How to Write Blog Titles and Subtitles

Writing for a blog is easy, getting that blog noticed by a search engine is priceless. There is an art to writing blog headlines that grab the search engines' attention. As a blog writer you must also grab the eye of the people searching for the information you have. There are five main categories to hit for a successful blog title and subtitle.

Be Conversational and Use Keywords
Use a conversational tone, but include keywords in the title and subtitle of the blog entry. Feel free to voice an opinion in the title. That is what blogs are all about. People looking for blogger opinions will search for them with terms like: who will be president, will "insert team" win the Super Bowl? Answer these questions in your titles and subtitles. The use of keywords will keep the title evergreen, or searchable over a long period of time. Be sure to know the proper abbreviations web searchers enter into search engines.

Common abbreviations for blog searches are: AI (American Idol), BB(Big Brother), DIY (Do It Yourself), FYI (For Your Information). Use the shortened version when titling a web entry as these are most searched.

Use Dates
Using dates in a title goes against everything an Internet content producer learns. In blog titles using dates is critical. Blogs are usually very time sensitive. People want to know what a blogger thinks about something that just happened. Placing the date in the title helps separate the title from the general topic. Dating also helps in an archive search.

Always Use Subtitles
Using a subtitle gives a blogger another chance to get noticed by the search engines and readers. Go into more detail about the entry and reinforce the keywords. Be more specific about the episode or date. If performers sang a certain genre, list it in the subtitle. Include any brand new information or tips in the subtitle. Be even more specific about the date in the subtitle, show the day and time of the event.

Get to the Point
Put the pertinent information in the title and subtitle of the blog entry. Trying to use a suspenseful title tends to confuse a searcher. Someone looking for the winner of a show probably won't click on "Find Out Who Wins AI". They will click on "AI Season 7 David Cook Wins"; with a subtitle of "David Archuleta Close Second (date)".

Use Humor
Use humor and keywords in the title of blog entries to peak the curiosity of searchers. Blogs are all about the writer's opinion, so feel free to show it in your title. The use of humor and satire in a blog title can make traffic limitless if delivered correctly. When using humor, make sure you are funny. Humor is subjective so be prepared for some not to 'get' your jokes.

Incorporating any or all of these tips should help your traffic grow. The more traffic to a blog, the more subscribers, hopefully.