A well-written headline acts as the gateway to your content and gives a first impression to readers about what to expect in an article.
So make sure it doesn’t suck!
Read on to learn how to write SEO-friendly headlines that will get people to read your content.
What Is an SEO-Friendly Headline?
An SEO headline is the title that’s displayed when a page appears in the search engine results pages (SERPs).
Here is an example of an SEO headline when you search for “meta descriptions.”
The screenshot above displays the results for “meta descriptions.” The names of pages or articles appear in blue and are referred to as “title tags.”
Now, if you proceed to click on the second title tag here is the result.
As you can see, the screenshot shows the web page. The title of the article at the top of the page is the SEO headline. While most people don’t differentiate between a title tag and an SEO headline, the truth is they are not necessarily the same.
In most cases, the title tag visible in the search results matches the HTML<title>tag included in the page’s header.
The title tag will act as your page’s official title and manifest in your browser window when a reader clicks on your headline.
The title tag in this scenario is “What Are Meta Descriptions and How to Write Them” and is similar to the SEO headline.
Why Do Good Headlines Matter?
According to research conducted by Columbia University, close to 60% of social media links have never actually been clicked. Instead, users just glance at the headline and share without reading the link contents.
With new Web3 content being churned out every day, you must create headlines that appeal to your target audience and search algorithms.
The following are the benefits of writing SEO headlines for your Bitcoin and Web3 website:
- Enhance your SEO profile: A compelling and relevant headline can go a long way in improving your search rankings. The higher your link on SERP, the more clicks you receive, so you must consider placing relevant keywords in your headlines. Remember, Google emphasizes how you construct your title tag, so be careful when writing your titles.
- Grab your target audience’s attention: First impressions count, and nothing embodies this more than your SEO headline. If a reader likes your headline, there is a high likelihood they will click on your article. Write a headline that intrigues, interests, or amuses your target audience.
How to Write SEO Headlines That Slap
Now that we know the importance of SEO headlines to your overall content marketing strategy, let’s go through the steps for writing effective headlines.
Select the right keywords
Start by determining the primary keyword of your page since it will appear in your title tag. Include the secondary keywords after to provide more context.
It’s noteworthy that when you add keywords in your SEO headlines, it’s standard practice to position them at the beginning whenever possible.
Match user search intent
The next step would be to analyze the SERP and establish two things: what is ranking for this query, and what are users looking for when they search for this term?
You can use the Semrush Keyword Overview tool to generate a report for your keyword query. The tool will automatically categorize the search intent for this query into one of the four types. You can even further review the SERP and SEO of related pages that already rank.
Use numbers and statistics
You can consider adding numbers and statistics to your headlines whenever relevant. Numbers and statistics enable you to improve your SEO headlines by creating a pattern interrupt that attracts the readers. What’s more, they quantify the message the content conveys, allowing readers to quickly assess the value.
For instance, the headline below starts with the highlights, “15 SEO Tips,” to give insight into the article’s contents.
Keep it simple and clear
When writing your headline, one of the first things you have to consider is keeping your title short. The reason for this is if your headline is too long, Google will shorten it and add […] at the end. The process is called truncation and won’t directly impact your SEO, but it can influence your click-through rate (CTR).
Therefore, it’s advisable to keep your title short enough to fit the search results.
Use an ideal character count
The next stage is to optimize the length of the title to fit within a 600-pixel margin. For this to work, you must shorten the title to 55 to 60 characters.
You can use a tool like Yoast SEO or Moz preview tool to test the title length and view how it will appear in the SERP. This is important in ensuring your target keyword doesn’t get truncated, and if you are adding secondary keywords, brand names, CTAs, and more, you don’t exceed the 60-character limit.
Ask questions
Use questions to create unique, creative headlines that include your main keywords. For instance, imagine you are a reader; which of the following headlines would you most likely be attracted to?
- I can help you plan a beach wedding on any coast
- Planning a beach wedding? Why you need me as your wedding planner
Chances are high that you will go with the second headline as it leads with a question and doesn’t give away everything. Instead, it leaves you yearning for more, so you’ll probably click on the headline to read the article.
Include a CTA
Incorporating a call-to-action (CTA) in your headline is a great way of encouraging readers to access your content. CTAs are usually seen at the end of meta descriptions, but you can add them to your headline to invite readers.
If your main keyword is short and you lack any relevant secondary keywords, you can add a CTA to make it catchy. Headlines like “Check out These X” or “Discover Why Z” can help your content stand out.
Test and refine
The original SEO title you create doesn’t have to remain in the title tag forever. If your headline is not bringing in the results you anticipated, then you might consider trying and testing other headline variations.
Semrush offers an SEO A/B split testing tool known as SplitSignal to measure SEO A/B tests on your headline. Testing and refining your headline tells Google you are keeping your content fresh and positively impacts your search rankings.
H1 vs. Meta Title: What’s the Difference?
Before you start writing your next piece of content, we also need to talk about the Meta title vs. the H1 title because the two are different.
The H1 is displayed physically on your webpage, while your meta title is the element that appears in the search results.
Both H1 and meta titles influence your Google rankings, as they allow the search engine to understand the nature of your content, how relevant it is to a specific search query, and how to rank it in the SERPs.
However, since they serve different functions, you should take the differences into account when writing each.
Need Help Creating Better Content?
Whatever you do today, don’t let your content be an afterthought. Create great content that converts!
If you don’t have the resources internally to do that, hire us to do it for you.
FAQs
What is an example of an SEO-friendly headline?
A great SEO title is clear, concise, and engages your audience. It includes primary keywords and shares the nature of your content accurately. An example of an SEO-friendly headline is “What Makes an SEO Headline Effective? A Deep Dive”
How do I write the best SEO-friendly content?
Create unique, in-depth content that includes relevant keywords and is optimized for human readers. Add keywords in your meta descriptions, and avoid keyword stuffing in your articles. Link your content to external high-authority websites.
How do I make my title SEO friendly?
Start by researching for primary keywords that are competitive and will bring traffic to your website. You can also incorporate long-tail secondary keywords, especially if you want to target more long-tail phrases with less traffic and competition. Next is to daft and optimize your SEO title, keeping the title word count in mind.
Does the case matter in an SEO headline?
The short answer is no. Capitalization won’t affect how your page ranks. However, using a uniform structure like sentence or title case can make it easier for users to read and understand. This works to improve your click-through rate and generates traffic.
