This could be my word of 2009 for this blog. I need to get with the program and focus on what I want this blog to be and what I want my other blog to be. I’ve finally met a possible graphic designer to help me with my grandiose blogging design plans and am dreaming up all sorts of interesting approaches. Stay tuned!
Today, we need to talk about titles. I’ve come across some really interesting and evocative titles on many blogs; others, not so interesting. I thought it would be fun to give several possibilities that I could use for this post and outline some of the really important titling advice I’ve been given by many talented writers and bloggers over the years.
1. KISS! Keep It Simple, Smarty Pants. I’ve seen a few blog posts that try to do too much with very limited space. A long title for this post for instance would be “How To Name Blog Posts So That Your Readers Know What They are In For.” Nope. Let’s just keep it simple: “The Art of Titling Your Blog.” Sound good?
2. Get some attention. So a blog post that says “Status for Monday, Feburary 2, 2009″ wouldn’t really get much attention. How about “Step Right Up! Writing Titles Without Fear!” Right?
3. Try to provide a solution to your readers’ needs. Rather than “Why I Like To Write Titles,” why not try “Titling for Newbies: Five Easy Steps.” Now, we’ve got it.
4. Descriptions work every time. Instead of “The Thing I Did Yesterday,” let’s do “Writing Titles Is Not for the Faint of Heart.” Voila.
5. Put search engine optimization to work. Use those “hot” keywords in your title. If you get a lot of search engine traffic from people looking for moonlighting entrepreneur (like I do), why not stick one of those SEO phrases in your titles? I do! And it works!
In other news: today, begins my once a month BIW (book in a week) writing workshops. I am one of about 75 other people who are just BIC HOK TAM (butt in chair, hands on keyboard, typing away madly) on a book idea they’ve been putting off for long enough. I always get new book ideas (like at least two or three a day) and so I love that once a month, I can spend a week writing away on it. I do need to streamline the process and get the ideas out to an agent and to publishers, but half the battle is just the writing. Wish me luck! I’m off to put down 5-7 pages today.
