6 Shocking Secrets to Crafting SEO-Friendly Titles That Will Skyrocket Your Blog Traffic – You

byMrDon1

778 followers

3 weeks ago

Or simply put "How long should my title be?"

I see this question and answer everywhere. Your post title should be 60 characters. Your Meta Description max is 160 characters. This is the standard, out-of-the-box answer. It is based on what is "visible" in Search Engine Result Pages SERP). Anything longer than this gets cut off. Think about this for a minute... Do I care if my title gets cut off?

I have a box with 100 widgets in it. Ninety-five of them are the same and 5 are different. Which will you see first?

Okay, your minute is up. I will tie this back into my common theme: Ninety-five percent of all blogs fail and how you can become a member of The 5% Club.

There is a proven secret that I follow when it comes to titles - Balance SEO best practices with

• Engaging readers (Asking Questions)
• Exploring keyword placement (Benefits Before Features)
• Relevance (What's Love Got to Do With It)
• Unique angles (You must be unique to stand out)
• Controversial clickbait techniques (Of course clickbait titles work)

As a seasoned blogger, have you bent the 60-word rule on occasion? Newbies, do you want to get read? Keep reading.

6 Keys to Mastering the Art of SEO-Friendly Titles While Avoiding 60-Characters

1. The Power of Strategic Keyword Placement

Ever wondered why certain blog titles seem to dominate search results? The secret is in the strategic placement of your primary keywords. When you put these words at the beginning of your title, you will boost your SEO position. Regardless of the title that our AI author deems appropriate, I always give my VA (virtual assistant) of the day this prompt.

"This is my current post I am having a hard time with the primary keywords, what should they be and why?"

If you agree and like the answer, ask for 8 possible titles using this keyword in the beginning. Mix & Match to create your unique title. Instead of "10 Tips for Better Blogging," try "Blogging Tips: 10 Ways to Improve Your Blog Today." See how the keyword "Blogging Tips" steals the spotlight right from the get-go? Take it one step further with "10 Shocking Blogging Tips That Will Skyrocket Your Success Overnight – You Won't Believe #7!" Your first thought is okay, what is #7? Got you. Blogging Tips is your primary keyword, so the search result will cut off the fluff, but does it matter? You got the clicks.

2. Communicating Value and Relevance

Titles that scream value and relevance have a magnetic pull on readers. After all, who wouldn't want to know what's in it for them? A well-crafted title can be a tantalizing teaser that promises gold.

Sprinkle your titles with numbers, power words, and juicy specifics to crank up the compelling factor. Words like "essential," "ultimate," and "proven" can add a dash of urgency and importance.

Going back to my clickbait title "10 Shocking Blogging Tips That Will Skyrocket Your Success Overnight – You Won't Believe #7!" This fills this box as well.

By harnessing the power of keyword placement and conveying undeniable value, you can craft titles that tick both the SEO and readability boxes, while bending the 60-character limits. You still need to be unique in your approach.

3. Crafting a Unique Angle

In an ocean of content, a unique and compelling title is your lifeline. Think back to my box of widgets, did you notice the pinhole-like dot on the red one in the second row, third from the right? It is there if you look for it. But why would you be looking for it? Your eye was drawn to either the green one upfront or the yellow one in the back. It is the same for your blog posts.

There are 8 blog posts titled "10 Tips for Better Blogging." All are informative, yes, but they lack that special something. As you look at the search results, your eyes are drawn to "10 Shocking Blogging Tips That Will Skyrocket Your Success Overnight." The eighth title on the page makes a specific, tantalizing promise that sets it apart. Where are you clicking?

4. Striking a Balance Between Length and Substance

While conventional wisdom dictates titles should hover around 60 characters, a longer title will provide more context and reel in more clicks. The trick is to strike a balance between length and the richness of information.

Compare "Top 10 SEO Tips" with "Top 10 SEO Tips to Boost Your Blog Traffic in 2025." The longer title serves up more specific information, making it more irresistible to readers hungry for actionable advice.

When crafting longer titles, front-load the most crucial information and keywords. This ensures that even if the title gets chopped off in search results, the core message still shines through.

5. Igniting Curiosity

Clickbait titles are the master manipulators of curiosity and urgency. They lure readers in, to click through to the content. While this technique is potent for boosting engagement, wield it responsibly. You would not want to ruffle your audience's feathers.

The Zeigarnik Effect, is a mind-bending phenomenon where unfinished tasks linger in our memories. This is the secret behind clickbait's allure. When a title dangles an unanswered question or an incomplete story, readers find themselves powerless to resist the urge to click and quench their curiosity.

Compare "You Won't Believe What Happened After I Tried This Trick" with "How This Simple Trick Saved Me $100." The second title still tickles the curiosity bug but dishes out more context, making it less likely to leave readers feeling bamboozled.

The greatest example of this is msn.com. Is this your home page? If it is then you will know what I mean. Every single article title is clickbait. You cannot escape without clicking on at least one title. I know I have tried. One of them will get you, and yet very few titles are complete.

6. The Pros and Cons of Clickbait

While clickbait titles can work wonders for click-through rates, they come with a shadowy side. Overindulging in clickbait can erode trust and credibility if the content fails to live up to the title's grand promise.

Perks

• Skyrocketing engagement and click-through rates.
• Amplified visibility in search results and social media feeds.

Pitfalls

• User frustration if the content falls short of the title's hype.
• Risk of losing trust and credibility over time.

By unraveling the psychology behind clickbait and using it with a sprinkle of responsibility, you can craft titles that intrigue and engage your readers. In the next section.

Embracing Flexibility: Why Breaking the 60-Character Title Limit Can Lead to Success

The 60-character limit for titles is simply a guideline, not a hard and fast rule. Understanding the rationale behind this suggestion—ensuring visibility in search engine results—allows you to make informed decisions about when to adhere to it and when to push the boundaries.

Ninety-five percent of bloggers stick rigidly to this limit, missing opportunities to create more engaging and informative titles. If you find that success is eluding you, it might be time to step out of the box and embrace your unique voice. Experiment with longer titles that provide more context, intrigue, and value to your readers.

What did you learn?

MrDon
The Amazing Niche Master