8 Tips For Writing Effective Chamber Blog Titles

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They say never judge a book by its cover. And maybe they have a good point – after all, how much can you really tell about the contents of a book, just by giving it's cover a quick glance?

On the other hand, I think people have every right to judge your blog post by it's title.

THE POWER OF A GREAT TITLE

The purpose of a blog title is to grab a potential reader's attention and describe the contents of the post. As the writer, it is your job to create a blog post title that is accurate and informative and breaks through the clutter. If your chamber blog title doesn’t promise readers any value, no one is going to read it.

Writing your chamber blog title should be taken just as seriously as writing your actual post. Famous copywriter John Caples, (you can learn more about him at this HardToFindSeminars article) namesake of the coveted Caples Marketing and Communications Award, once said, "I spend hours on headlines - days if necessary. And when I get a good headline, I know that my task is nearly finished. Writing the copy can usually be done in a short time, if necessary. And that advertisement will be a good one, that is, if the headline is really a 'stopper.'"

So, you know why it's important to write a compelling blog title. But how do you do it? In today’s post, I have shared 8 tips for writing compelling chamber blog titles that will attract more readers.

8 Tips for Writing Attention-Grabbing Chamber Blog Titles

1) Write it first.
Take John Caples' advice, and write your title first. This way, you define the focus of your blog post and set yourself up to write something highly valuable.

2) Keep it short and sweet.
A good rule of thumb is to keep your blog title under 70 characters. That way, the entire title will fit neatly within a 140-character-limit tweet or a Google search results listing. Besides, you only have a split second to grab someone’s attention!

3) Spell out the benefit.
A blog post is only valuable if it provides a benefit to the reader. Include the benefit in your blog title as often as possible.

4) But don’t make any promises you can’t keep.
In some cases, boasting that you know “5 Ways To Become a Millionaire by Sundown” is an innocent hyperbole. But on your chamber blog, you’ll want to be truthful and 100% accurate in order to avoid trouble.

5) Include long-tail keywords.
Attract your target audience by including very specific keywords (AKA long-tail keywords, as defined by Hubspot) in your chamber blog title. To best optimize your blog title, do some research to determine the exact keywords your audience uses to search.

6) Use “you.”
When appropriate, speak directly to your audience by using the word “you” or “your.” Not only does this add a personal touch, but it also helps the reader visualize the personal benefits of reading your blog post.

7) Create a sense of urgency.
Telling your audience they “Must Read Now” or “Should Know” can light a fire under their feet and get them to click. It implies that your blog post is vitally important. Just be sure your content is worthy of such urgency.

8) Speak naturally.
The blog dress code is strictly business casual. Yes, you are providing valuable information to an audience of professionals - but you are also speaking to your audience on a more personal level. Use natural language (like contractions) in your blog post titles to make them more human-friendly.

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Some blogging pros have suggested you spend 50% your time writing a title and 50% of your time writing the actual post. Even if you can’t afford to spend that much time on your title, it’s still important to give it careful consideration. I hope this blog post gave you some insight into the importance of a good chamber blog title, as well as some valuable tips for writing one. Anytime you find yourself in a writer’s block, check back here, or take a look at the article How to Master the Art of Exceptional Blog Titles. 

Remember, people are judging your blog by its title. So you better make it a good one!

Join me next week for an exciting new series: Social Media Marketing for Chambers

[DOWNLOAD] 9 BLOG TITLE FORMATS FOR CHAMBERS

We have created a list of blog title formats and examples to inspire your next great blog title. This list includes ideas like The “How To,” The Name Drop, and more!

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