This is an excerpt from the mini-ebook "Ten Powerful Ways to Make Your Blog Posts
Stronger", which you can download for free from aliventures.com/newsletter-secret (use the password alinewsletter).
Many bloggers, particularly newer bloggers, write boring (though accurate)
titles.
Even if you’ve been blogging for a while and got better at crafting post titles along the way, you probably haven’t been back to spruce up the titles of your earlier posts?
Titles, or headlines, are immensely important: most readers will only see the title of your post before deciding whether or not to read it.
How I Crafted This Mini-Ebook’s Title
If I’d called this mini-ebook “Improve Every Blog Post” ... would it have sounded so interesting? The title would have been perfectly accurate,
but not especially compelling.
Instead, I called it “Ten Powerful Ways to Make Your Blog Posts Stronger”. Why does that work?
- I used a number. If you look at any magazine cover, you’ll see that numbers are particularly engaging for readers (especially big numbers).
- I used “powerful” - an attention-grabbing word, especially when combined with “stronger”. “Ten Ways” isn’t quite so interesting as “Ten
Powerful Ways”.
- I used “your” - because I know you’re not interested in the theory of blogging but in practical ways to make your blog even better.
Easy Tricks for Great Titles
If you find it tough to write great titles, don’t despair: most bloggers find this hard (me included). It can take time to come up with a really good, attention-grabbing title, though there are a few tricks which you can use to help:
- “How to...” or “How I...” posts are always
popular: they make a clear promise of a specific outcome (“learn how to do this thing”) and they’re also easy for you to structure, step by step.
- Numbers grab attention and also add specificity: “ten tips” is better than “tips” because you know exactly what to expect.
- Certain nouns are more intriguing than others: ten secrets vs ten ideas, for instance.
- Adjectives can strengthen the promise of a title: powerful, little-known, unusual, straightforward ...
- Questions pretty much force the reader to start engaging. (“Is Blogging Dead?” for instance – though keep in mind that questions can be overused in this way.)
If you come across a title that works well, swipe it! Switch a few words around to create your own unique spin on that title. For instance: Ten Powerful Ways to Make Your Blog
Posts Stronger could become:
- Ten Powerful Ways to Create a Strong Writing Habit (writing blog)
- Ten Powerful Ways to Strengthen Your Child’s Self-Esteem (parenting blog)
- Eight Powerful Ways to Be More Mindful Today (lifestyle / personal development blog)
- Seven Thoughtful Ways to Make Someone’s Day (non-profit blog)
Important: Your post needs to live up to the promise made in the title. A post titled “Everything You Need to Know About Ski-ing” that only covers a few common-sense basics will leave readers disappointed.
Exercise
Go through the five most recent posts on your blog. Are the titles as compelling as they could be? Tweak any which aren’t: try adding a number where appropriate, an adjective, or a stronger noun.
Further Reading
Straightforward but detailed advice, with plenty of examples along the way. Corey includes advice on search engine optimisation and on encouraging social shares.
