With so many blogs in for readers to choose from, you need to make yours stand out from the rest by capturing a prospective reader’s attention from the outset. The body of your writing could be outstanding and chock full of information that is thought-provoking, interesting, and entertaining. If you can’t get anyone to read it, it simply doesn’t matter. Capture a reader’s attention and make them want to come closer by writing catchy blog post titles that bring them in to your blog.
Teach Your Readers Something New
Instructional titles are always a popular choice. People like to add to their base of knowledge, and a “How to” in the title can help to bring in some traffic. You could also offer “Tips for” doing something better. If you can tie your tips into something seasonal, you may see a spike in visits to your blog around that event. “Top 10 Ways to” do something are also good choices, since a reader is going to be curious about which items or activities made the list and whether he or she would have given it the same rank that you did.
Give Them a List
List titles are another good way to get someone’s attention and encourage him or her to click onto your blog. If you decide to go with this option, keep the blog title relatively short. You don’t want to give too much information away in the title. “Five Ways to;” “Seven Things You Need to; “Three Things to Stop Doing; these are all examples of list titles that will get someone’s interest.
Write Numbers in your Title
Readers are drawn to numbers in titles. Use them to draw the reader’s attention to your post.
Ask a Question
Using a conversational tone with a reader and asking questions is another effective strategy when creating titles for your blog posts. Engage your reader by “speaking” to them as if they were in the same room. “Do You Know….” can be the three words that can start off a great title for a blog post.
Get Personal in Your Choice of Material
Blogs are supposed to be about connecting with readers. They give the blogger a chance to write in a more casual tone than a web page, and you can use this to your advantage. By using “I” statements in your titles, you immediately connect with your readers. “I Didn’t Know How I was Going to Survive [Name of Challenge]” will make people curious about what the writer did to overcome the problem.
Use Time to Your Advantage
People want to save time or do things more quickly. Use this concept in your blog titles to attract their attention. “Five Minutes to a Flatter Tummy” or “Get Out the Door in Less than 20 Minutes” will get people clicking to find out what the secret is. If your title implies that you have knowledge that other people don’t, they will click through to your writing to avoid feeling left out.
Go for Controversy in your Title
There is a difference between opting for a controversial topic and simply being offensive. Some bloggers seem to enjoy the notoriety that goes with trying to push the envelope of good taste and stirring things up. If you try this tactic in your titles, you will find an audience, but it is not likely to lead to long-term readers.
There is a way to tackle controversial topics while still walking the fine line of being respectful. This is the one you should be taking if you decide to go this route. It will still bring in readers to your blog, and it will stimulate thoughtful discussions on the topic at hand.
Choosing a title for your post can be the most challenging part of the process. You want it to reflect what the body of the piece is about, while being enticing enough to draw in readers. These tips will help you accomplish both writing goals.
Author Bio: Leslie Anglesey is an educator, blogger and editor at www.essaytigers.com. She loves to share blog writing tips and will gladly connect with you on Google+.
