If you’ve written a great piece for your website you may think your hard work is done. Wrong. Successful content writers know that without a standout title, you have little chance of hooking readers. If your title is dull, confusing, or vague, it won’t matter how fantastic your content is—readers will simply move on to the next link that catches their attention and your blog will languish in obscurity.
Well-written titles force casual web surfers to notice your site. Think of it as your shot at a stellar first impression. It takes only seconds for a potential visitor to decide if they’re going to click on your link or if they’re going to continue scrolling through the search results. A strong title not only gets visitors to check out your blog entry, but encourages them to take a look at past entries and explore your web site.
Writing a captivating title involves more than just summarizing what your post is about. When you create a title you must consider both the reader and the search engines. With a bit of practice, you’ll be able to hit right balance with copy that appeals to both.
Never forget that your blog is meant to be read and understood by actual human beings. First and foremost you must make sure that you cover topics that are interesting and relevant to your audience’s needs. Put yourself in your readers’ place when you develop your next title. If your headline wouldn’t encourage you to read the rest of the piece, then it’s time to start over. You must do more than convince people to read your article—it’s important that the finished product delivers on the expectations created by your title.
Make sure your title lets the reader know what the article is about, but also convinces him that the information that follows is something that can’t be missed. Titles that appeal to the reader work well in conjunction with social media like Facebook and Twitter, where people share striking items with their friends. To grab the attention of today’s savvy internet user, be sure that you’re to-the-point, witty, and succinct.
To ensure you please the Search engines, you’ll want to integrate your target keywords. Keyword-rich headings are great for site indexing, but may turn off potential readers if you overdo it. The trick is to use one or two terms that fit naturally with the topic you are covering and save your other selected phrases for a different piece. By highlighting a keyword at the top of your piece, you increase the likelihood of your site being indexed for that term by the search engine’s indexing spiders.
If you need help developing great titles for your blog, never fear. Our team of skilled online content professionals at Content and Article Writing can help. We have over five years of experience writing for the web and can make sure that your web site not only attracts traffic, but is SEO friendly.
Sara Onderdonk is a member of the Content and Article Writers Network of Internet Writers and Bloggers. To learn more about the CAW Network go to http://www.ContentAndArticleWriters.com
