. Here’s an example: A Big Hit – trusting God to use you where you are or The Dreaded Red Pen – submitting to God’s will.

    I’ve recently started using this headline analyzer. I honestly don’t know if it’s impacting my reach or visibility, but at least I’m making an attempt. https://headlines.sharethrough.com/

  7. Nancy Ehlinger: October 2, 2018 at 8:05 am

    “What Stones are you Holding?” I would go back and develop the piece more. It had good traction but not enough content.

    I have been following this blog for about a year. Jimmy has such a wonderful way with words. One of his recent blogs, “The Now” was a favorite.
    https://jimmyleepatterson.wordpress.com/2018/09/21/the-now/

  8. To celebrate my 65 birthday I wrote ” I’m Not Gonna Take This Aging Thing Lying Down” on https://susanlfink.blogspot.com. After reading the above examples and learning a bit more about SEOs, I feel my attempt at a funny title would just confuse potential readers. Perhaps “Embracing Aging with Humor” would better describe the piece?

  9. I posted a piece called “Asleep in the Backseat”. It referred to a story I told in the post, but did not make it clear what the topic or spiritual concept was. Nor did it arouse much curiosity. If I were to be posting that piece again for the first time, I would retitle it.

    “Productivity and How I {Don’t} Do it All” by Michelle Cushatt is a title I find really compelling. Most women can relate to feeling overwhelmed by all that we think we are supposed to do, and we believe that somehow other women are managing to do it! The title appeals to our need for rest, for permission to choose what to say ‘yes’ to.

  10. Suzie, do you write the blog then title it? Or do you come up with a catchy title that fits the subject then write the blog? Chicken or the egg scenario!!

    • Barb, I write the blog and then title it. I may have an idea of a title for certain, but I let the content and the need drive the title.

  11. Thanks for these tips. I think writing a good title is the hardest part of blogging. I would love any other tips you have on this subject. 🙂

    • I agree! Titles are so hard, and in the past, I just used what felt right. I’m learning there is so much more to think about.