15 Catchy Title Templates for Blogs

"If a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?"

As an online content writer, you need people to read what you write.

Likewise, you need traffic to your site so people can see what you can offer.

However, if you have no one to read it, it is considered a dud.

This is why catchy titles matter.

Being the first thing people see, it will either grab their attention or bore them.

Think Bored Panda or Nerd Wallet, for example. Why do you think they have so many readers?

It's because their titles are effective, catchy, and don't lie about their content!

Granted, they may have been in this business for longer, but beginner and amateur writers should not worry.

This article will help you write a catchy title so your post can go from a bummer to a winner!

Before Writing Your Headline:

Identify your audience:

Who are you targeting? Who is your intended reader?

Knowing your audience will set the tone and the direction of your article. It will also inform you what is catchy and what is not.

Know your angle:

Many articles have the same content.

Just try typing "British monarchy" on Google. For sure, the search results will be news articles or blog posts that just repeat the same information.

Separate yourself from the pack by giving a different spin on a topic.

Scout the competition:

Check what other blogs or websites are offering and OUTDO them. Are they offering 7 tips? Then you should give 10!

Make yourself the prime source of information about a topic.

Use tools at your disposal

If you want the traffic and the traction, utilise tools such as KWfinder or SEMrush to SEO optimise your post. It can help target keywords and readers as well.

Using such websites can help you curate your content to suit your audience and drive your click-through rates skywards.

Seek Help

If you are stuck on an article or you have an idea but don't know how to flesh it out, check out Inky (that's us!)

When Writing Your Headline:

Make it short but clear

As much as you can, make your headlines crisp and short while being clear with what you are offering.

Ideal headline word count would be between 6 to 12 words.

The number of words matters because people nowadays suffer from "The Goldfish Conundrum", aka people have limited attention to give.

Capitalise on that by giving headlines that are short but sweet.

Examples:

Top 10 Search Engines in the World in 2022
Beginner's Guide to Mindful Meditation During Pregnancy
How to Use Google Keyword Planner
How to Write an Argumentative Essay

Include numbers

Numbers create a sense of value and organisation in your post. Likewise, it makes it easier for your readers to digest.

Social media loves posts with numbers.

Google loves numbers too!

Therefore, if you want to go viral, I suggest you include a number in your headline too.

Examples:

21 Instant Copywriting Tips You Can Use Now
Why a Table of Contents Matters in Your Blog Posts
6 Quick Tips for Writing Titles
How to Easily Lose 10lbs in 2 Weeks

Use marketing words

Research suggests that using words such as tips, tricks, secrets, proofs, reasons, facts, etc. attracts attention while also showing your readers what you offer.

Interestingly, Highrise's analysis showed that using the word "free" boosted their conversion rate by 30%

That said, be sure to avoid the word things. Not only is it not appealing, but it's also ambiguous.

Examples

7 Secrets to a Happy Marriage
4 Best Tricks to Pop the Question
10 Reasons Why You Need to Adopt a Dog

Use Question Words

Trigger your readers' curiosity by using question words such as what, when, where, why, and how.

Using this optimises your post for Google since people usually search in question form.

However, if you will use a question as a headline, do NOT use a closed question.

Betteridge's Law of Headlines argues that closed question headlines can usually be answered with a no. Therefore, your target reader will think there is no point in reading your article. Avoid this.

Examples:

How to Earn S$15,000 in Less Than 30 Days
Why You Need to Invest in Bitcoin
Where is Virtual Reality Headed in 5 Years
What the Amish Can Teach You About Fashion

Appeal to Emotion

Headlines that can stir the reader's emotions are effective. To do this, you need to use superlatives (best, greatest, coolest, biggest, etc).

Also, use words that trigger emotions such as limited, valuable, revolutionary, powerful, special, etc.

A 2012 study has found that headlines with negative superlatives like never or worst performed 30% BETTER than headlines with positive superlatives (worst, lowest, saddest, etc).

So, to make sure readers will be drawn to your work, stir up their emotions!

Examples:

Why Your Competitors Are Beating Your CTRs
Why Your Indecisiveness Could Be Your Relationship's Biggest Enemy
10 Most Terrifying Deep-Sea Creatures That Will Give You Nightmares

Make a Promise (and deliver!)

People use Google or any other search engine to find solutions to their problems. To catch readers' attention, promise them that you can answer their questions. Likewise, doing so sets you up as a dependable source of information.

Not only is this catchy, but it is also SEO-optimised too!

Examples:

The Ultimate Online Content Guide to Establishing Authority and Brand Reputation
Bitcoin is Failing: Here's Why It's a Good Thing
Debunking Weight Loss Myths You Probably Still Believe

Now that we got those out of the way, here are some templates to help you create the catchiest headlines for your blog.

Do know that there is no single perfect headline.

News articles or blog posts online all have different formats. But, they do follow certain formulas.

Therefore, I compiled these into 15 templates that you could use.

I divided these based on what you are planning to write.

Note that all examples were analysed using Capitalize My Title's headline analyser tool to assure the quality, readability, and SEO of each headline.

I also included a short guide on how you can transform your topic into a catchy headline.

Blog Title Templates

1) Got a problem? I have the solution

Entice your readers by offering a solution to their problems. A reader wants to save time so give them the answer.

Is ______ Affecting Your ______?
(Issue): Here's How to Deal with it
How to _______
(Issue): Here's Why
Top (#) Tips to Solving__________
How to _______ in (#) Minutes
(#) Greatest ______Hacks For _____
(#) Easy Fixes to ________

Topic: eating more than one egg a day

Okay Title: You Should Eat More Eggs

Good Title: You Should Eat More Eggs: Here's Why

Catchy Title: You Should Eat at Least Three Eggs a Day: Here's Why

2) I know something you don't

Ensnare your readers with the curiosity gap by claiming that you know something they don't. You know what they say, curiosity killed the cat!

The Truth Behind ________
(#) Secrets to _________
Top (#) ______ You Didn't Know About
(#) Unspoken Rules About______ Every ______ Should Know
(#) ______ Facts ________ Need to Know
Secrets to ________ That Will Change Your Life
Little Known Ways to ______
Here are (#) ________ No One Will Tell You
(#) ______ I Wish I Knew Sooner
(#) ______ You Probably Didn't Know
(#) Dirty Little Secrets of ______
The _____ No One is Using
(#) ________ the Experts Won’t Tell You

Topic: Studying

Okay Title: College Study Hacks

Good Title: 7 Study Hacks I Used in College

Catchy Title: 7 Study Hacks I Wish I Knew Sooner

3) Let's lean in to the fun

Spark your reader's desire to read your article by giving them something novel/fun/quirky/weird.

(#) Strange _____ You Need to See
(#) Weird Ways to Increase Your____
How to ____ Like A ______
(#) ____ That your ______ Will Surely Love

Topic: Dog Car seats

Okay Title: Dog Car Seats Every Dog Parent Needs

Good Title: Here are Some Car Seats Your Dog Will Surely Love

Catchy Title: 13 Dog Car Seats That Your Pup Will Paw-Sitively Love

4) Are you scared? Good.

Play on your readers' fears and insecurities. Fear of failure or making mistakes, for example, are great motivators. Capitalise on that fact while encouraging your readers. You're sure they'll get hooked.

Why Most People Will Never Succeed in _______
(#) _____ Mistakes To Stop Making Now
(#) Mistakes to Avoid When _______
Why Everyone is Doing _____ and You Should Too
Why Experts Don't ________ (and You Shouldn't Either)
How I Got ____ and You Can Too!
(#) ____ That Will Break Your _____
How Not to Become A _______
(#) Beginner Mistakes on ____ You Should Avoid
(#) Biggest ______ Mistakes and What You Can Do About Them
Warning: Don’t ______
Do You Still Waste Time Doing _____?

Topic: Writing a news article

Okay Title: Mistakes to Avoid When Writing a News Article

Good Title: 7 Mistakes to Avoid When Writing a News Article

Catchy Title: 7 Serious Mistakes to Avoid When Writing a News Article

5) Let's be informed!

Tap into a reader's desire to sound smart by using slick and savvy headlines.

(#) Most Strategic Ways to Accelerate Your ______
How to ______
(Topic/issue): What Is It and What ________
The Go-Getter's Guide To _______
(#) Clever Tools to Simplify Your _______
(#) No-Nonsense ________
(#) Savvy Ways to _______
(#) Smart Strategies to ______
How to _______: (#) _______

Topic: Organising your bookshelves

Okay Title: Should You Organise Your Bookshelves?

Good Title: Tips for Organising Your Bookshelves

Catchy Title: How to Best Organise Your Bookshelves

6) Let's have a heart-to-heart, shall we?

Appeal to your reader's emotions so you can be seen as relatable and endearing. Position yourself as if you are about to share your truths and secrets. The point is to allow your audience to learn from your experience.

An Open Letter to________
Why It’s Absolutely Okay To_______
To the ______ Who Will Settle for Nothing Less Than ____
How I got ____ and You Can Too!
(#) Things I Wish I Had Known When ________
(#) Reasons Why I Don’t _______
(#) Heart-warming Stories of ______
Dear _____: You’re Not ______
Confessions of a _______
Why I’m ______
The Best ______ I've Ever Gotten
What It Is Like to Be _______
What I Learned From _______
Top (#) ______ I Absolutely Love
The ________ That Helped Me _____
How I Turned Out to Be _____
What It Feels Like to ______-

Topic: Self-identification

Okay Title: Why Self-Identification Shouldn't Be a Thing

Good Title: Have You Lost Your Self-Identity?

Catchy Title: 7 Reasons Why I Don't Self-Identify

7) I know what I'm doing, so let me guide you.

Situate yourself as the primary/ main source of information. No nonsense, no fluff. Just instructions and information. Sure, they are lengthy, but it provides readers with a complete solution/ answer to a problem.

The Ultimate Guide to________
The Definitive Guide to _______
The Beginner’s Guide to _______
How to ______: A ______ Survival Guide
The Complete Guide to ______
A Step-By-Step Guide to _____
An In-Depth Guide to _____
The Advanced Guide to ______
Everything You Need to Know About _______
______: Everything You Need to Know Before _____
The Ultimate Cheat Sheet on _______
How Did I ______: The Complete Guide

Topic: optimising content

Okay Title: Optimising Content for SEO

Good Title: How to Optimise Content for SEO?

Catchy Title: The Ultimate Guide to Optimising Content for SEO

8) Do You desire change? Let me help

Encourage your readers to embrace change. Sure, it can be frightening, but change brings learning, right? Who doesn't want that?

Forget _____ and Try _____ Instead
Why _____? When You ______
Stop Making These _____ Mistakes
(#) _____Myths You Need to Stop Believing Now
Stop Ruining _____ With________
(#) Life-Changing Ways to _______
(#) ______ That Will Change Your Life
(#) Ways to Master Your _______
(#) Ideas to Supercharge Your _____
Want to ______? Now You Can!
Create Better ______ With _______

Topic: Music production

Okay Title: 15 Technical Mistakes in Music Production

Good Title: Stop Making These 15 Techincal Mistakes

Catchy Title: Become a Successful Music Producer: Stop Making These 15 Technical Mistakes

9) Believe me, these are proof-laden and data-driven

Assure your audience that you offer factual, data-driven, research-backed information. Since misinformation is everywhere, it will help your brand to establish authority over a topic by claiming your work as evidence-based.

The Science of ______
(#) Time-Tested Formulas for ______
________, Backed by Science
(#) Easy Methods to _____ That Are Proven to _____
Guaranteed Methods to ______
What (#) Studies Say About ____
The Definitive Proof That ______ Are ______
(#) Fool-Proof Tactics to Get You More ______
(#) Proven Ways to _______
(#) Evidence-Based Facts About _______
(#) Data-Driven Tips to _______
(#) Science-Backed Ways to ________
(#) Essential ______ Metrics to _______

Topic: writing research papers

Okay Title: How to Write a Good Research Paper

Good Title: 10 Tips to Improve Writing Research Papers

Catchy Title: 10 Proven Ways to Improve Your Research Paper Writing Skills

10) Need something fuzzy and warm?

Inspire your readers through these awe-inspiring headlines. Given the state of the world, sometimes, people seek to feel impressed, amazed, and awed. Be the one to give it to them.

(#) Samples of _____ to Inspire You
(#) Amazing ____ to Try Right Now
(#) Amazing Stories of ______
(#) Insanely Powerful _____ You Need to ______
(#) Most Awe-Inspiring _________ to ________
(#) Incredible Things Made by _______
(#) Stunning Examples of _________
(#) ________ That Will Motivate You Today

Topic: Random acts of kindness

Okay, Title: Notable Random Acts of Kindness Stories

Good Title: 41 Insanely Powerful Stories of Random Acts of Kindness

Catchy Title: 10 Amazing Stories of Random Acts of Kindness

11) Looking for something shocking? I got you

Ignite your audience's sentiments by offering something ridiculous or controversial.

Why Most ______ Experts Are Wrong About the _______
Why You Shouldn't ______
(#) Out of This World ______
(#) Surprising Elements of ______
Here's Why the ________ Are Failing
(#) Outrageous _______
(#) Strangest _______
(#) Disturbing ______
(#) Bizzare ______
(#) Shocking _________
(#) Surprising _________

Topic: scientific discoveries

Okay Title: 9 Bizzare Scientific Discoveries

Good Title: 7 Scientific Discoveries in 2021

Catchy Title: Top 10 Strangest Scientific Discoveries and Phenomena of 2021

12) Who said comparisons are not good?

Arouse your readers' interest through comparisons. Not only will doing so be informative, but it will also be interesting. If a reader is at a point weighing their options, this article will be relevant for them.

______ vs________
Are You a _______ or a __________?
The Most ______ and the Least ________
Why _______ is Better Than _______
Advantages and Disadvantages of ______
What Are the Pros and Cons of ________

Topic: glasses or contacts

Okay Title: Difference Between Glasses and Contact lenses

Good Title: Advantages and Disadvantages of Contact Lenses and Glasses

Catchy Title: Contact Lenses vs. Eyeglasses: Which Are Best for You?

13) This is important, so please listen!

Catch your audience's attention by making your title appear important. People read articles that invoke the need to know. By creating a sense of urgency, readers will be drawn to what you write.

(#) Key Benefits of _______
Top (#) Rules of _______
The Most Effective Tactics to _______ That You Need to Know
(#) ______ You Need Immediately
(#) Must-Read____ on ______
Top (#) Tips For _____ That You Absolutely Can't Miss
(#) Best _______ Hacks for Success
Your Number 1 Tip to _______
(#) Powerful Ways for You to _______
(#) Biggest Practical Benefits ______

Topic: online marketing

Okay Title: Here’s How to Market Yourself Online

Good Title: Boost Your Sales Through Online Marketing

Catchy Title: 7 Key Benefits of Online Marketing

14) I have a question for you

Answer people's questions by using a question as a title. People search using questions, and using a question as a headline makes your article not only SEO optimised but also very relevant.

How ________?
When Should You ______?
_________? Here's Why
__________? An Inside Look At ________
Which _________?
What _________?
Why ________?
When_________?
Is _________?

Topic: Credit score

Okay Title: Definition and Purpose of Credit Score

Good Title: What is a Credit Score?

Catchy Title: What is a Good Credit Score? A Definitive Guide

15) Sure, it's basic, but it's good!

Attract your target audience's attention by using these common but catchy titles. Sure, these may have been overused, but these are tried and tested as effective.

How to ________
How to Find _____
How to Create _______
How to Use __________
How to Play______
How to Build _______
(#) Ways to ________
(#) Creative Ways to _______
(#) Types of ______
(#) Steps to________
(#) Reasons to______

Topic: creating a website

Okay Title: How to Make a Website

Good Title: Here's How to Create a Website

Catchy Title: 7 Creative Ways to Create a Website

Final Thoughts

Writing a headline is not easy.

Even I, who is writing a whole article on writing catchy titles, had, at first, assumed that it is simple and effortless to write catchy headlines.

However, that is not the case.

I had to consider many variables just to make sure I could reach my intended readers and that my content would appear in Google's search results.

From who my audience is to what keywords I am to target, I had to take note of them all.

SEO-optimising an article is good. But it has to be paired with an attention-grabbing headline.

REMEMBER: Titles influence your conversion and bounce rate. Likewise, it impacts whether people will click on your snippet on Google.

It also affects whether people will share your piece on social media.

Having said that, I hope that this compilation of tried and tested headline templates can help you write catchy titles that will captivate your audience, get many clicks, get shared online, and get to Google's search engine result page.

If you found this article helpful, feel free to drop a comment, bookmark the page, or share it with others.

If you have time, check out our other posts, or if you need help, send us a message here at Inky, and we'll try to help you out.

Happy writing!