15 Types Of Blog Post Titles That Get Clicked: A Beginner’s Guide

Note From Sean: Most bloggers will spend hours writing a blog post, and then write their headline in seconds as an afterthought.

This is a HUGE problem though. 

Why?

Because if your headline isn’t good enough to get someone to click on the post and read it, then what’s the point of having great content in the first place?

Luckily, Emily Johnson knows this better than anyone. And in this post, she is going to show you exactly how to write a killer blog post title that actually gets traction.

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Ever experience it?

That moment of excitement mixed with fear and uncertainty right before you click “submit your guest post” or “publish your article?”

Yes?

Then you are not the only one.

Any writer or blogger will tell you that publishing your post is one thing. Making sure it’s clicked, read, commented on and shared, well, that’s another.

The fact of the matter is if you want your post read and shared, its got to be clicked.

So, how to make sure that happens?

There are a few strategies to use that will make your blog post more noticeable, create a catchy title, draw people’s attention.

Now, let me guess, when you’ve tried to do this yourself, you’ve probably come across a bunch of blog title templates and you think that it’s all you need to know about creating attention-grabbing titles.

If that’s the case, I’d like to tell you something:

Blog post titles that follow templates show lack of creativity. Also, due to the fact that they are being overused by many, they are boring.

That’s right. There is nothing special about creating another “Tips For Working From Home” title. Have you seen how many there are? Just type it in Google…

In order to catch people’s attention, you need to make your title one of a kind.

That’s what I want to show you how to do here. In this article, I will:

• Show you 15 types of catchy titles,
• Explain to you why they work and what makes people click them,
• Provide you with 5 creative variations on a common template to each title,
• Present you with examples of 3 posts from authority websites with each and every title, and…
• Demonstrate you how you can easily change your idea into a perfect headline.

So, shall we begin?

#1 “A Guide To…” Titles

The title of this post is “… : A Beginner’s Guide.” Why did I choose it? Well, first of all, “a guide” communicates to readers that it’ll be an article giving you the most important information about a topic, in this case – blog post tiles.

Secondly, since my guide is a “beginner’s guide,” it should attract those who don’t have any or have little experience in creating catchy blog headlines.

So, why do “guide” topics work?

“Guide” topics work because they promise readers they’ll find all the necessary information about a topic, so there’s no need to search for more.

Now, when creating a “guide” headline, be creative! There are many ways to expand on a common “…: A Guide” topic. Create your own unique guide! Here are a few ideas that you can use:

• “…: The Only Guide You Need”
• “…: A Step-By-Step Guide”
• “The Advanced Guide To…”
• “A Start-To-Finish Guide…”
• “The In-Depth Guide To…”

Also, check out the three posts below. Look at the number of shares they got on social media. Aren’t their titles creative? (click “read” to go to the particular article)

1. The Martin Luther King, Jr. Guide To Inspirational Writing (read).
2. The Introvert’s Guide To Surviving (And Thriving) At A Conference: Five Tips (read).
3. How To Use Canva: An 8-Step Guide To Creating Visual Content (read).

As you can see, there are many ways you can change the common “Guide” title. Remember, expand on your idea!

If you don’t know how to change your idea into an amazing title, write it down and improve on it the way I did below:

Idea: Feeding Toddlers.

Good Title: A Guide To Feeding Toddlers.

Great Title: A Simple Guide To Feeding Toddlers.

Perfect Title: A Simple Guide To Quickly Feeding Your Toddler.

#2 “10, 15, 20…” Titles

Many readers, as well as writers, fall in love with list articles at first sight and there is a reason for it.

Listicles are easy to read and easy to write. They also get clicked and read more often than other articles.

What makes listicles work? Why do they stand out?

Listicles are eye-catching because they organize information, inform you up-front how long the article will be and how many new things you’ll learn.

Here are some ideas on how to create interesting listicles:

• “X Ways You Can… While…”
• “X Myths About…”
• “X Secrets Of…”
• “X Reasons Why…”
• “X Mindblowing Facts About…”

Also, check the three articles below. Aren’t their titles noticeable?

1. The 17 Best Tools For Spying On Your Competition (read).
2. 26 Insanely Useful iPhone Tips That You May Not Know About (read).
3. 5 Elements That Build A Roster Of Terrific Clients (read).

Let’s now try to change a simple idea into a creative, eye-catching title like those above:

Idea: Harry Potter.

Good Title: 25 Harry Potter Gadgets.

Great Title: 25 Harry Potter Gadgets Every Fan Should Have.

Perfect Title: 25 Unique Harry Potter Gadgets Every True Fan Should Have.

#3 “… No One Will Tell You” Titles

Do you like the idea of missing out on something? No? Well, neither do your readers.

Thus…

“… No One Will Tell You” title works because it promises you that once you click it, you’ll learn something unknown. Also, you’ll no longer be out of the loop.

Let’s brainstorm for some ideas on how to write creative “… No One Will Tell You” titles that instantly draw people’s attention.

• “What No One Will Tell You But You Need To Hear About…”
• “X Things No One Will Tell You Before…”
• “The… Advice No One Will Give You”
• “X… Secrets No One Has Told You About…”
• “…? Here Are X Realities No One Will Tell You”

Also, take a look at the three articles below. Can you resist reading them?

1. 5 Things No One Will Tell You About Your First Job (read).
2. The Problem With All-White Kitchens That No One Will Tell You (read).
3. 15 Brutally Honest Pieces Of Advice About Relationships No One Will Tell You (read).

Now, let’s try to create a perfect “… No One Will Tell You” title. What would you say about such topic as fauna and flora? Let’s narrow it down to insects.

Idea: Mosquitoes.

Good Title: What No One Will Tell You About Mosquitoes.

Great Title: 20 Things No One Will Tell You About Mosquitoes.

Perfect Title: 20 Mindblowing Facts No One Will Ever Tell You About Mosquitoes.

#4 “How To” Titles

“How To” titles are some of the most popular for blog posts. Check some of your favorite websites. How many “How To” titles do they have? Q

“How To” titles get clicked by hundreds because they promise to teach you some new vital skills.

Also, think about what do we use search engines for? To find the information we lack, right? So, when we want to learn something new, acquire new skills or improve those we already possess, “how to” articles are the first we click since they offer us help as well as solutions.

Check out these ideas on how to change the common “How To” title into a more interesting one:

• “Why… And How To…”
• “Beginner’s Guide: How To…”
• “How To Create… Even If…”
• “…: What It Is And How To Use It”
• “X… Mistakes And How To Avoid Them”

Also, take a look at the three posts below. Are they popular?

1. How To Get More Likes On Facebook Without Buying Fans (read).
2. How To Write Conversationally: 7 Tips To Engage And Delight Your Audience (read).
3. How To Create The Perfect Thank You Page: An Epic Guide (read).

Now, since we know that “How To” titles work and get hundreds of clicks, let’s try to create our own “How To” title that’ll interest our readers:

Idea: Changing tires.

Good Title: How To Change A Tire.

Great Title: How To Easily And Quickly Change A Tire.

Perfect Title: How To Easily And Quickly Change Your Tire Alone: 12 Steps.

#5 “Where, What, Why” Titles

Like I mentioned before, we use search engines in order to find the information we lack. Thus, just like “How To” articles, “Where, What, Why” articles get hundreds of readers since they give us answers to questions that keep us up at night.

Let’s sum up:

“Where, What, Why” titles work because they promise that by reading the article you’ll learn something new, find advice as well as a solution to a problem you have.

Here are some simple yet interesting ideas on how to create “Where, What, Why” titles:

• “…: Here’s Why”
• “What Is…: An Inside Look At…”
• “What You Can Learn From…”
• “What Will… Look Like In The Future?”
• “Where To Find… And How To…”

Also, check the three articles below. Do they promise to give you useful information?

1. Why “Searcher Task Accomplishment” Is Your Next Best SEO Hack (read).
2. Where To Begin When It’s Time To Edit Your Content (read).
3. Why Successful People Plan Their Lives 90 Days At A Time (read).

Now, let’s come up with our own unique “Where, What, Why” title, shall we? What if we’d like to share our knowledge about where to buy a ring?

Idea: Buy A Ring.

Good Title: Where To Buy An Engagement Ring.

Great Title: Where To Buy A Diamond Engagement Ring.

Perfect Title: 10 Jewelry Shops Where You Can Buy An Affordable Diamond Engagement Ring.

#6 “Infographic:…” Titles

There is a reason why we want more and more infographics: they are fun, quick to read and easy to remember. If your post has visual content, put it in your headline! The promise of an infographic might result in more people reading your post as well as more shares on social media.

So, why are “Infographic” titles attractive?

“Infographic” titles attract more people because they promise that the content will be visual, and thus, easy to process and memorize.

Let’s take a look at three easy ways to inform your readers that the content will comprise of an infographic:

• “… (Infographic)”
• “Fun Infographic About…”
• “Infographic: …”

Also, check out the blog posts below. How many shares did they get?

1. Best Time To Send Email [INFOGRAPHIC] (read).
2. Infographic: The Best Careers For Introverts And Extroverts (read).
3. Master These 7 Essential Elements For Winning Content [Infographic] (read).

As you can see, putting “infographic” into your title is very easy and promises a lot of social media shares. Thus, use this strategy if you have a wonderful visual content to share with your readers!

Idea: Cat Grooming.

Good Title: How To Groom Your Cat.

Great Title: How I Groom My Cat: Infographic.

Perfect Title: How I Groom My Cat: A Funny Infographic For Cat Lovers.

#7 “Mistakes To Avoid” Titles

As we all well know, people learn best from their own mistakes. However, wouldn’t you like to be one step forward and know up front the common mistakes in a given task before you take it? I think the answer is obvious…

“Mistakes To Avoid” title works because it promises you information about what can hinder your success and what you should pay attention to.

Here are a few ideas on how to make the above title creative:

• “… Mistakes That Are…”
• “… Mistakes And How To Fix Them”
• “X Mistakes To Avoid When…”
• “How To Fix… Errors That…”
• “X … Mistakes To Stop Making Now”

Check out the three articles below as well. Do their titles spark your interest?

1. Avoid This Rookie Marketing Habit To Get New Customers Faster (read).
2. 10 Deadly Startup Mistakes To Avoid (read).
3. 6 Mistakes To Avoid When Creating Your Next Google Adwords Campaign (read).

Now, let’s say you’d like to write an article about a perfect blog post. What title would it have?

Idea: Write A Blog Post.

Good Title: Mistakes To Avoid While Writing A Blog Post.

Great Title: 15 Mistakes To Avoid While Writing A Blog Post.

Perfect Title: 15 Common Mistakes To Avoid While Writing Your First Blog Post.

#8 “Everything You Need To Know About” Titles

The “Everything You Need To Know About” title is similar to the first title I discussed the “Guide” title. Just like the 1st title, the 8th title on my list focuses on providing your reader with all the necessary information about a topic.

The “Everything You Need To Know About” title is eye-catching because it promises that once you click it, you’ll learn everything about a given topic. So, there is no need to search for more information.

Let’s take a look at some ideas on how to write “Everything You Need To Know About Titles:”

• “Everything You Need To Know About… And What It Means For…”

• “…: Everything You Need To Know In X Steps”

• “…: Everything You Need To Know Before…”

• “Everything You Need To Know About…: X Secrets”

• “A Beginner’s Guide To…: Everything You Need To Know”

Also, take a look at how some experienced bloggers use the above title to their advantage:

1. Everything You Need To Know About Finding Your Perfect Co-Founder (read).
2. Everything You Need To Know About The 2017 Solar Eclipse (read).
3. Nintendo Switch: Everything You Need To Know (read).

Now, since we see that many people use the “Everything You Need To Know About” title for their posts, let’s create our own special title. 

Idea: Civilization V.

Good Title: Everything You Need To Know About Civilization V.

Great Title: A Guide To Civilization V: Everything You Need To Know.

Perfect Title: An In-Depth Guide To Civilization V: Everything You Need To Know.

#9 “Question?” Titles

Another great way to write a title is to ask your readers a question. Make them think. Spark their interest from the very beginning.

“Question?” titles bring hundreds of clicks because they make your readers involved. People will want to know the answer to a question that is provocative.

How can you put a question into your title? It’s very easy. Look below:

• “…? These X Strategies Will Help You To…”
• “When Should You…? Here Are…”
• “…? Here’s Why…”
• “…? An Inside Look At…”
• “What Is… And What Should You…?”

Also, take a look at these few posts. What can you say about their titles? 

1. Bored With Your Blog? These 10 Tips Will Make You Fall In Love Again (read).
2. What Marketing Channel Should You Start With First If You’re A Brand New Business? (read).
3. What’s On Earth’s The Difference Between An MQL And An SQL Anyway? (read).

Can you now make your own “Question?” title? Let’s try together!

Idea: Android and iOS.

Good Title: Is Android Better Than iOS?

Great Title: Is Android Better Than iOS? 12 Reasons.

Perfect Title: Is Android Better Than iOS? 12 Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Buy An iPad.

If you have an iPad and if my title made you feel outraged and challenged, that’s great! It means the title is provocative enough to make you click and read the article!

Remember, by asking provocative questions, you win!

#10 “…: Here’s Why” Titles

The “Here’s Why” title has got 2 parts:

1. A negative statement,
2. A promise of enlightenment.

“Here’s Why” titles work because you indicate a problem, inform your readers you know the reasons behind it as well as, indirectly, promise to provide solutions.

How can you use this title to your advantage? Take a look at the 5 examples below:

• “…: Here’s Why And How To…”
• “Stop Being…: Here’s How You Can…”
• “…? Here’s An Answer”
• “Here’s Why… Sucks”
• “…: Here’s Why That’s A Good Thing”

Also, check the posts below. 

1. Doing Nothing Is The Secret To Productivity: Here’s Why And How (read).
2. LinkedIn Ads Don’t Suck Anymore. Here’s Why (read).
3. Writers: Here’s Why You Aren’t Getting More Great Clients (read).

Now, let’s try to create another title. This time, a “Here’s Why” title:

Idea: Oranges.

Good Title: You Should Eat More Oranges.

Great Title: You Should Eat More Oranges: Here’s Why.

Perfect Title: You Should Eat Two Oranges A Day: Here’s Why.

#11 “Keyword:…” Titles

If you take a look at high authority websites, you’ll notice that quite often they publish posts with a keyword in the title. Why? 

“Keyword” titles are eye-catching because they feature a trigger word or phrase that sparks interest. They also either pose a question or offer more information about a topic, thus, they are educative and helpful.

When creating this title, you can be very creative!

It’s great for combining a few title examples in one. For example, “Keyword” + “Question?” title or “Keyword” + “Everything You Need To Know” title. 

• “…: An Eye-Opening Guide”
• “…: Should You… Or…?”
• “…: X Strategies On How To…”
• “…: Here’s Why You Shouldn’t…”
• “…: Mistakes To Avoid When…”

Also, check the posts below. Are the trigger words in the titles challenging?

1. Adopting Marketing Automation: Key Challenges And Solutions (read).
2. Personal Branding: How To Go From Zero To Hero In No Time (read).
3. Writers: You Don’t Have To Starve (If You Do This) (read).

Let’s now brainstorm for an idea and write our own “Keyword” title. What would you say for Swiss watches?

Idea: Swiss Watches.

Good Title: Swiss Watches: Why Are They The Best?

Great Title: Swiss Watches: 10 Reasons Why They Are The Best.

Perfect Title: Swiss Watches: 10 Reasons Why They Are No. 1 On The Market.

#12 “Increase Your… With…” Titles.

This type of title lets you be very flexible about the choice of the first word. It might be “increase,” “get more” or “be better.” There are many possibilities, so do some brainstorming!

“Increase Your… With…” title works because it’s to the point and states exactly what the article is going to be about.

Let’s take a look at common variation of the title above:

• “Boost… With…”
• “Get More… With…”
• “Create Better… With…”
• “Become… With…”
• “Sell More… With…”

Also, check these 3 posts from authority websites. Are the titles of the articles intriguing?

1. Boost The Relevance Of Your Content With Benefits And Features (read).
2. Get More Fans, Followers, And Shares With These 6 Social Media Marketing Tools (read).
3. Boost Your Social Automation With Artificial Intelligence (read).

Now, try to create your own “Increase Your… With…” title following my table:

Idea: Weight Loss.

Good Title: Lose Weight By Exercising.

Great Title: Lose Weight With These Fat-Burning Exercises.

Perfect Title: Lose More Weight Faster With These 12 Fat-Burning Exercises.

#13 “Stop Doing This” Titles

This is a very interesting title that I have spotted on a number of websites. Why does it work?

The “Stop Doing This” title works because it teaches you an important lesson on something you’re doing but shouldn’t do, and tells you why it’s wrong or what will you gain if you refrain from doing that.

Check this interesting, creative ways in which you can use “Stop Doing This” title:

• “Stop Doing… For Better…”
• “… Myths You Need To Stop Believing Now”
• “Stop Being…: Here’s How…”
• “Stop Ruining… With…”
• “Stop Making These X… Mistakes When…”

Now, take a look at the posts below. Are they popular? How many people clicked them and shared on social media?

1. 9 Social Media Etiquette Rules You Need To Stop Breaking (read).
2. These Are The Things Your Startup Needs To Stop Doing Immediately (read).
3. Stop Making These 12 Word Choice Errors Once And For All (read).

Are you ready to create these yourself? Let’s first try to do it together!

Idea: Writing.

Good Title: Stop Making These Grammar Mistakes.

Great Title: Stop Making These 15 Grammar Mistakes.

Perfect Title: Want To Be A Professional Writer? Stop Making These Common 15 Grammar Mistakes.

Are you getting the hang of improving your topics? Isn’t it easy?

#14 “… Vs…” Titles

This is a simple comparison of two items, thoughts or ideas. Sometimes you might come across a similar title, that is “The Differences Between,” but it’s long and ordinary. On the other hand “… Vs…” title is short and to the point.

“…Vs…” titles get many clicks because people find comparisons useful. Before downloading a program or buying a new equipment we want to know up front if it’s better than other items available on the market.

Here’s how you can insert “…Vs…” phrase into your title:

• “…Vs…: Which One Should You Buy?”
• “…Vs…: Which One Works Better With…”
• “…Vs…: What Is Better (For Your…)?”
• “… Vs…: How To…”
• “… Vs…: A Guide To…”

Also, here are a few posts featuring the above title. Do their headlines draw attention?

1. Content Marketing Vs. Native Advertising: What’s A Better Value? (read).
2. CRO Vs. SEO: Which One Should You Focus On Right Now? (read).
3. Email Newsletters Vs. Content Notifications: A Head-To-Head Comparison (read).

Now, let’s create another equally unique title following the common “… Vs…” template:

Idea: Glasses And Contact Lenses.

Good Title: Glasses Vs. Contact Lenses.

Great Title: Glasses Vs. Contact Lenses: Which Should You Buy?

Perfect Title: Glasses Vs. Contact Lenses: Which Should You Buy And Why?

#15 “The Simple…” Titles

The last title we’re going to discuss is “The Simple” title. Doesn’t it speak for itself? Simple title, simple ideas, simple solutions, simple remedies… Doesn’t the promise of being simple encourage you to read the post?

“The Simple” title is eye-catching because of the word “simple” which promises that in the article you’ll find ideas or solutions to your problems that are NOT complicated, hard to understand or difficult to do.

Check some of the creative varieties of “The Simple” title:

• “The Simple X-Step Guide To…”
• “The Simple Solution To…”
• “… Made Simple: X Steps To…”
• “X Simple Tactics That’ll…”
• “A Simple… Strategy For…”

Also, take a look at these three articles. Do they promise help? How many shares do they have?

1. The Simple 3-Step Process For Creating A Winning Content Marketing Strategy (read).
2. Your Simple (Yes, Simple) Guide To Quantum Entanglement (read).
3. 3X Your Email Open Rates In One Week With These 25 Simple Copy Hacks (read).

Now, let’s once again create our own special title. 

Idea: Blog Post Titles.

Good Title: Simple Blog Post Titles.

Great Title: Writing Blog Post Titles Made Simple.

Perfect Title: Writing Catchy Blog Post Titles Made Simple: 12 Steps.

Final Thoughts

As you can see, writing creative, eye-catching titles doesn’t have to be complicated. Remember, when creating your own unique title, combine ideas! Don’t use just one template. Use 2 or 3 and experiment!

Check the title of this blog post. How many templates does it follow? Is it still unique?

As you can see, the KEY to writing a catchy and unique title is to come up with an original idea, expand on it and combine several title templates to make one, perfect title. Be creative!

If you like this article and found it helpful, share it with your friends! If you have other ideas on which titles get many clicks, let me know about them in the comments below.

Emily Johnson is a content creator of OmniPapers and contributor to many online publications on digital and content marketing. You can always find more works of hers on Twitter.

 

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