How to Title Blog Posts with Hooks that Reel in Readers
No one wants to read a blog with a boring title. No one wants to feel duped by a clickbait or a bait-and-switch title that caught their attention but left them in the cold. So how do you create a truthful but honest title that provides exactly all the excitement you're promising?
Getting the title right can be the difference between going viral and getting lost in the noise. But as you start to learn the hows and whys of writing attention-grabbing blog titles, you'll begin crafting great titles in much less time.
The Psychology of Catchy Blog Titles
The human brain does some crazy things – including judging a book by its cover without intending to or without understanding why. Humans have the ability to make snap judgments that are eerily accurate – but that also means that the initial impression you give to a reader can have a long-lasting impact.
You have to draw the line between catchy and misleading and make sure you're on the right side – or else every other word you say will leave the same icky feeling with your reader and make them not really want to come back. You may get more clicks and shares with the click-bait title, but you won't build a loyal following that way.
To write the best headline, you have to keep in mind that the human brain has natural reactions that you need to play into to make the most effect. For example, in this study, they found that titles that are concise, with short words, and that DON'T contain typical clickbait phrases like “you won't believe” actually performed the best.
One of the biggest impacts on whether or not someone chooses to read your blog is the curiosity your headline creates. In this study, they found that emotional arousal like the more typical shocking clickbait-style title does have an affect on whether or not someone will click to read your blog, but significantly less than plain curiosity. This confirms that your better off crafting a compelling and curiosity-driven headline rather than one that triggers significant emotion.
Proven Formulas for Irresistible Blog Titles
The “How-To” Title Formula
This is a pretty common blog title formula that I can guarantee you've seen and clicked on before. This blog post uses the How-to formula in the title! The key to keep in mind is that even though you're using a straightforward formula, you still need to add that curiosity element to make it more clickable.
“How to Write Blog Post Titles” on its own, while helpful, does not really intrigue enough to encourage clicks and doesn't give much information about what type of blog post titles you'd be learning how to create. In the title for this blog, you know that you're learning how to write catchy titles, not super informative news titles.
The structure is straightforward, but that extra magic lies in your ability to add an element of curiosity to elevate it beyond the ordinary. Here are some examples of this in action:
| Original How-To Title | How-to Curiosity Variation |
|---|---|
| How to Start a Blog | How to Start a Blog and Make Money in 3 Months |
| How to Write a Cover Letter | How to Write a Cover Letter That Lands You the Interview |
| How to Save Money | How to Save $500 a Month with These 5 Simple Hacks |
| How to Decorate a Bedroom | How to Decorate Your Bedroom for a Luxe Look on a Budget |
| How to Cook Healthy Meals | How to Cook Healthy Meals in 20 Minutes or Less |
The “List” Title Formula
There is something about lists that people just love. They present with clarity, set expectations, incite curiosity (do I know all 7 things on this list?), and provide multiple solutions in a very organized and easy-to-process way.
When using the List title formula, it's important to search and see what the other ranking blogs use for their titles. Do they use lists? If not, why? Are you approaching it in a new and unique way, or are you trying to force a list where it doesn't belong?
The List title formula has to be used carefully. The tendency is for everyone to one-up the top listing with the longest list and just beat out everyone in numbers. If you have 10 items on a list, I have 11, and so on.
But no one wants to read 33 reasons to… 77 ways to…
So when you use lists as the main focus of your blog title, you can't rely just on beating the top list on Google, you also need to have the most intriguing angle and the most interesting article.
| Draft Title | Optimized Title |
| How to Increase Your Website Traffic | 10 Proven Strategies to Increase Your Website Traffic in 30 Days |
| Affordable European Cities to Consider | 5 Affordable Cities to Live in Europe for Remote Workers |
| Simple Tips for Retirement Savings | 7 Creative Ways to Save for Retirement Starting Today |
| Dinner Ideas for Busy Nights | 15 Quick Recipes for Busy Weeknight Dinners |
The “Question” Title Formula
Question titles like “Are You Making These Blogging Mistakes?” are effective because they lead to direct engagement. The question prompts an immediate subconscious internal response. This personal engagement makes the content feel more relevant and interactive.
Such titles also encourage self-reflection. Readers are compelled to assess their own knowledge or behaviors, which increases their curiosity about what they may not know or could be doing incorrectly. This reflection drives them to seek answers in the content.
Following along with George Loewenstein's Information Gap Theory, question-based titles generate curiosity by creating a gap between what people know and what they want to know. This gap motivates readers to close it by seeking information, making them more likely to engage with the article.
Questions also appeal to the human tendency to solve problems. When a title suggests that readers might be making mistakes, it not only piques interest but also calls on them to discover solutions and avoid potential pitfalls, aligning with their intrinsic problem-solving nature.
And, when a title implies that missing the content could lead to adverse outcomes, it adds urgency to the reading experience. This sense of importance compels readers to click through and absorb the content, worried they might miss out on crucial information (FOMO).
| Draft Titles | Optimized Titles |
|---|---|
| Tips for Better Sleep | Are You Ignoring These Proven Tips for Better Sleep? |
| Ways to Save Money on Groceries | What Money Mistakes Are You Making at the Grocery Store? |
| Improving Your Writing Skills | Are You Still Making These Common Writing Errors? |
| Techniques for Faster Running | Do You Know These Secret Techniques to Run Faster? |
| Effective Social Media Marketing Strategies | Have You Started Using These Strategies for Viral Social Media Marketing? |
The “Shocking Fact” Title Formula
The “Shocking Fact” title formula is meant to intrigue readers by presenting something astonishing or unexpected right in the headline. Titles like “You'll Never Believe What This Blogger Did to Get More Readers” leverage the power of surprise to lure readers into clicking through to discover the underlying story. This formula works because it plays on human curiosity and the natural attraction to the unusual or sensational.
When creating a “Shocking Fact” title, make sure the content delivers on the headline's promise. The revealed fact must *actually* be surprising or highly interesting to avoid disappointing readers, which harms credibility and reader trust. Make sure you use this title formula judiciously to balance curiosity and sensationalism. Overusing this method or employing clickbait tactics can lead to reader fatigue and decreased engagement over time.
Does your niche not have a lot of announcements or news? Skip this formula to stay true to your readers.
| Draft Titles | Optimized Titles |
|---|---|
| Discoveries in Deep Sea Exploration | Scientists Stunned by Bizarre Creatures Found in the Deep Sea! |
| Recent Advances in Artificial Intelligence | AI Can Now Predict Your Behavior – Here's How! |
| Trends in Global Energy Consumption | Shocking Report Reveals Unexpected Leader in Global Energy Use! |
| Breakthroughs in Cancer Treatment | Groundbreaking Cancer Treatment Achieves 90% Remission Rate! |
| The Rise of Remote Work | Remote Work Explosion Leads to Surprising Economic Shifts! |
Power Words and Phrases to Supercharge Your Titles
Crafting compelling titles for your blog posts or articles goes beyond just sharing the topic. It's about creating an irresistible invite.
Power Words grab attention with their strong and action-driven nature. They work well in titles that aim to convey power or effectiveness, like “Transforming Your Habits for Maximum Productivity.” Use power words like “Discover” and “Master” to boost your titles' appeal.
Emotion Words create a connection on an emotional level, resonating with readers through shared feelings or reactions, such as “Touching Stories from Across the Globe.”
Unusual Words are those that stand out because of their rarity or uniqueness. They pique curiosity and can add an element of intrigue to a title, like “Discovering the Enigmatic Secrets of Ancient Civilizations.”
Integrate these elements to transform your titles into attention-grabbing hooks that drive traffic and blend them naturally within your content to maintain authenticity and trust with your audience.
| Power Words | Emotion Words | Unusual Words |
|---|---|---|
| Transform | Astonishing | Unearth |
| Master | Heartbreaking | Mystifying |
| Triumph | Joyous | Whimsical |
| Ignite | Terrifying | Breathtaking |
| Propel | Exhilarating | Cryptic |
| Conquer | Serene | Zany |
| Dominate | Melancholic | Quirky |
| Accelerate | Blissful | Enigmatic |
| Amplify | Sorrowful | Bewildering |
| Revolutionize | Ecstatic | Peculiar |
Optimizing Titles for Search Engines
Craft compelling titles by researching keywords that resonate with your audience. Utilize free tools like Google Keyword Planner to discover relevant terms for optimizing your content but make sure you seamlessly integrate keywords into your titles to enhance SEO performance without sounding fake. By incorporating keywords naturally, you can boost your visibility and attract a more targeted audience to your website.
Craft engaging and concise titles under 60 characters to attract more readers effectively and prevent the titles from getting cut off in Google search results, which clip titles after a certain number of characters.
Optimize by placing primary keywords at the beginning for higher visibility and to get attention quickly. Most readers will be skimming the results so your strongest copy needs to be at the beginning of your title or it could get clipped or lost on the page.
Sure, here are drafts for the two H2 sections as per your request:
Analyzing Your Competition's Titles
To stand out in your niche, it's important to understand what makes your competitors' titles effective and understand what they're doing. Start by analyzing the top-performing content in your area. Check out the titles on the first page of search results or those getting lots of engagement on social media. Look for common patterns like specific keywords, length, tone, and formatting.
This analysis will give you insights into what your target audience likes and is looking for. Once you have this info, tweak and improve your own titles. By learning from what works for others, you can adjust your approach to follow successful trends or stand out in a unique way.
Testing and Refining Your Titles
Take a continuous improvement approach to make sure your titles work their best by testing and refining them. A/B testing is a great tool for this. Try out different versions of your titles on the same content to see which one gets more clicks and engagement. This helps you compare different wording, structures, or strategies directly.
Once you have the data from these tests, analyze it to figure out what title attributes your audience likes the most. Check metrics like clicks, time on page, and social shares. This data will help you keep improving your titles. It's an ongoing process—always look for ways to tweak and enhance your titles based on the latest results and insights.
FAQs
How long should a blog title be?
Ideally, a blog title should be concise and direct, typically between 50 to 60 characters. This length ensures the full title can be displayed in search engine results and social media feeds without being cut off, which is important for maintaining context and attracting clicks.
Should I use numbers or spell out words in my titles?
Using numbers rather than spelling out numbers in your titles is generally more effective. Numerals stand out more visually in a line of text, making your title more eye-catching. For example, “5 Tips for Better Sleep” is likely to grab more attention than “Five Tips for Better Sleep.”
Is it better to use questions or statements in my titles?
The choice between using questions or statements in your titles depends on the goal of your content. Question titles can be very engaging as they invoke curiosity and encourage the reader to seek answers. Statements, however, can be powerful if they are assertive and clear. Consider your audience and the purpose of your article to decide which approach is better for that article.
How often should I update or change my blog titles?
You should consider updating or changing your blog titles if they are not performing well in terms of SEO or user engagement. Regular reviews of your content's performance can help you decide when a title might need a refresh. Also, if the content of the post has been significantly updated or repurposed, revising the title to reflect these changes can be beneficial.
For posts that are performing well, you don't really want to change the titles at all unless you've materially changed the content of the post. Proofreading your blog using some of these techniques can help make sure that you have thoroughly covered your topic in a logical way without having to go back and do rewrites after the fact.
Every time you make a change on your blog, you'll want to wait 3-6 months before making another change because of the lag in search engine updates – unless you're getting significant amounts of traffic and can see significant results in shorter time periods.
Can I use the same title formula for every post?
While having a consistent style can be good for branding, you should vary your title formulas to keep your content fresh. Having the same style of title every time is going to get boring for your loyal readers and doesn't maximize the impact you can have by changing up the title formula based on the article content.
