And I second Bo Vejgaard: I want that book!

I completely agree with you about the title. I personally, would prefer post titles that are less bold and merely state what’s to come. But they’re probably not good SEO strategy, eh?

Titles can represent a lot about what the blog has to offer, and can lead visitors into a deeper exploration of your blog.

I often blog about processes because without them I would dislike my job. I also appreciate when other blogs provide a detailed process for solving a problem or implementing a new way to analyze data and prepare it for clients.

One way to think about titles is consider the categories you have on your blog, and whether they have gaps in the content leading someone to a dead end. Review search queries in Analytics for title ideas. Follow the paths visitors take on the site and create content “bridges” to learn new ideas for expanding the site based on what the users are looking for.

Lastly, look at the comments where people have asked questions, they make for great titles.

If it means anything, I read your blog post when it hits my email inbox, regardless of the title. Sometimes, I even read the title last. Sometimes, not at all.

1) writing for conversions, products, lead gen or some other SEO factor – focus on keywords

2) writing for links, controversy, or attention – then punch it up with power words that kick readers in the teeth

3) writing evergreen or how to content – ask the question that has the keywords but require you read

The words are all the same it how you use them that matters and leaves a different taste in the readers mouths. Scrambled eggs, hard boiled eggs, and eggs Benedict all use the same primary ingredient, but it’s how you use it that makes the end result taste completely different.

Yet another great post. Please put all your posts in a book, i like rereading most of them every now and then.

This post got me thinking of Convoy, a movie where the single word title encapsulates the entire movie. And if you’ve heard the song as well there is definately no reason to see the movie.

I’m glad to see I’m not the only one who hates them!!!!

So much weight is given to the title. One wrong move and ut a post that could have been brilliant has been sent to the insinkerator. I sometimes change the title so many times that I end up like you wanting to run (however I prefer to dig the big hole and jump in; so maybe no-one can see me?) and I get that the title is what pulls people in but the content is what they should be after. However I am not foolish enough to think that people are going to appreciate and even share a post that does not have the title that they feel they could not do better with. Maybe that is more what it comes down to?

I actually find that the titles you write are really good. I guess maybe I know the content will be top notch so the titles are just a preamble to what is to come?