RoadToBlogging

How to Write Blog Post Titles for Readers and Search Engines

Istiak Rayhan

ยท

Post title vs SEO title

Your headline decides whether people click. But the title that excites readers on your blog is not always the title that ranks in Google. “How I Made $600 From One Post” is tempting to click, but nobody searches for it. “How to Make Money From a Blog Post” is what people actually type.

The good news: WordPress lets you use two titles, one for readers on your page and one for search results, so you do not have to choose. Here is how to write both.

Post Title vs SEO Title

  • Post title (H1): the headline shown at the top of your post. Write it for readers.
  • SEO title (title tag): the clickable headline shown in Google results and browser tabs. Write it for searchers, including your main keyword.

Often one title can do both jobs. When it cannot, set a separate SEO title with your SEO plugin.

How to Set a Separate SEO Title in WordPress

  • Rank Math: open the Rank Math panel in the post editor, click Edit Snippet, and change the Title.
  • Yoast SEO: open the Yoast panel, go to Search appearance, and edit the SEO title.

Both show a live preview of how your result will look in Google. See also how to add a meta title and description.

SEO title in Google search results

Tips for Reader-Friendly Titles

  • Use numbers: “9 Ways to…” sets clear expectations.
  • Promise a clear benefit: tell readers what they will get.
  • Spark curiosity without being misleading.
  • Use the reader’s words, not jargon.
  • Ask a question your reader is already asking.

Tips for Search-Friendly Titles

  • Do keyword research and include your main keyword, ideally near the start. See how to do keyword research.
  • Keep it around 50 to 60 characters so Google does not cut it off.
  • Match search intent: “How to” for tutorials, “Best” for lists, “vs” for comparisons.
  • Add a freshness signal such as the year if the topic changes often.
  • Make every title unique across your site.

Google May Rewrite Your Title

Google sometimes shows a different title than the one you set, often using your H1 or other text from the page, especially if your title is too long, stuffed with keywords, or does not match the content. Keeping your SEO title accurate, concise, and close to your H1 makes rewrites less likely.

A great title earns the click; a great meta description supports it. More ideas: how to increase your click-through rate.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should my SEO title and post title be the same?

They can be. Use different titles only when the reader-friendly headline does not include the words people search for.

How long should an SEO title be?

Around 50 to 60 characters, roughly 600 pixels, so it displays in full on most screens.

Why does Google show a different title?

Google may rewrite titles that are too long, vague, or keyword-stuffed. Clear, accurate titles that match your H1 are rewritten less often.

Comments

36 responses to “How to Write Blog Post Titles for Readers and Search Engines”

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  1. Redberries Avatar
    Redberries

    Short & to the point. I also experimented the same post reading your content. For one of my client’s health blog, I changed the title from benefits of pineapple to Top 6 benefits of pineapples, the results were astonishing. The CTR for the page improved from 2.3% to 4.1% which was followed by increase in ranking. I am now doing an A/B testing of same for other blogs.

    Thanks a lot dude.

    Reply
  2. Anatomy Rehab Avatar
    Anatomy Rehab

    Great post! Readers friendly title is a great strategy to attract people to read the content. And writing a post title that is reader and search engine friendly is an effective way to rank in search engines and also help to increase the CTR.

    Reply
  3. Mezbah Shuvo Avatar
    Mezbah Shuvo

    Two headlines for both readers and search engines is a great way to increase CTR. But, should I select keywords from those headlines?

    Thanks for the amazing tips Istiak!

    Reply
    1. Istiak Rayhan Avatar
      Istiak Rayhan

      Yes, you should have main keywords on both titles. However, I don’t use separate titles all the time. I use it occasionally.

      Reply
  4. Rajib Avatar
    Rajib

    Hi Istiak,

    I agree with you title is most important to catch reader and search engine. Because as a normal reader I always find interesting title. If I get any interesting title then I visit the post.

    Thanks for amazing post

    Reply
  5. TSA Avatar
    TSA

    Yes ! this is the very good information for those who are not sure how to optimize their blog titles and makes mistake when they create blog . It is also very help full tips for optimize blog title.

    Reply
  6. Payal Avatar
    Payal

    Really very great article… good job

    Reply
  7. Dipak Ratnani Avatar
    Dipak Ratnani

    Ya Jasmine !!!! U r right

    Reply
  8. Susan Velez Avatar
    Susan Velez

    Hi Istiak,

    Great tips for people who are not sure how to optimize their blog titles. I have a hard time sometimes coming up with something catchy that will want to make people want to click on the title and begin reading.

    I currently use the All In One SEO pack and I really like it. Thanks for sharing these tips and I will implement them the next time I write a blog post. Have a great day.

    Reply
  9. Bernard Avatar
    Bernard

    This is an awesome post Istiak. I do not have too much experience and knowledge about optimization and this post is really the thing I needed to. Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
    1. Istiak Rayhan Avatar
      Istiak Rayhan

      Glad to know that this posts seemed useful to you.

      Reply
  10. Matt Avatar
    Matt

    This is very interesting. I don’t use this method of having one title for search and one for readers, but I do always try to be mindful of the search engines when writing blog posts. It’s a tricky thing to do sometimes.

    Reply
    1. Istiak Rayhan Avatar
      Istiak Rayhan

      Yea, It’s good if you can satisfy both the readers and search engines with one title. But sometimes it’s really tough to satisfy both with one title.

      Reply