The most important word in any blog post is the first word of the title. Here's why.
When a prospect in one of your markets is searching for a company like yours, that first word they use in their search may well determine if your site shows up on page one.
Lazy Words
Obviously, if you start your posts with lazy words like "the" — you have already slipped a notch. There is a reason why they made it a point in the film The Social Network to showcase Sean Parker's suggestion (played by Justin Timberlake) to rename The Facebook simply - Facebook. It's cleaner.
Your blog titles should consist of simple, concrete words that are most frequently used by the majority of your ideal customers. Then follow with modifying words that further describe your post, preferably with some flair to spark curiosity.
The first word gets you found. The ones after that get your post read.
Word Order
My work with small businesses largely involves social media. So, I have to ask myself if my prospects are more likely to search for social media for small business … or, small business social media. That order could make the difference in me getting found.
You have to make choices. My suggestion is to try multiple searches yourself and then determine where the highest quality content is rising to the top. You want to be associated with that elite group. Keep a log of these keyword phrases and use the best ones often.
Economy of Words
When you use too many words in your titles you dilute your best keywords.
Make an effort to get the best title you can by eliminating lazy words and any others that don't make a serious contribution. Take the title of this post. Every word makes a contribution. I could have titled it SEO for Blog Titles, but my decision was to go with blog first.
Why? Blogging is a significant aspect of my consulting work. For my small business audience, it will be searched more frequently than SEO.
Experiment with this and let me know how it works for you.
If this has been useful – be a friend and click on that Facebook Like button to share it with YOUR friends!
Until tomorrow, Jeff
It’s easy to dismiss ideas like lazy words because they seem overtly simple, but if you think about it, that’s the most fundamental thing in SEO.
thanks Jeff great post!
Great post! I agree. You must be innovative when creating blog post.
Brian – Thanks. That means a lot coming from a pro like you!
Jeff
Outsourcing – Agree – when it comes to SEO, it all matters.
Jeff
The title of the post is just the start.
You can customize the URL of the post in many blogging platforms like WordPress (not sure about Typepad). This helps as well.
Also, the keyword density throughout the post is critical. I try to shoot for the 4% range so the copy still sounds natural to a reader. This isn’t the easiest thing in the world.
Do you try to optimize each of your posts Jeff or just certain ones? I typically try to optimize only 15% or 20% of mine I bet.
Keep up the good work
Chris – Certainly there is more to SEO than the post, but the point is the title is arguably the most important consideration – and the easiest.
Yes, Typepad allows customization of the title permalink. However, I always focus on simplicity -great title = great link.
And yes, I’m thinking SEO on 100% of my posts. I know its work for some, but for me its a game I enjoy playing – you know, experiment and see what happens.
Thanks for the insights,
Jeff
Blog posts should be creative and interesting so that visitors would really read it. It should be neat, clean and full of ideas.
Thanks for this great tip! Naming a blog and posts correctly can really make a huge difference for search engines
Your welcome. Keep experimenting and you will learn which words work best for you.
Jeff
I run a SEO business. With the current tough times in the market, keeping your business “out of the red” takes smart, informed financial decisions and getting into the SEO world is one of the perfect solutions.
Thanks jeff for your guide to blog title seo.
great way to explain it.