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7 PRACTICAL TIPS ON HOW TO WRITE SEO HEADLINES IN 2025

March 29, 2025

by Ruth Adeyemi with No Comment Content SEO

Imagine spending hours upon hours writing phenomenal content, only for your blog to sit in the dark corners of the Internet—invisible to your audience and search engines. On average, it takes over four hours to write a great post, and let’s be honest—the least you’d expect is for people to see your hard work.

But how much of that content gets traffic? 7.5 million blog posts are published daily; over 90% get little to no attention.

For years, people have focused on other SEO strategies like keywords, backlinks, or site speed while barely paying attention to one of the most crucial factors: how to write SEO headlines. But here’s a shocking truth: 6 out of 10 people share an article after just glancing at the headline, while less than half read the post.

SEO headlines are like the front door to your content: they decide whether your post gets ignored or drives traffic, engagement, and shares. Your headline is the spark that draws readers in, builds their curiosity, and signals to search engines that your content matters.

Knowing how to write SEO headlines that grab attention and pique interest isn’t just a skill; it’s both an art and a science.

This article will guide you on how to write great SEO headlines.

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What Is an SEO Headline?

SEO headlines are titles shown to searchers when a page appears on the search engine results page (SERP). A well-crafted SEO headline can be optimized with important keywords to rank higher in search results, increasing visibility and the chances of clicks (organic traffic).

SEO headlines help search engines understand what a page is about and determine the likelihood of a searcher visiting it.

Why Headlines Matter for SEO

An SEO-friendly headline has a significant function: drawing in users and search engines to your blog. More than just a title, a compelling headline is your first chance to engage readers, improve search engine visibility, and drive traffic by highlighting the importance of your content.

Here’s why you need to learn how to write SEO headlines:

Headlines as an SEO ranking factor

Wooden blocks spelling "SEO" and “ranking” with a magnifying glass beside them

Photos by 8photo on Freepik

Google uses various characteristics, such as headlines, to determine a page’s position in the search results list.

A well-optimized headline improves rankings and helps search engines understand your content. When your headline aligns with the user’s intent, your chances of ranking on the first page of the search results are higher.

Impact on click-through rate (CTR)

Learning how to write SEO headlines and implementing strategic keyword placement is more than getting search engines to recognize your content; it’s about connecting with users actively searching for specific information.

When users find their search term in a headline, they are compelled to click, knowing that the content meets their needs and intent. This increases the organic click-through rate, a metric used to measure how often people click on a search result.

A compelling headline ensures your content is listed naturally in search engines, leading to greater visibility, more clicks, and, ultimately, higher rankings.

Relevance to search queries

One of the most essential factors for visibility is ensuring your content aligns with what users are searching for. A well-written headline that directly matches user queries improves the chances of ranking higher on search engines. Search engines prioritize content that best aligns with user intent, and they know this by how users react to the content.

A relevant headline also signals to users that your content matches their needs, increasing engagement, reducing bounce rates, and improving dwell time.

Headlines impact a brand’s first impression and perception

Headlines communicate what a brand is about in a few words. A vague and non-factual headline will create a negative first impression and can turn users away instantly.

First impressions matter, and a compelling headline establishes credibility and trust by setting the tone for the content that follows.

Beyond engagement, headlines contribute to a brand’s overall reputation. Users subconsciously associate a headline’s clarity and relevance with the content’s authority and the brand behind it.

A well-structured, informative headline builds trust, strengthens brand identity, and ensures your content is perceived as valuable and reliable.

Photo by Tumisu on Pixabay

Elements of a Good SEO Headline

Writing great headlines isn’t about coming up with something you perceive to be “catchy.” It requires an accurate understanding of your audience and the strategic use of proven headline techniques that have consistently grabbed readers’ attention over the years.

The hardest part of crafting a good headline is ensuring it appeals to humans and search engines.

When you think of great SEO titles, think of something clear, not ambiguous, emotional, punchy, concise, and compelling.

Let’s break down what makes a headline click-worthy.

Clarity and accuracy

Headlines are meant to convey a clear message to readers. However, too much creativity can sometimes make the message unclear.

For example, using metaphors or figures of speech that are hard to decipher can be a significant turnoff for users who are quickly skimming through search results.

A headline like “Cracking the SEO Code: The Secret Sauce to Google’s Heart” might sound intriguing, but it’s vague and doesn’t immediately tell users what to expect. Someone looking for SEO strategies might not associate “cracking the code” or “secret sauce” with practical, actionable tips.

In an attempt to be clever, some people resort to exaggerated or misleading claims. For example, “5 Proven Ways to Increase Sales by 1074% in Just Three Days.”

This is an exciting and enticing headline. However, if the content doesn’t deliver on that promise, it destroys credibility.

Always back up your claims with proper research and ensure your title reflects the actual value of your content.

Keyword optimization

Keywords are important in telling search engines whether content matches the user’s intent. Including the target keyword in your SEO headline helps users determine whether your content meets their needs.

The SEO title should contain a primary keyword. However, using unrelated keywords or stuffing your headline with too many keywords can appear to be spamming and can be penalized by search engines.

For example, a title like “Best Weight Loss Tips: Weight Loss Diet for Fast Weight Loss and Weight Loss Exercises” is an obvious case of keyword stuffing.

The phrase “weight loss” is overused unnaturally, making the headline look forced rather than helpful.

A well-optimized title would be “Effective Weight Loss Tips: Best Diet and Exercise for Fast Results.”

This way, the keyword is included strategically without making the title look spammy.

To get the best results:

Ensure the keyword accurately reflects the page’s content
Place the keyword strategically within the title.

Search intent

Search engines evaluate content based on how users interact with it, so every piece of content must align with user search intent.

Every SEO headline should reflect the intent behind a search query. A headline that doesn’t match what users seek can lead to higher bounce and lower click-through rates (CTR).

Also, your SEO title should be tailored to attract the specific audience you want to reach. Two people using the same search query may have different needs or interests.

Photo by Pixabay on pexels

Emotional appeal

A great headline should evoke an emotional response. Humans are psychological beings who act based on emotions, so your headline must compel users to click.

The use of power words and numbers can help you achieve this. Power words trigger a response in searchers that can drive click-through rates and boost conversion. They are persuasive words that push users to take action, either to buy your products, click your headline, join your email list, etc.

Using numbers also clearly shows users what to anticipate. They help to break up a long title. A SearchPilot SEO experiment revealed that deleting a title’s number resulted in a 16% drop in website traffic.

Length and formatting

Did you know your SEO title has limited space on the SERPs? You can be cut off when your headline appears too long. The character count should be between 55 and 60 to avoid being truncated in SERP.

Practical Tips on How to Write SEO Headlines

Here are some of my top practical tips on how to write SEO headlines like a professional:

1. Conduct keyword research.

Creating an SEO-friendly headline starts with solid keyword research.

Whether your content idea comes from your list of content buckets or tools like AnswerThePublic, the next step is analyzing the Search Engine Results Page (SERP) to see what’s already ranking for the same topic.

Here’s how to do it effectively:

Insert your idea in the Google search box.
Search for articles covering the same concept and carefully analyze the first to third page of Google results.
Identify recurring keywords or commonly used phrases in top-ranking headlines.
Pick at least three potential keywords and analyze them using tools like Semrush or Ubersuggest to check for:
- search volume (How many people are searching for it?)
- SEO difficulty (How hard is it to rank for this keyword?)
- paid difficulty (How competitive is it for paid ads?)

Pro Tip: If your brand has little domain authority, avoid keywords with an SEO difficulty score of 50+. Ranking with them is difficult.

2. Analyze SERP and match search intent.

Now that you have your focus keyword, the next step is to analyze the SERP to understand what’s already ranking and what users expect when they search for this term.

To do this:

Search your focus keyword on Google and study the content of the top-ranking pages.
Check the content structure. Is it a guide, how-to post, listicle, or educational post?
Check the headline styles of the top results. What kinds of titles are attracting clicks? What words do they use?
Identify content gaps. What’s missing from existing articles that you can cover better?
Define your target audience. Beginners or advanced users? What do they already know about the topic?

This process gives you a head start on understanding the search intent of the query or term. You can also use the Keyword Overview tool in Semrush or Ubersuggest to gain deeper insights into search intent and audience behavior.

The aim is to create a headline that stands out from the competitors and corresponds with user intent. Users may not respond to a question-based headline if they anticipate a “how-to” guide. Matching search intent gives you a better chance of ranking and attracting visitors.

3. Add power words.

We already have a foundation for the keyword and a draft for the headline. Experiment with different power words to evoke emotions at this stage and ensure that your title gets the most user clicks.

4. Add numbers.

Consider adding a number if it won’t make the title useless. Numbers and statistics tend to improve SEO.

In cases where adding a number is ineffective or does not match your research on search intent, consider adding the year the content was written.

Ensure that the headline matches the content of the article. Your goal isn’t to write a clickbait headline that doesn’t pay off for the reader. Your goal is to deliver what you promise in the headline.

5. Analyze headlines.

Use tools like Sharethrough Headline Analyzer to check your headline’s relevance, clarity, catchiness, context, and emotional impact.

Opt for a percentage that is equal to or higher than 80%.

6. Optimize character count.

Optimize the length of the headline to be between 55 and 60 characters.

Come up with different ideas or tweak the initial headline to ensure it does not exceed the character count.

7. Test headlines.

You don’t have to settle for your initial headline; test different variations by evaluating their performance on social media engagement, analyzing their click-through rate (CTR), and comparing their impact on search rankings.

Refining headlines is a process, and testing ensures you’re using the best version possible.

Pro Tip: Check out SEMRush’s practical template for headline optimization.

three-white-and-black-scrabble-tiles-on-brown-wooden-surface

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels

Final Thoughts

In SEO, visibility and traffic are determined by first impressions. Remember that your headline is the first impression.

The goal of exploring how to write SEO headlines is to balance search intent, clarity, and emotional appeal rather than simply filling them with keywords. An attention-grabbing headline increases click-through rates (CTR) and conveys relevance to search engines.

Apply strategic keyword placement, proper formatting, emotional triggers through power words, and statistics to create a headline that generates clicks, shares, and engagement.

Share additional tips you know on how to write an SEO title in the comments.

14 Powerful Tips on How to Write a Blog post that engages

May 23, 2022

by Hannah Omoye with No Comment Blogging

Have you ever wondered how to write a blog post that is clickable and engages your audience on all fronts?

The first time I wrote an entire blog post, I edited and backspaced a lot. Even when I submitted it for review, I was expecting a load of criticism.

Yes, it wasn’t perfect at first, but from that point till now, I’ve learned a lot of tricks in the trade that get me to a near-perfect blog post that ranks on the first page of Google. I will be sharing these trade secrets in this post, so sit tight and enjoy the ride.

If you are familiar with Search Engine Optimization (SEO), you will know it is specific to both the user and search engines. And all the tips in this post will help your SEO strategy.

But if you are not familiar with SEO, You might want to check out our blog post on SEO writing to learn how to incorporate SEO in writing blog posts.

Have you ever wondered how to write a blog post that is clickable and engages your audience on all fronts? Here are the tricks I've learned that get me to a near-perfect blog post that ranks on the first page of Google.

What is a blog post?

In simple terms, a blog post is a piece of writing published on a website to entertain or educate. Usually, blog posts are written content but may contain infographics, images, or even embedded videos which are all used to further the purpose of that post.

Elements of a good blog post

What makes a good blog post?

Usually, I would say SEO, but that is just one of the crucial factors that makes a good blog post. There are several other factors your blog post needs to have.

Here’s what makes a good blog post:

Readability
Comprehensiveness
Visually appealing
Self-explanatory
Answers a question
Skimmable
Optimized

SEO is basically making sure your content is optimized for search engines, but you also have to think of the people who will read your post.

Now, the fact doesn’t change that SEO cares about the users, but it does not guarantee that every post ranking high has valuable content. I’ve seen high-ranking posts with less value than expected.

Why should you learn how to write a blog post that is engaging?

A lady is holding a pen and writing with a mug of coffee on her desk. Tips on how to how to write a blog post that is highly engaging. — Photo by Green Chameleon on Unsplash

There are several reasons why your blog post needs to be engaging. Some are

It increases your chances of getting return visits
It increases your conversion rates
It establishes a connection with the audience
It increases the possibility of users sharing your post on social media
It moves the readers to comment, and this is a good signal for search engines

How to write a blog post in 14 steps

This is how to write a blog post that magically keeps your audience hooked;

Choose a good topic
Research
Create an outline
Craft a good headline
Give an irresistible intro
Get to the point
Deliver facts with experience
Add a personal touch
Write flow sentences
Use short paragraphs
Insert additional references
Use infographics
Finish off strongly
Promote your posts

1. Choose a good topic

When selecting what topic you want to write about, you must first be clear about your niche, target audience, and content bucket.

You also have to choose a topic that you and the audience will love.

Writing can be a bit tasking and overwhelming, so you want to select a topic that interests you, piques your curiosity, and energizes you.

When I have a massive workload, including writing a good and optimized blog post, I opt for topics that I’m more familiar with and are less technical.

By doing this, I reduce the mental stress associated with technical blog posts, meet up with deadlines, and also write a killer post.

Use the right tools to conduct topic research and focus on user-generated content from platforms like answerthepublic and Quora.

Optimize these topic ideas and move to the next step.

2. Research

Ubersuggest and Google pretty much got you covered on research. Research the topic to see if it’s an existing subject that people talk about. Study patterns of previously published posts (the headline, content structure, word count, and outline).

It’s basically fieldwork to get a lay of competitors’ work and do better than what they already have.

Research also helps you optimize your content for search engines. When your topic is a current subject, your keywords are on point, and your writing is superb, search engines will love you.

3. Create an outline

I learned that creating an outline works miracles (not literally, though).

Before creating an outline, I optimize all my ideas and have my headlines sorted out. This is to let me fully understand the entirety of the post; what it should and should not contain.

When you fully grasp what your blog post is about, you create an imaginary boundary around it that lets you know when you are going off point and gets you into your audience’s mind to predict what they will want to see in that type of blog post.

A lady is writing on a desk with a cup of coffee, her iPad, laptop, and a few books. — Photo by Thought Catalog on Unsplash

Your outline should have three parts:

Introduction
Body
Conclusion

Many things can make up the body of your blog post; it could be reasons, elements, factors, benefits, or definitions, depending on the subject at hand.

When I wanted to write this blog post, I made an outline that contained what I thought my readers would like to see.

This isn’t just a guessing game. You need to check other reference posts, research questions users frequently ask about the subject, and insert questions that can easily be explained as part of your main content.

4. Craft a good headline

Recently, I wrote a post about Proven ways you can make money blogging in 2022. It was a perfect blog post with thorough research, statistics, comprehensive explanations, and in-depth points. Still, I was surprised to see other posts doing better because, in my opinion, this particular post was the BOMB!

So, I started analyzing the post and saw that nothing was wrong with the keywords or content, but the headline was the possible cause.

Headline rules you should follow:

Your headline should NOT be completely different from existing headlines.
Your headline should have your focus keyword or, at the very least, one of your keywords.
It should be similar but not the same as any existing headline. You can verify this by adding a quotation mark to the headline and searching on a good search engine (Google, Bing, etc.)
Make your headline a very long-tail keyword. This means making your headline something that a searcher can type out when searching as much as possible. This increases the chances of your post popping up for that search query because it is precisely what the searcher is looking for.
Your headline should not be more than 70 characters. I keep mine at 60 and the highest at 65.
Use numbers, trigger words, and add a promise at the end (what the reader will gain from the post).

5. Give an irresistible intro

Now that you’ve gone through all the trouble of getting a good topic, researching, creating a headline, and even an outline, your introduction will determine if your reader will stay through to the end or keep reading. The introduction is where you put your copywriting skills to work.

The introduction can be as long as 10-20 sentences, but what matters most is the first 2-3 lines, known as the hook. This is where you hook your readers and let them in on what you are offering. You want them curious and anticipating the rest of the post.

There are different types of introductions:

Sharing a story
Empathizing with a pain point
Giving mind-blowing statistics
Asking a question
Going straight to the subject matter
Stating a well-known fact
Addressing a controversy
Sharing what they will learn at the end of the post

Whichever introduction you decide to go with, you want to make sure that it is delivered well and don’t forget to add your focus keyword naturally in the first 10% of your post.

6. Get to the point

Your introduction should already give your readers insight into what they are about to read. Get to the point of the post.

It would help if you gave a background explanation before hitting the nail on the head. This is where your outline helps you, and your outline already gives you what you need to write and be on point.

Although there are times when you suddenly come up with an idea while writing, it’s all good as long as it is related to the subject and not just added words to increase your word count.

7. Deliver facts with experience

The body of your post is expected to contain verified data and facts. Statistics cover a lot, especially from authority websites, but you can also add personal experiences.

If you notice in this post, I have been adding my experience regarding writing blog posts because I want to connect with you and make you aware that I understand the struggles and that I’ve been there as well.

Your experience is also a fact, so make sure to add it to your post regardless of your niche.

8. Add a personal touch

Your personal touch equates to your personality. Let your personality reflect in your writing (if you are a humorous person, sassy, casual, etc.) Your brand tone should be informative, authoritative (I highly advise against this, though), relaxed, luxurious, etc.

Your writing should be identifiable to your audience and shouldn’t differ from one blog post to another.

9. Write flow sentences

A man sitting on a chair holds his left fist to his mouth while using the other hand to type on his laptop. — Photo by Opollo Photography on Unsplash

Flow sentences are significant when writing blog posts. You don’t want to write a blog post where one paragraph is disjointed from the next.

The reader needs to be able to move smoothly from one sentence to the next, and without this, it is impossible to understand the full intent of the post. You can achieve sentence flow by using punctuation and connecting words correctly.

Also, when you are moving on to the next paragraph, make sure it is not entirely different from the previous one.

If you are bringing up an entirely new point, it is best to use it as a subheading instead, as this lets the reader know that the previous conversation has ended and another one is beginning.

10. Use short paragraphs

Long paragraphs shouldn’t be found in your blog posts. Most readers skim through a post till they find what they are looking for.

Short paragraphs make your post skimmable, which improves the user experience and encourages the reader to go through each line.

11. Insert additional references

Additional references are external links you insert in your blog post to let readers know that they are verified facts. It can also include links to your other content or social media pages.

If you own a website and have a YouTube account with videos related to the subject matter, you can insert links to them naturally within the post.

12. Use infographics

Infographics give a summary of your post in a visual format. Most readers actually appreciate infographics because it saves them a lot of time, and they can easily download and share them on their social media pages.

This is also a win for you because they do the marketing for the post without you paying a dime. Make sure to insert your website URL on the infographics so it is not pirated on the web.

It is best to insert the infographics earlier in the post and use Alt Text to describe it to search engines.

13. Finish off strongly

Your conclusion is just as important as your body. For readers who usually skim through to the end of posts, your introduction can convince the reader to read through the body.

When writing your conclusion, these are the main points you need to note:

Summarize the main point
Keep it short
Emphasize the benefits
Use a CTA
Link to related and relevant contents
Provide clear, actionable steps for implementing

14. Promote your posts

Your writing doesn’t stop at writing, and you need to promote this on your social media platforms and social apps.

Also, create links to social media platforms that the readers can use when they intend to share your content.

Create awareness as much as you can and sit back for the magic effect.

FINAL THOUGHTS

These tips are essential and should be used for all of your posts. At SARMLife, we’ve kept our blog posts ranking very high on search engines, and these tips are what we implement when writing each blog post.

Your next blog post will be able to cross that milestone using these tips.

The goal is not just to have your blog posts visible when people search for them but to be able to hook your readers, reduce the bounce rate for your site, and make them return to your blog.

You should save this post or download the Pinterest infographic and return to it when you want to write your next blog post.

Do you utilize any of these tips while writing your posts, or are some of them new to you? Share other tips you use while writing that have worked out for you.

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