How to Create the Perfect Title for Your Article

Coming up with the ideal title for your article is one of the most important parts of the writing process. Your title is often the first thing readers see and it can make or break whether they actually read your content. A good title draws readers in, clearly conveys what the article is about, and boosts your article’s findability.

In this comprehensive guide we’ll walk through all the elements that go into crafting a compelling optimized article title.

Why Your Title Matters

Your title has a big impact on the success of your article. Here are some of the key reasons to pay attention to your headlines

• Attracts readers. Your title is your first chance to grab readers’ attention and get them intrigued enough to start reading. A dull or vague title often gets passed over.

• Describes your content. Readers rely on your headline to give them a sense of what your article is about and whether it’s relevant to their interests.

• Boosts search visibility. Search engines factor your title heavily into relevancy for keyword searches. Optimize for SEO with targeted keywords.

• Encourages social shares. A title that ignites interest motivates readers to share your article on social media. Snappy, emotional titles tend to get shared more.

• Sets reader expectations. Readers will be disappointed if your content doesn’t deliver on the promise of the title. Ensure your headline accurately reflects your article.

In short, a well-crafted title has immense power to make your article a success. Taking the time to get it right is worth the effort.

Title Length and Format

When it comes to title length, shorter is generally better. Concise titles are easier to read and remember. But avoid making your title so short that it becomes vague or cryptic.

Here are some title length guidelines to follow:

• Blog/articles: Up to 60 characters, about 6-12 words
• List posts: Up to 75 characters, about 8-15 words
• Ebooks/reports: 10-20 words
• Videos: Up to 70 characters, including spaces

In terms of capitalization, sentence case is recommended, where you capitalize only the first word and any proper nouns. Title case, where you capitalize each word, used to be popular but has fallen out of favor.

Only capitalize words that you want to emphasize and recurring keywords that help with SEO. Otherwise, sentence case looks cleaner and is easier to read.

Choosing the Right Title Type

There are various types of titles you can use, depending on your content format and goals.

Informative Titles

These straightforward, to-the-point headlines clearly describe what the piece is about. They work well for reporting on studies, events, how-to articles, and listicles.

• How to Lose Weight Fast: 10 Science-Backed Tips
• Study Finds Dog Owners Live Longer than Non-Dog Owners

Creative/Clever Titles

These catchy headlines take a more imaginative approach to spark reader curiosity. Often used for opinion pieces and personal essays.

• Why Procrastinators Procrastinate (And How Deadlines Save Them)
• The Late Age of Print

Question Headlines

Posing an intriguing question grabs attention and compels the reader to seek out the answer. Great for problem-focused or advice content.

• Is Social Media Making Us More Narcissistic?
• How Can Introverts Be More Confident at Networking Events?

Direct Headlines

Boldly state the core message. Especially good for political articles, calls to action, and high-value tips articles.

• It’s Time to Abandon Standardized Testing
• 7 Proven Ways to Grow Your Business Fast

List-Based Headlines

enumerated headlines promise the reader tactical, actionable advice.

• 15 Must-Read Classic Novels
• 5 Quick Daily Habits That Will Transform Your Morning

In many cases, you can combine these approaches. For example, a question headline that also states the number of tips.

Best Practices for Titling Your Article

Follow these tips when creating and evaluating potential titles:

• Focus on your audience – Will your target reader find this title interesting and relevant?

• Highlight the benefit – Convey what the reader will learn or get from your content.

• Use keywords – Include a few keywords and phrases that readers are searching for.

• Create an emotional hook – Trigger curiosity, amusement, surprise, or inspiration.

• Keep it simple – Opt for clear language over cleverness or cuteness. Avoid unfamiliar references.

• Make it specific – Vague titles won’t cut through the noise. Provide details.

• Avoid overpromising – Don’t mislead readers with exaggerations and unrealistic claims.

• Check the length – Adhere to character limits based on where you’re publishing.

• Use power words – Words like “secrets”, “proven”, “how to” attract attention.

• Run A/B tests – Try out multiple versions of a title to see which performs best.

Keyword Research for Title Optimization

Incorporating relevant keywords naturally into your headline provides SEO value and helps searchers find your content.

Do keyword research to identify high-volume terms and phrases people search for that relate to your article topic. Tools like Google Keyword Planner, Soovle, and SEMrush can help.

When inserting keywords:

• Focus on 1-2 primary keywords. Avoid awkward over-stuffing.

• Use keywords at the beginning of the title. This carries more weight.

• Include keyword variations and long-tail keywords for additional exposure.

Headline Templates to Spark Ideas

Here are some easy headline formulas you can use as a starting point:

• How to [action] [result]
• The [number] [adjective] [keywords] for [target]
• Is [concept X] Really the [adjective] Idea for [target]?
• The [adjective] Guide to [concept]
• Why [event/phenomenon] Proves [point]
• [Number] Ways/Tips/Examples to [achieve result]
• The [adjective] History of [concept]
• Everything You Need to Know About [topic]

Plug in relevant keywords and specifics for your content.

Tools to Help Craft Better Titles

While writing titles is an art and science that improves with practice, technology can also give you an edge. Here are some useful AI tools:

• SEMrush Title Generator – Creates optimized title options based on target keyword
• Upworthy Headline Generator – Generates viral headline ideas
• CoSchedule Headline Analyzer – Rates overall effectiveness of your headline
• Graphiq Title Maker – Tests headlines and predicts social media engagement

Try generating a few AI-assisted titles, then customize and improve them to fit your brand voice.

Tips for Revising Your Title

Even the most masterful writers rarely nail a title on the first try. Be prepared to rework and refine your headline over multiple drafts.

During the drafting phase:

• Write a working title then move on with your first draft
• Later, brainstorm a list of potential alternatives
• Let the title percolate as you develop your content

During the editing phase:

• Re-read the piece with fresh eyes and ask yourself: Does my title still fit?
• Share some headline options with colleagues to get input
• Test titles with target readers and see which pique interest
• Use data from title testing tools to inform your choice

Don’t get too attached to any one title idea. Be flexible and willing to change direction. Crafting a winning headline is all about trial and error.

Examples of Strong Article Titles

To help spark ideas for your own content, here are examples of some stellar article headlines across different topics and formats:

• “They Cracked This 250-Year-Old Code, and Found a Secret Society Inside” – Smithsonian Magazine
• “The Surprising Power of Simply Asking Coworkers How They’re Doing” – Harvard Business Review
• “24 Life Changing Pieces of Advice I Collected Over 24 Years” – Medium
• “Here’s How to Run Consistently Without Getting Injured”– Lifehacker
• “The Future of AI Depends on High-School Girls” – The New York Times
• “8 Morning Routines of Wildly Successful People (Infographic)” – Entrepreneur

These headlines pique curiosity, use emotional language, and speak directly to the reader. Study what makes them compelling, then apply those principles when creating your own title.

Don’t Forget to Write Your Meta Title Too

Your meta title is the HTML title tag that appears prominently on search engine results pages (SERPs). It serves as the clickable headline people see in SERPs.

The meta title should:

• Accurately reflect the topic