Comments on: How to Write Effective Titles for Magazine Articles and Blog Posts

By: Sara Bimmel

Sara Bimmel — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 03:44:44 +0000

Thanks for the great comments and feedback, everyone! When writing blog posts, I’ve also found that titles that either start with “How to…” or are a numbered lists (“10 Great Ways…”) tend to be among the most read posts.
Sara Bimmel´s last blog post ..32 Bizarre and Fascinating Facts about Thanksgiving

By: Omar

Omar — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 16:04:35 +0000

Earlier this morning I couldn’t think of a title for my blog post. It was too bland or boring. Thanks for the tips.
Omar´s last blog post ..Uncomfortable With Comfortable

By: George Angus

George Angus — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 15:20:37 +0000

Hi Laurie,

I’m very lucky to have some kind of gift in this area. Often, a post title pops into my head and I’ll formulate an article around that. I’ve had some beauty titles in the past and it is a part of blogging that I really enjoy!

George
George Angus´s last blog post ..A Roarin’ New Blog of the Week

By: Laurie PK

Laurie PK — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 15:19:29 +0000

I think the article or story needs to determine the title. For instance, if you’re writing a title for the cover of a magazine, you can get creative. But if you’re writing a title of a blog post that you want readers to find on Google, I think you need to be direct and specific (and a little boring).

Thanks for your comments, everyone — it’s great to hear different perspectives
Laurie PK´s last blog post ..How to Spend Less at Christmas – Money Tips for Couples

By: Crtystal R. Martin

Crtystal R. Martin — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 01:09:12 +0000

Hey Sarah, Thanks for some great ideas and things to keep in mind. Unfortunately now I have to go write that essay.
Crtystal R. Martin´s last blog post ..College kills – Or that is my belief at the moment

By: Ryan

Ryan — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 16:18:08 +0000

Sara,

I think that it’s a balance between not being too boring yet not going off topic. Some authors try to hard to be clever and it shows in the title.
Ryan´s last blog post ..An Iconic Lion unveiled at NYC Library

By: Rebecca

Rebecca — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 14:44:11 +0000

Thanks for the reminder about How to write effective titles for magazines and blog posts. Sometimes the “how to” is too boring. Then again, you can try to be controversial and it may backfire on you. It’s trial and error. Then again, my “Travel Writer Struck by Lightening Finds Antidote” title draws people to the article posted on Affsphere.
Rebecca´s last blog post ..Freelance Writing from Home Saves Money

By: Ed Martin

Ed Martin — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 21:30:41 +0000

There are so many different approaches to titles. Do you write a “how to” tile, or ask a question or try to be controversial, or pack in keywords? Ugh! I like start off writing with a title so I know what I’m writing about, then when I’m done go back and figure out how to make it a good title. I’m always torn between the titles I like and the ones I know I should write to because some expert says it should be that way.
It was the “tips” part of the title for this blog post that caught my eye. Tbanks for sharing!
Ed Martin´s last blog post ..How to Safely Manage Your Money – 8 Things You Can Do Now

By: Jim Lochner

Jim Lochner — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:14:10 +0000

Ugh, those bloody titles! Something I always have trouble with, whether it’s articles or blog posts. Clever or to the point? Subtle or controversial? A quote or something original?

Toughest for me are my blog posts. Since I blog about film music, the title of the film is usually in there somewhere. It helps with search engines and Twitter notifications, but I’m don’t know if it grabs people to read any more than something more original would do. I’ve tried both and both seem to work about the same, traffic-wise.

Either way, invariably I suck at it but I keep plugging away.
Jim Lochner´s last blog post ..CD Review: The Twilight Saga: New Moon