What do you consider the most crucial factor in attracting new visitors to your blog or website?
Many may immediately say, ‘content.’
However, content is not always king.
An essential element that nearly every visitor encounters first before deciding to read a blog post in depth exists.
Crafting Compelling Titles for Your Blog Posts
Why Great Blog Post Titles Are Essential…
“On average, 5x as many people read the title as read the body copy. When you’ve written your headline, you’ve spent eighty cents out of your dollar.”
— David Ogilvy
Indeed, the secret lies in your blog post titles. Craft captivating titles, and you will witness a surge in new visitors eager to read your posts and explore your website.
I don’t know about you, but some blog post titles can make me sleepy, especially when they have been used repeatedly.
Blog Post Titles: The Equivalent of Book and Movie Titles
I consider blog post titles akin to the titles of books or movies. If a title captures my interest, I am likely to begin reading the book or watch the film.
Titles are as significant as the content itself, yet many bloggers give their blog post titles little, if any, thought. Master both, and you’re on the path to success.
If your blog post title isn’t engaging, how many potential new and existing visitors will scroll past it without a second thought?
I often find myself doing the same. If a title fails to grab my attention, I quickly move on.
Think about this: how many visitors to your blog are likely to do the same?
Tip: When creating titles for your blog posts, consider what title would motivate you to click on the ‘read more’ link.
Strategies to Make Your Blog Post Titles More Enticing
Certain words in blog post titles can attract readers’ interest in learning more. Here are a few examples:
- How
- How to
- When
- Have
- Have you
- Don’t
- Did
- Do you
- This
- This is
- Who
- Why
- What
- Where
Additional Techniques to Enhance Your Blog Post Titles
Incorporate Numbers
Numbers can greatly affect the effectiveness of your titles. Think about these two examples:
My thoughts on Ways to Get People to Read Your Blog Posts.
7 Blogging Tips That Will Boost Your Post Engagement And Get Visitors Reading Your Blog.
According to Janice Wald of MostlyBlogging.com, odd numbers generally perform better than even numbers in titles, with prime numbers yielding even greater results.
Odd numbers tend to attract more attention as they seem less predictable compared to even numbers.
Tip: Opt for numerals instead of spelling them out when using numbers. Digits tend to stand out more in headlines and require less space.
Utilise Hashtags
Hashtags can enhance your blog post titles, aiding both SEO and drawing in visitors seeking specific topics.
Explore trending hashtags around your post’s publication time. Bluesky and X are great resources for identifying these trends, but always ensure your hashtags are relevant to your content.
Warning: Excessive hashtags can lead to search engines flagging your post as spam. To maintain a professional appearance, limit yourself to no more than three hashtags in your blog post title.
Incorporate Bluesky and X Usernames
If you mention someone in your blog post with a Bluesky or X account, including their handle in the title can be beneficial. When your post is shared, the individual mentioned receives a notification and may expand your reach by resharing it.
For example, when writing a book review, in the blog post title, include the Bluesky or X handle of the author.
Optimise Word Count
Research from CoSchedule.Com suggests that blog post titles around 55 characters long typically earn the highest click-through rates. Titles within six to ten words also tend to yield better engagement.
To establish a foundation for creating your blog post titles, consider these templates:
- How To ____
- How To Find ____
- How To Completely Change ____
- How To Create ____
- How To Use ____
- How To Get Rid Of ____
- How I Made ____
- How To Save ____
- How To Help ____
- How To Develop ____
- What To Do With ____
- Here’s How To ____
- Where To Find ____
- What No One Tells You About ____
- (#) Questions You Should Ask Before ____
- (#) Secrets To ____
- (#) Signs You Might ____
- (#) Rules For ____
- (#) Facts About ____
- (#) Ideas For/To ____
- (#) Essential Steps For/To ____
- (#) Foolproof Tips For ____
- (#) Handy Tips For ____
- (#) Tricks For ____
- (#) Key Benefits For ____
- (#) Reasons You ____
- (#) Wrong Ways To ____
- (#) Most Popular ____
- (#) Tips For ____
- (#) ____ Mistakes You Won’t Make Again
- (#) Things I’ve Learned This Month
- Why My Weekend Was Amazing
- You’ll Never Believe What Happened Last Week
- Why This Is The Only Chocolate Chip Recipe You Need
- Meet ____ ____ Who Reveals Their Writing Secrets
- Why I’m Recommending These (#) TV Shows to Fans of ____
- Book Review: (#) Reasons I’m Giving ____ by ____ ____ (insert Bluesky or X username) 5 Stars
(Remember to insert a number in place of (#).)
I’ve used many of these title ideas and seen excellent results. My titles frequently include words that draw readers in.
Warning: Always remember to add a title to your blog post. Any title is better than having none. WordPress replaces empty titles with a five-digit number, which does not encourage visitors to click the ‘read more’ link.
AI – can it help with blog post titles?
Yes, it can.
Did you know that WordPress has an AI block? Just ask it to suggest a title for your post, and see the result.
Not sure how to use AI on WordPress? Check out this excellent post from Fedora, who blogs at Fedora Pancakes – ‘A Guide to WordPress.com’s AI Assistant.‘
Conclusion
- Blog post titles are the first impression for visitors; make them as compelling as possible.
- Titles are as important as the content of your posts.
- Consider what would encourage you to click ‘read more’ when crafting a title.
- A poorly chosen title could mean missing out on countless new readers, likes, and comments.
- Ensure every post has a title; it doesn’t have to be perfect—just better than a default number.
- Use engaging words like How, What, Why, and Where to entice clicks.
- Odd numbers usually outperform even numbers in titles, making them more appealing.
- Use numerals for numbers in titles for better visibility.
- Keep hashtags limited to three to avoid looking spammy.
- Mentioning Bluesky and X usernames can help boost your post’s visibility on social media.
- Use AI to help generate blog post titles.
How do you generate titles for your blog posts? Are there any extra strategies you would like to share or questions about title creation? Join the conversation in the comments!
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Hugh's Views & News 
The most traffic I have received was for a post I purposely titled “bear three way”. I was quite the malapert.
I can understand why.
What an insightful post, Hugh! Thank you so much! I can see some changes coming to my post titles now! Cher xoxoxo
Good to hear. Glad this has been helpful, Cher. Enjoy creating those new blog post titles.
Thank you, Hugh! I hope all is well on your side of the pond. It’s quite “chaotic” over here as I’m sure you know! Cher xoxoxo
Yes, I’ve heard and seen the chaos going on, Cher. It’s difficult to comprehend how it was allowed to happen.
Take good care.
Thank you so much, Hugh. I can truly say that it feels surreal. I would never have imagined it could be this way. Thank you, Hugh. Much appreciated. Cher xoxoxo
I greatly appreciate your helpful post.
Just one thing, though. My blog is a mixture of many things. Sometimes I might post some of my writing, and another a memory from the past. Occasionally, I’ll do a post about British wild flowers, or some historical event, often, but not always, associated with my books. Or I’ll post a favourite recipe.
Your list is mainly useful for people who are posting help posts, which mine aren’t. Do you have any suggestions for people like me who are blogging to connect with potential readers of my books?
Likewise, my blog covers many subjects, but I always strive to create engaging titles for each post. I often ask a question in my titles or include keywords related to the subject I’m writing about. That’s where Bluesky and X come in handy (although I don’t use X anymore) because they list trending keywords (or hashtags). In the case of Bluesky, they provide popular trending keywords every 30 minutes.
In the case of creating titles for potential readers of your books, something like – ‘Unlock a New World: Discover my Must-Read Book That Will Captivate Your Imagination.’ Or you could list some reasons new readers may like to read your books – ‘7 Compelling Reasons Why You Will Fall in Love with My Book.’ Those are just two suggestions, but playing with the words may create something better.
Thank you for those suggestions. I’ll think hard for something along those lines.
You’re welcome. There is always a way and something we can do to improve titles until we’re happy with them.
I sometimes struggle for titles, and I appreciate your advice and tips, Hugh. I like to keep my titles short and catchy. I haven’t used AI for titles yet, however, I will consider it when I write my next post.
Short and catchy are good, Eugi. Top-heavy titles not only look overwhelming but can cause visitors to quickly pass by.
I hope you find AI a helpful tool for writing blog post titles. You don’t need to use what it comes up with, but it can spark ideas for a better title.
Thank you, Hugh.
I always try to create a fun title, sometimes using a song title, like I did for this week’s post, “Walk on the wild(flower) side” and I like having a little fun or being witty with my Wordless Wednesday posts which are usually about birds or critters of some type.
Every aspect of blogging should be about having fun. So, good for you, Linda. Keep on enjoying what you’re doing.
Thank you Hugh – I have to keep some whimsy in my blog posts since “Whimsy” is in the title of my blog.
Excellent points for writing a compelling title, Hugh. In my case, I choose to use “Sunday Stills” then I try to add a title that explains the theme. Then I ask those who participate NOT to use my same title. I see a lot of this in many challenges. Why wouldn’t a blogger want to use their own unique title?
Something else of note, did you know that song titles are not copyrighted? Lyrics are, with harsh copyright infringement penalties, but song titles are OK to use.
I didn’t know that song titles are not copyrighted, Terri. I guess it makes sense, given that many songs have the same title. However, I’m always shocked by how many bloggers publish song lyrics in their blog posts, thus opening themselves to copyright infringement. I’ve even seen a blogging challenge that encourages participants to include song lyrics in their posts.
Duplicated blog post titles are rated lower with SEOs, so I see your point in asking participants of Sunday Stills not to use the same blog post title as you. There is only so much we can do in asking and trying to help, though. We can all but try and ask.
I wonder which post ranks higher if there is a duplicate title, the one that published first?
That, I do not know, Terri. However, once the title is duplicated, both posts fall down the ranking list. It’s one of the reasons why I got rid of the ‘reblog’ button. When I used to reblog, I always changed the title by adding Reshare or Reblog, just so the title was not duplicated.
It’s amazing what we have to consider in the blog world!
As bloggers, we have to wear many hats, Terri.
Hi Hugh,
I’ve used the AI title feature. Even if I don’t go with its suggestion it often has me rethinking my title.
My more favourite WordPress feature is the grammar, editor. (sentence shortener) 😆 I’m notoriously terrible at composing long winded sentences.
Yes, I can be guilty of writing sentences that are way too long, Kevin. AI is great at getting rid of all those redundant words.
I’ve used the AI title feature, but wasn’t aware of the grammar editor.
Thanks again for another helpful post about how to better utilize the features on WordPress. I am going to try the AI for titles the next time I write!
I hope you see the benefits, Michael.
I do notice the effect of a good title, but I usually don’t spend much time thinking about it. I guess I should think about that. Thanks.
Give it a try, Dan. Although I don’t allow finding a good blog post to stress me, I enjoy writing them. I see them as I do with writing a title for a new chapter in a book. It’s all about hooking your reader in.
Titles are the first and maybe only thing one reads. So keep them attracting. Your suggestions with questions like “how to” or to include numbers are very good. Thanks for the support, Hugh!
So true about the only thing some visitors will read, Erika. That’s why titles are as important as content. You have to pass the title to get to the blog post.
Exactly! It is the entrance or exit…
I love the way you put it.
Thank you, Hugh!
My most viewed post is “My life in Tuna Noodle Casserole” so I’d say beginning a post with “My life ….” can work if the follow up is something tasty. I’m a little afraid of AI, Hugh. I’m AI Phobic.
The keywords could be Tuna, Noodle, or Casserole, as anything related to food performs well with SEOs.
I’d recommend not being afraid of AI. So long as you make it work for you rather than you work for it, you’ll be fine. I only use it for a few things like checking grammar and spelling, cutting sentences shorter, and, of course, writing blog post titles.
You’re so right, Hugh. Titles are the first things a reader sees and so they need to work to catch the reader’s eye. Your advice here makes us look at them at an even deeper level. Thank you for all the useful tips.
Thanks, Esther. I’m glad this post has helped.
Thanks for this post, Hugh. I generally start with keyword research, dream up a title as as starting point, and then play with different options in WordPress to find one with a decent score.
I do think people go a little overboard with titles, though. I’ve seen things like “10 mindblowing cleaning hacks”. I don’t know about you, but I’ve yet to find a cleaning hacks that has blown my mind…or got me overly excited in any way. 😂
I agree, Michelle; while many readers find words like ‘mind-blowing’ irresistible and will click to learn more, it’s more about attracting visitors to your blog rather than having them pass by quickly because of dull and boring blog post titles. The title of a post often does little to encourage them to explore further.
It sounds like you’re already working on creating blog post titles that will hook visitors’ attention, encourage them to read the post, and, hopefully, sign up to receive more.
I tried the WordPress AI title, not bad, but not sure if it roped in any new readers.
It can takes a bit of time, Phil. I’ve certainly seen my stats increase since using it.
Than you for sharing, Hugh. This is great information!
You’re very welcome, Jan.
Thanks Hugh. Some of this information is new to me. Putting good advice to work, I immediately, changed the title and word length of my post for today so it was more engaging and contained a prime number of words. Lets see how it works?
Great work, Danny. It may take a few posts before you see good results, but my stats certainly went in the right direction when I started applying much of the advice in this post to my blog post titles.
Hugh, might be some truth to this. It is a niche post but it is getting a lot of activity than I was anticipating.
That’s excellent news, Danny. I hope it continues.
Thank you for letting me know.
Hi Hugh,
I think my titles could be better, but, while super helpful for how-to articles and non-fiction pieces, your tricks might not work for experience-based blog posts like mine. I will check out the AI title generator next time and see what it comes up with. Thanks for the tips and suggestions, as always.
I completely agree, Liesbet. These tips are essential for anyone looking to significantly expand their readership and actively build their communities. While some bloggers are content with their current audience and don’t prioritise growth, the decision truly hinges on the focus of one’s blog.
Excellent advice, as always, and some new things to try. I wasn’t aware of the AI block in WordPress!
Thank you for sharing.
The AI Block can come in very handy, Jacqueline. I wouldn’t use it to write a post, but it certainly can help with checking grammar and spelling issues as well as give you new ideas or mention items you may have forgotten to add to your post.
Brilliant, I shall give it a try.
I’m old school when it comes to AI – I prefer human-crafted posts, but I am not averse to using it as a tool.
Thanks, Hugh.
Huge thanks for the shoutout and for linking to my post about the AI Assistant WordPress guide. That means a lot to me ❤️
You’re welcome. It’s an excellent article and deserved a share.
Naw, thank you 🥰🎉😁
Hadn’t thought of AI for titles. I’ve been avoiding AI in general, but I struggle with titles so I might give this a go. Thanks for the tip.
I use AI as I do Grammarly. It helps with suggestions when I can not think of what to use, especially when it comes to writing excerpts or titles for my posts.