Write Blog Post Titles Like A TLC Television Show

Posted on 12/08/2008

In my experience, most bloggers don't think about their post titles very much. They're so focused on the post itself that the title for the post gets lost along the way, but one of the most important things a blogger can do is to write an concise and informative blog post title.

Blog readers are increasingly scanning blog posts and the title is the headline by which they choose whether or not they're going to start reading. I recommend bloggers summarize their entire post in the title. If you do, you give yourself the best chance to lure the reader in. With that in mind, I realized tonight that TLC has taken this approach with many of their shows. Here's a list of several current programs:

  • 17 Kids and Counting
  • Lottery Changed My Life
  • This is Why You're Single
  • Bringing Home Baby
  • Crazy Christmas Lights
  • I Didn't Know I Was Pregnant
  • Girl Who Never Grew
  • Life As A Giant

Just look at this list. You may have never seen any of these shows, but almost instantly you have an idea of what the show is going to be about. This what you want your blog post titles to do. If the person knows what they're going to find on the post, the only remaining barrier is for the person to decide whether the content is relevant to them.

12/10/2008 12:34:29 AM
good points. some of those are good shows... some drive me crazy, but all hook me...
12/10/2008 5:14:28 AM
You are right Bill. I have glossed over the importance of this and many others have as well. In today's "information overload", web-induced world, if our blog post is going to grab people's attention, we have to work hard for it. Essentially every time we write an article our title is the marketing that sells it. So, that said, we should write the tile last and if necessary, take as much time to craft it as we did to write the post!
12/10/2008 5:24:13 AM
Evan, well said. Shows the power of the title to hook you. That how I hope all my blog post are...or at least that's what I strive for. David, thanks for the comment. I agree wholeheartedly. Most people don't spend nearly enough time creating the title. I usually tell people to take three times longer creating the title than they have previously. At least that way they stop to think about it again.
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