Do you want your articles to be indexed and searched? Using the right words in your title makes a big difference to reader views and earnings.
Perhaps the most important aspect of writing for the Internet is knowing how to craft article titles that are search engine friendly. You expend time and effort creating articles and want to ensure that they get read.
The title is the starting point, the launching pad, as it were, for your article. Make sure you use words that help search engines determine exactly what your article is about.
In order to create a good search engine friendly title you need to “think” like a search engine.
For example, you’ve written a great article about nuts and you are sure that everyone will want to read about them.
Let’s pretend you are a search engine. You come across the word “nuts” in an article title. Now, you have to consider which nuts are being detailed in the article but . . . the title doesn’t clarify this. Hmmm . . . nuts . . . as in crazy? As in nuts and bolts? A colloquial expression? A snack? A health food?
If search engines were capable of nervous breakdowns, the Internet, as we know it, would be history!
Triond has a great little section that you should memorize and return to, repeatedly. In Triond’s Help Center > Submissions, article titles are discussed. An explanation is given as to why you shouldn’t get too fancy with your titles or too creative. Remember, a search engine isn’t a human, so it doesn’t respond emotionally to an article title.
Understanding article titles and how they work will help you to create search engine friendly article titles that are indexed and ultimately find a home on the Internet.
Further Reading:
August 21st, 2008 at 3:18 am
On the other hand, an interesting title will attract more readers when they see it. This is especially important if you want to use things like Digg or Stumble to advertise your work.
August 21st, 2008 at 4:16 am
Nice work Athlyn
August 21st, 2008 at 8:54 am
Hi Evis,
Yes, an interesting title will attract readers and that’s where your subtitle comes in. Here you become more descriptive, enlarging on your first few words. But remember, in order for readers to see your title, the search engines/spiders have to be able to determine its value via algorythms and index it accordingly. Using good keywords in your title and being specific can make the difference as to where your piece appears–and that, in the end, is what will determine how many potential readers see it.
When I submit to Digg or Stumble, I always try to create an interesting description to draw reader attention.
August 21st, 2008 at 8:55 am
Hi RJ, Thanks!
September 13th, 2008 at 6:26 pm
I have found myself that a published work has to have a interesting title in order to bring people in to read the article. Great article and tips for the new beginners here at Triond. Thanks for the info!