How to Write the Perfect Blog Post Title
Once you’ve settled on a topic, the next step is crafting an attention-grabbing yet descriptive title. Some people recommend writing the title first before drafting any content. Others suggest finalizing your title after writing the entire piece.
I tend to land somewhere in the middle: I like to have a working title in mind to guide the shape of the post, which often gets tweaked by the end as the piece evolves.
No matter when you settle on a final title, it plays a huge role in whether people will click on your content. So make it count!
Here are my top tips for writing a great blog post title:
Incorporate Keywords This is an on-page SEO no-brainer. Work your target keyword(s) into your title organically. This signals search engines what your content focuses on and boosts click-through rate from SERPs.
Just don’t over-optimize! Keyword stuffing looks spammy. Use keywords in a natural, conversational way.
Keep It Under 70 Characters I know, this feels crazy short. But anything over 60–70 characters risks getting cut off in search results. Keep your titles tight.
Use Numbers and Lists Blog post titles starting with numbers or containing lists consistently perform well. For example:
“7 Common Mistakes Beginner Bloggers Make” “10 Tips for Writing Catchy Blog Titles”
Aim for an odd number like 3, 5, 7, etc. Even numbers feel less specific for some reason.
Ask Questions Turning your title into a question is another way to pique reader curiosity. For example:
“Is Blogging Really Worth It? My Honest Take” “Are You Making These 5 Fatal Blogging Mistakes?”
Use Brackets and Parentheses
Enclosing supplemental information in brackets or parentheses allows you to include extra context while keeping titles clean. For example:
“How to Start a Blog [in 9 Super Simple Steps]” “5 Blogging Tips for Beginners (From a Full-Time Blogger)”
I also use this technique to incorporate keywords and related terminology.
Keep Testing Titles Don’t get too attached to any one title, even if you think it’s perfect. The great thing about blogging is you can change post titles anytime and see how they perform.
Try split testing a few options both before and after publishing to see which drives more traffic and engagement. Over time, you’ll get better at predicting which titles work well.
