Your title is the ad for your content below and it has to convince your website visitors that your content has the answers they are looking for. 

The title alone can make or break the level of success of your website. 

Writing effective titles that get your website visitors to read further is both an art and a science.

There are basic, proven principles you need to follow to write the titles that will grab your visitor's attention:

Rule #1: Talk clearly about your main benefits

Start by writing down all of the things that set you apart from your competitors. Write out what features are unique to your business and what issues or problems you help customers solve better than your competition. Next, turn these features into benefits and make sure you put the most important one in your title. The words that you choose to describe your service or product should give insight into the value you offer. General adjectives like "awesome" "great" and "inexpensive" don't allow your organization to stand out from the crowd.

Rule #2: Conduct keyword research

Use keyword research tools like Moz and Semrush to uncover the exact phrasing your customers use when they’re searching for a solution to their problem. Incorporate these phrases into your titles.

Rule #3: Align your titles with the content below

Look at each paragraph of your content closely and asking yourself: 

What is this paragraph about? What is the most important part about this paragraph? What do I want the reader to take from this paragraph?

Your title should accurately reflect the most important point the content makes. It should answer the following question: Does my reader care?

Rule #4: Keep it short, simple, and to the point

Your title on your homepage should be between 5 and 12 words. Say only what you need to say. Too many words and your site visitors will skip reading the headline or miss the point altogether.  Too few words and you risk a vague, bland headline that cannot convey your brand. Clear titles don’t play with words or try to make a joke. Most people will miss it. The title should simply answer your audience’s question “What’s in it for me?”

Rule #5: Tell your audience what to do

Create a title with a command in it (call-to-action). Tell your audience what they have to do to get the value you are offering. Be direct and demand action. You, the expert, tell them to act in a certain way.

Rule #6: Don’t get too clever

Creative slogans are fun to write, but they’re not very effective. Remember, the goal of your title is to tell your visitor how your business can help them.

Rule #7: Don’t use buzzwords

Don’t get caught up in industry jargon—what’s everyday language to you could be completely foreign to your visitors. Use the words they would use to describe their pain points and the benefits of what you offer. Choose your words carefully, and above all, make sure your visitor understands what you’re trying to tell them.

Rule #8: Use positive words

Because you want your reader to connect with your title, make sure it’s positive and that it advocates for them. 

Rule #:9 Don't use questions

Phrasing your message in the form of a question is tempting, but a question has the potential of making your visitor feel uncomfortable.

Rule #10: Address your visitors directly

Address the reader directly by using the words “You” and "Your". Understand the target audience and make a connection by writing in their everyday language.

Rule #11: Try as many variations as possible 

It takes numerous attempts to come up with attention-grabbing titles. Write down as many variations of your title as you can possibly think of. Try exciting, vivid descriptions to get your message across. Each attempt that doesn't work gets you one step closer to a headline that will WOW your visitors.                            

Rule #12 You don't have to finish your title first

Because title writing can be a bit of an art, your best work will require getting into the groove. For some, writing the title first works best and for others it's the last piece of the puzzle. Try writing a "first-draft title" for guidance and or inspiration. Remember, it's a draft.