G'day from Oz sweet friend. Thanks so much for joining me for another fun Sundays Down Under Linky Party.
I LOVE pinning YOUR posts to my Sundays Down Under board each week and sharing your talent with my wonderful 3000 followers!
This week I'd like to explain a little more about SEO and why we need attention grabbing headlines.
How to write a brilliant blog post headline
An attention grabbing headline is extremely important for SEO and increasing traffic to your blog. I know that when I first started blogging by headlines were downright weird! They were vague, off the point and most times didn't mention what the actual blog post was about! When I look back on some of them now I am sooooo embarrassed! Can you imagine not even putting the word 'recipe' in the headline for a post that contains a recipe! Duh...what an idiot!
Over the years I've learned that I need to include the following elements to write an engaging and attention-grabbing title.
1. First you need to use popular search queries. These are simple phrases such as 'how-to' and 'what is'. Major search engines especially Google provide a way to search into query streams to discover the most popular search keywords, trends and topics. Google Trends is the best of them all. It allows you to search their database of searches within your country or any place around the globe! You can also find the same kind of info at Bing Trends, AOL Search Trends, Twitter Search and YouTube Trends. When you've found what's hot and you've written a post about it, use “how to” or “what is” in your title and you will also attract the search engines. Woohoo!
2. Next to try to use a catchy adjective. Use a sensory word to describe the taste of your recipe, an emotional word to describe the feelings you are describing or a active word to describe your healthy advice.
3. Now, when it comes to numbers, ignore everything you've been taught about writing out the number in words! Start off your title with numbers. It draws people's attention. It's a great way to tell your audience how much exactly they're going to get. The Buffer Blog has pointed to Takipi research that found that digits in headlines are more shareable. So, instead of saying “Ten ways to…” you should say “10 ways to…” The research also found that the bigger a number in a post, the farther it spreads!
1. First you need to use popular search queries. These are simple phrases such as 'how-to' and 'what is'. Major search engines especially Google provide a way to search into query streams to discover the most popular search keywords, trends and topics. Google Trends is the best of them all. It allows you to search their database of searches within your country or any place around the globe! You can also find the same kind of info at Bing Trends, AOL Search Trends, Twitter Search and YouTube Trends. When you've found what's hot and you've written a post about it, use “how to” or “what is” in your title and you will also attract the search engines. Woohoo!
2. Next to try to use a catchy adjective. Use a sensory word to describe the taste of your recipe, an emotional word to describe the feelings you are describing or a active word to describe your healthy advice.
3. Now, when it comes to numbers, ignore everything you've been taught about writing out the number in words! Start off your title with numbers. It draws people's attention. It's a great way to tell your audience how much exactly they're going to get. The Buffer Blog has pointed to Takipi research that found that digits in headlines are more shareable. So, instead of saying “Ten ways to…” you should say “10 ways to…” The research also found that the bigger a number in a post, the farther it spreads!
Image via Buffer
Infographic via Twelveskip
5. Finally, don't just keep using the same formula for every post. Use a variety of styles and headlines so you keep your content fresh and up-to-date. Oh and try to use less than 70 characters. You can very easily convey your message with 70 characters but, more importantly, Google cuts off titles longer than 70 characters because it thinks the content could be spam!
Here's a re-cap:
Now to this week's featured bloggers!
Each week I share some of the fabulous posts that I find at the Sundays Down Under link party at my Flipboard magazine. The August/September issue of Sundays Down Under features the following bloggers:
+Priyam Simplejoys, +Karissa Ancell, +Kelly Smith, +Monica Pruett, +Paris Anderson, +Brita Long, +Start at Home, +Chel C, and +To Simply Inspire
Now, let's get this week's linky party started!
Link up a post about your favourite recipe, craft, idea, tutorial, Instagram pics, DIY projects or even your own linky parties. Just add the url of your particular blog post that you would like us to visit to the Linky tool below.
Please note: by linking up to the Sundays Down Under linky party, you are giving me permission to use any part of your post, including pictures, in feature posts on Natasha in Oz. You may also be featured on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest with all credit being given to the original source.
Don't forget to say g'day to a few of the lovely bloggers who have linked up today!
Here's a re-cap:
See how easy it is to write a brilliant blog post headline! Let your creative juices flow, be succinct, use a few keywords and your blog post titles will be the bomb!
For more Blogging Tips just click the button below.
Each week I share some of the fabulous posts that I find at the Sundays Down Under link party at my Flipboard magazine. The August/September issue of Sundays Down Under features the following bloggers:
+Priyam Simplejoys, +Karissa Ancell, +Kelly Smith, +Monica Pruett, +Paris Anderson, +Brita Long, +Start at Home, +Chel C, and +To Simply Inspire
Click the cover to read the latest issue of the Magazine!
Thank you so much to everyone who joined in! Feel free to grab a 'featured' button to add to your blog!
Now, let's get this week's linky party started!
Link up a post about your favourite recipe, craft, idea, tutorial, Instagram pics, DIY projects or even your own linky parties. Just add the url of your particular blog post that you would like us to visit to the Linky tool below.
Feel free to grab the code for the Sundays Down Under button and add that to your post so that your readers might be able to find other bloggers who would like to join in!
I'd also be so grateful if you could share the linky party on your social media channels. Just click one of the buttons below!
Please note: by linking up to the Sundays Down Under linky party, you are giving me permission to use any part of your post, including pictures, in feature posts on Natasha in Oz. You may also be featured on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest with all credit being given to the original source.
Don't forget to say g'day to a few of the lovely bloggers who have linked up today!
You might find me partying at some fun linky parties this week. Click the button to find out where I like to party!
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