Blog Titles: Everything You Need to Know to Write Them Well

Open a store. Launch a business. You can. You will. We'll help. Invent the world's greatest cat food, save a rainforest, start a needlepoint club. Whatever it is, it's going to need a website - that's where we come in. Start your website.

Headlines are key to making a good first impression with readers to encourage more blog traffic. But, while you can sense when a headline works, you might not know what goes into a good headline. What separates good headlines from bad headlines, and how can you use that knowledge to write yours well?

I’ll set you straight. In this blog post, I’ll provide a foolproof process for writing headlines, plus best practices, examples, and templates.

Why do headlines matter for blog posts?

Headlines influence these factors that contribute to your blog posts’ success:

Reader attention: A headline with compelling language will grab potential readers’ attention, leading to more clicks.
Competition with other content: Catchy and well-written headlines stick out more in the sea of headlines your readers find in their search results, email inboxes, and social media feeds.
Reader trust: When you avoid clickbait and use headlines to help readers know what to expect, they’ll have more trust in your content overall. They’ll rely on you to deliver on the promises you offer through your headlines.
Clicks and shares: Improving your chances with the above three factors will lead to more clicks and shares.

Understanding the psychology of why people click on headlines

Before you read up on how to write a good headline, get familiar with the reasons why people click on headlines in the first place. The psychology behind headline success will teach you why certain headline-writing principles succeed.

Here are three of the top reasons a person might want to click a headline:

They trust the link: With spam, viruses, and clickbait all over the internet, readers want headlines to earn their trust. This Rebrandly article explains the importance of this trust. While it mainly covers URLS, the same principles apply to headlines.
They have a personal interest in the subject covered: It seems obvious, but it’s worth stressing to yourself when you write a headline. People click headlines that hint at content they’re interested in. In a study of the reasons people click on new stories, one of the top factors was personal relevance.
They would benefit from sharing the article: Readers also gravitate toward headlines that indicate content they would like to share with others. Foundation dug into a New York Times study to find the reasons why people share content, and you can consider those reasons while writing headlines.

9 best practices for writing blog titles that people will click

You now know why people click headlines. The next step is to use that knowledge to write clickable headlines for your blog posts. Follow these best practices to attract readers and build trust:

1. Be specific about your topic

A headline offers readers a sneak peek of the information they’ll get when they click on it. When you specify the topic your blog post covers in your headline, you’ll give visitors an exact idea of what to expect. This practice leads to two main results: You’ll bring in your intended audience and build trust with readers.

2. Include an action verb

Action verbs — verbs that instruct the reader to do something — inspire the reader to take action and help you write more concisely. Include these words in your headlines when they make sense.

Regardless of why you blog, you want your readers to do something as the result of each post, whether it’s to learn about your life or buy a product. Framing your headline around an action verb will communicate that goal directly to your readers.

3. Use emotional language

The idea of using emotional language in your headline might throw you off if you’re familiar with the original clickbait headline wave. But, you can use emotional language to connect with your reader while staying truthful and level-headed. CoSchedule has a massive list of “power words” that you can use in your headlines to evoke emotions and communicate more effectively.

Think of emotional words as a strong spice. Use too much, and your whole headline becomes overwhelming. But if you use the right amount, you’ll make your headline shine.

4. Use longer headlines (but not long-winded)

Headline length also impacts reader trust and interest. Semrush data shows that headlines with 10 to 13 words draw more traffic and shares than headlines shorter than nine words. Headlines with 14 or more words also had pretty good performance, so don’t be afraid to go over that amount.

But, while longer headlines have more success, don’t get carried away. Make sure your headline is still easy to read and doesn’t take up too much headline space.

5. Don’t include the entire story

Here’s where you need to strike a balance between too much information and enough to draw interest. Specificity and trust make good headlines, but your headline also shouldn’t provide all the information from your article that the reader needs. Look for ways to generate curiosity without deceiving your readers.

6. Add numbers when appropriate

Numbers help us capture exciting ideas in a few words, making them ideal for headlines. For example, if you specify that 20 experts contributed ideas to your blog post, your readers will be interested in what they put so much hard work into. Use numbers to capture your most important ideas or communicate the scale of your blog post.

Some situations where you can add numbers to your headline include:

You performed original research that came up with an exciting statistic
Your article covers a list with a defined number of items
You quoted multiple experts in your blog post

7. Include relevant keywords for SEO (tastefully)

Search engines consider your headline one of the most important spots to look for keywords related to your blog post topic. Including a relevant keyword or two will help your blog post rank higher in search engine results.

Note that I’m capping our number at two maximum. Readability comes first because “spamming” keywords will work against our goals of building reader interest and trust.

If you’re new to integrating keywords into your blog posts, follow our essential SEO tips and start with one keyword related to your main topic. I recommend Ryan Robinson’s keyword research tool for beginners who need a free resource.

8. Convey clear benefits in marketing blog posts

If you write blog posts for marketing purposes, you have another framework to try when writing your headlines: emphasize benefits. Let your readers know what they’ll get out of reading your post by highlighting the benefits of your article information or the product you’re highlighting.

For example, the headline of this blog post demonstrates that it’ll benefit you by teaching you how to write headlines well.

9. Avoid hyperbole and clickbait

Many of the best practices you just learned about can turn a headline into clickbait or exaggeration if you get too heavy-handed with them. Think carefully about how these tips fit your blog post and review your headline before you publish it.

When in doubt, ask a colleague or a friend if they think your headline sounds reasonable.

7 types of blog titles to choose from

Many headlines follow time-tested formulas that writers of all experience levels use. If you’re having trouble brainstorming a headline, try one of these title types.

1. “How-to” headlines

“How-to” headlines start with the phrase “how to” and suit guides and other articles where you explain how to do something. This title format often matches the phrases people interested in your topic use to search for blog posts and helps you explain upfront what your guide will teach.

One example of this headline format in action is Buffer’s blog post How to use Instagram Collab Posts in your Social Media Strategy.

2. “Why” headlines

“Why” headlines come in the form of a question that starts with the word “why.” You’ll usually see these headlines introducing educational and informational articles. Like “how-to” headlines, “why” headlines use language people enter into search engines when looking to answer a question related to your topic. Plus, presenting your headline as a question taps into the reader’s curiosity.

You’ll see one of these headlines right here on the WordPress Go blog at Why Doesn’t My WordPress Theme Look Like the Demo?

3. “Best” headlines

“Best” headlines center around the best items in a category, such as “the best cornbread recipes” or “the top places to get your car washed.” They work best for list-based articles rounding up such topics. This headline format quickly communicates the focus of these blog posts and leverages the power of emotional language.

Gizmodo uses this headline format in its piece The Best Steam Deck Alternatives That Also Deliver Big Screen Handheld Gaming.

4. Question headlines

Question headlines feature question-based phrasing that urges the reader to discover the answer. Any article that answers a question can have this headline format, including investigative and educational articles.

Kat Boogard’s article Do You Need a Freelance Contract? uses this headline type to present the question it answers.

5. News headlines

News headlines follow journalistic standards to present the purpose and point of your article upfront. While you’ll most often see them titling news stories, you can also use a similar format for blog updates and announcements.

Check out how the New York Times uses this format in its story 2026 World Cup Will Have Four-Team Groups and 24 More Games.

6. Controversial headlines

Controversial headlines draw reader attention through counterintuitive language and opinions. If you have a unique viewpoint to share, consider highlighting it in your headline to appeal to human emotion and curiosity.

You can see how this headline format works with Inverse’s article 30 Years Ago, The Smartest Star Trek Show Aired its Dumbest Episode.

7. Statistic headlines

Statistic headlines showcase a statistic that makes readers want to know more information. Research-based content like reports and case studies lend themselves well to this format since they generate statistics themselves.

Grizzle uses the power of statistics in its headline How Pipedrive increased search traffic 50% by scaling their content marketing program.

24 simple headline templates you can borrow

If you need a head start to writing your first headline, try one of these templates formulated using best practices.

1. How to [ACTION] With [PRODUCT] to [BENEFIT]

Example: How to Maintain Your Lawn With GroStuff for Greener Grass

2. What Makes [PRODUCT] the Best [PRODUCT CATEGORY] for [AUDIENCE]?

Example: What Makes Macaroni the Best Pasta for Cheese Fans?

3. How [PERSON] Achieved [OUTCOME] With [PRODUCT]

Example: How My Cat Stopped Coughing Up Hairballs With Laxatone

4. The Inside Story Behind How [PERSON] Did [REMARKABLE THING] Without [SOMETHING SURPRISING]

Example: The Inside Story Behind How This Business Founder Became Profitable Without Sacrificing Sleep

5. The Best Way to [ACTION] That Will [BENEFIT]

Example: The Best Way to Dry Your Hair That Will Reduce Frizz

6. Why Did [PERSON] Do [ACTION] That [OUTCOME]?

Example: Why Did the Chicken Do a Road Crossing That Made It Late to Work?

7. XX Ways You Can [ACTION] Without [PAIN POINT]

Example: 5 Ways You Can Dry the Dishes Without Getting Wet

8. What the Best [TYPE OF PROFESSIONAL/PERSON] Know About [TOPIC] That Makes Them [BENEFIT]

Example: What the Best Bloggers Know About SEO That Makes Them More Effective Writers

9. How You Can [BENEFIT] By [ACTION] In [LENGTH OF TIME]

Example: How You Can Get Smarter by Reading in 2 Hours

10. XX Things People Don’t Know About [NOUN]

Example: 20 Things People Don’t Know About Minting Coins

11. The Easy [ACTION] Process That Successful [TYPE OF PERSON] Use to [BENEFIT]

Example: The Easy Bug Deterrent Process That Successful Hikers Use for Fewer Bites

12. Why [TACTIC] Is Dead and Why You Should [ACTION] Instead

Example: Why Clickbait Is Dead and Why You Should Write Thoughtful Headlines Instead

13. How I [BENEFIT] By [ACTION] in [NUMBER OF STEPS]

Example: How I Get Crispier Tofu By Pressing It in 3 Steps

14. Why I Stopped [ACTION] and Started [ACTION] Instead

Example: Why I Stopped Downloading Ebooks and Started Reading Paperbacks Instead

15. Why Did [NOUN] Fail at [ACTION] And What Can You Do Differently?

Example: Why Did Sisyphus Fail to Reach the Summit and What Can You Do Differently?

16. How to Learn [ACTION] in [LENGTH OF TIME] With [TOOL/METHOD] in [NUMBER OF STEPS]

Example: How to Learn Sewing In an Hour With a Sewing Kit in 5 Steps

17. How I Achieved [PERCENTAGE] [BENEFIT] By [ACTION]

Example: How I Achieved 25% More Blog Visitors By Adding WordPress Plugins

18. The New [TACTIC] That [PROFESSIONAL/PERSON] Can’t Ignore

Example: The New Kerning Style That Graphic Designers Can’t Ignore

19. XX Tips to [ACTION] In Under [LENGTH OF TIME]

Example: 6 Tips to Shower In Under 8 Minutes

20. Will [EVENT] Happen Without [ACTION] By [DATE]?

Example: Will My Cat’s Temper Tantrum Happen Without Feeding Her Treats By Tomorrow?

21. The Easiest Way to [ACTION] When You’re [CONSTRAINT]

Example: The Easiest Way to Relieve Symptoms When You’re Dealing With Allergies

22. How to [ACTION] With [PRODUCT] to [BENEFIT] Without [PAIN POINT]

Example: How to Draw With Paint Markers to Add Color Without Getting Messy

23. If You’re [PAIN POINT] Then Try Doing [ACTION] for [BENEFIT]

Example: If You’re Stressed, Then Try Doing Yoga for Relaxation

24. How to [ACTION] to Achieve [BENEFIT] in [NUMBER OF STEPS]

Example: How to Train to Achieve the Best Pokemon Team in 10 Steps

A 5-step process for writing great blog post titles

Grab the headline types and templates that inspire you and get to writing. This five-step process will get you going:

Understand your article’s angle: Before you write a single word, make sure you know your article’s angle inside and out. This article, for example, aims to cover all the basics of writing headlines, so I highlighted it in its title.
Open your headline testing tool: Get a headline-testing tool that will evaluate factors like your title’s length and word composition to help you follow best practices. Some favorites include CoSchedule’s Headline Studio (and its WordPress plugin), the MonsterInsights Free Headline Analyzer, and the Sharethrough Headline Tester.
Write at least 25 options: Write at least 25 potential headlines for your article using your headline testing tool. Taking the extra time to write these many titles will help you test different ideas and warm up your creativity.
Choose three finalists: Narrow down your headline list to three finalists. Feel free to plug headlines back into your headline testing tool to check their scores if you’re having trouble choosing.
Pick a winner: Among your three finalists, choose the headline you’ll use for your article.

8 examples of headlines and blog titles to inspire yours

Need more ideas for your headline-writing process? Here are eight examples of good headlines and why they work.

1. “Grandiosity as a form of hiding” (Seth Godin)

The headline for Seth Godin’s blog post Grandiosity as a form of hiding uses a contradiction to encourage us to learn more. Hiding is the opposite outcome we typically associate with grandiosity, so we wonder how this result could come about. Look for points of irony or contradiction in your blog post topic that could draw attention to your headline.

2. “You’ll Be Outraged at How Easy it Was to Get You to Click on This Headline” (WIRED)

WIRED gets clever in its headline “You’ll Be Outraged at How Easy it Was to Get You to Click on This Headline” by playing with its subject matter. The article covers clickbait titles, so this headline features a clickbait title itself to create intrigue. Consider tropes and formats relevant to your article topic that you can play with in your headline.

3. “True Meaning of Minimum Viable Product: How Doing Less Leads to More” (Copyblogger)

Copyblogger’s True Meaning of Minimum Viable Product: How Doing Less Leads to More touches on a few emotions in its headline to convince us to click. The “true meaning” phrase in the headline implies that the article within reveals a definition that other articles haven’t. “How doing less leads to more” communicates an unexpected benefit.

4. “What Creates Class in the Internet Age?” (Unwinnable)

What Creates Class in the Internet Age? from Unwinnable poses an interesting question that the article itself follows through on. If you’re already answering a unique question in your writing, sometimes you can simply make that your headline.

5. “The Best London Fashion Week Street Style to Inspire Your 2023 Look” (Refinery29)

Refinery29 taps into our emotional and rational brains in this headline. The Best London Fashion Week Street Style to Inspire Your 2023 Look uses the emotional word “best” to convince us of the merit of visiting the article. But, it also includes the year of the article to sway readers skeptical of the fashion’s timeliness.

6. “Now That’s One Giant Penguin: Fossilized Bones of 340-pound Monster Bird Discovered in New Zealand” (USA Today)

USA Today’s Now That’s One Giant Penguin: Fossilized Bones of 340-pound Monster Bird Discovered in New Zealand includes a real but unbelievable number to catch our attention. The hook “now that’s one giant penguin” adds a lighthearted touch.

7. “Chicago P.D.’s Showrunner Says She Wants These Fan Favorites to Return” (NBC)

NBC uses the curiosity gap correctly in its headline Chicago P.D.’s Showrunner Says She Wants These Fan Favorites to Return. It leaves out exactly which fan favorites the article will cover, so we want to learn them from the article. But, it doesn’t sensationalize the concept of us missing out with exaggerated language.

8. “Viral Instagram photographer has a confession: His photos are AI-generated” (Ars Technica)

Viral Instagram photographer has a confession: His photos are AI-generated from Ars Technica digs into the controversy of its topic without resorting to exaggeration. The topic of AI-generated images already brings plenty of debate on its own, so Ars Technica didn’t need to add any embellishments to generate interest.

Do your blog posts and their headlines need a home?

WordPress.com offers blog and website hosting at a variety of price points to help you share your words with the world. Sign up for an account to start your blog.

Check how headlines affect your blog performance with these plugins

After you make headline-writing best practices a habit, keep an eye on your blog metrics to see how they affect your performance. Check if your total visits or clicks on social media go up to see if your headlines draw in more readers. But don’t underestimate metrics like time on page that show if the people who like your headlines also enjoy the associated content. It’s easy to monitor blog performance metrics with WordPress.com. Add analytics plugins to your setup to connect the internet’s top tools to your blog.

Want more tips? Get new post notifications emailed to you.