How Important are Blog Post Titles?

[butterflyexperience]

As I search through the Blog Posts list on MN's Blog Network, I'm begining to realise how important post titles for me to read the post. I'm not attracted to posts that have long titles or that don't interest me personally. I am attracted to posts that have catchy short titles and are of general interest to me. What works for you? (apologies for long paragraph my laptops return key doesnt seem to be working!)

[ScatCatShoo]

I am boring, I just use the title of my recipe, plus an English translation. Most people read based on if it interests them I guess. When I don't post a recipe, then I use a quick recap of the post - example - The Canadian Badlands or Summer's Here or something similar.

It depends on what you're blogging about. Food bloggers have it a little easier.

[MadEyeMoodTEE2072]

Actually, I usually start with an idea which sparks a title. If I don't have a title when I start I can't seem to actually write the post.

Titles seem to pop into my head pretty easily. Perhaps the 140 character limit on Twitter is influencing me!! [hgrin]

[moominthecorner]

The tags you choose seem to have an influence on traffic too. I get more hits if I use 'popular' tags like 'family'.

On titles I try to keep them short, mainly because I blog on my phone and the keypad is crap very high tech.

[queenmaeve]

i suppose something catchy is always going to make people click on it, eespecially if someone has your blog listed on their blog page, when it gives the title of your most recent post as well

[FlamingoBingo]

If you want to get more traffic, you need to put key words in the title so that Google etc. can find them easily.

[Typecast]

Blog post titles have to grab me in a way that a book title would or even a forum thread title. Something snappy, clever, witty or even a teaser is great although there are no rules so use what you want.

What is important is that your blog title usually makes up part of the unique URL for your blog post so that helps when people are searching for or returning to your blog to read that particular post.