Writing Headlines Clicks Rank

Your headline decides whether anyone reads your post. No pressure.

Here’s what we’ve learned after years of blogging: A good headline clearly states what your post delivers, includes words people actually search for, and makes someone think “yeah, I need to read this.” That’s really it. The rest is just refinement.

Why does this matter so much? Because you can write the best blog post ever published, but if your headline doesn’t work, nobody finds it. Google won’t rank it if it’s vague. Readers won’t click it if it’s boring. Your headline’s the gatekeeper to everything else you’ve written.

What You’ll Need

Before we dig into headline writing:

• A topic you’re planning to write about (or have already written)
• Basic understanding of who reads your blog
• About 10 minutes to experiment with different versions
• Willingness to test what works (spoiler: your first headline probably won’t be your best)

Why Most Headlines Fail

We see this constantly: Bloggers spend hours crafting their post, then slap on whatever title pops into their head first. That’s backwards.

Headlines fail for three reasons:

They’re too vague. “Thoughts on Blogging” doesn’t tell anyone what they’ll learn or why they should care. Specificity wins.

They ignore search intent. If people search “how to start a blog” and your headline says “My Blogging Journey Begins,” there’s a mismatch. Google shows what people are searching for, not your creative interpretation.

They promise nothing. “Blogging in 2025” versus “5 Blogging Mistakes That’ll Tank Your Traffic in 2025.” The second one tells you exactly what’s inside and why it matters. First one? Could be anything.

The Two Jobs Your Headline Has

Your headline needs to do two completely different things at once, which is why this gets tricky.

Job #1: Rank in search engines. Google looks for keywords that match what people type. If your headline doesn’t include those terms, your post won’t show up in results. Simple as that.

Job #2: Make humans click. Once your headline appears in search results, it’s competing with nine other options. Yours needs to stand out enough that someone chooses it over everything else on the page.

Yeah, sometimes these jobs conflict. A keyword-stuffed headline might rank but reads terribly. A clever, creative headline might get clicks from your existing audience but never shows up in Google. The sweet spot is finding phrasing that satisfies both.

Finding Keywords People Actually Search

Before you write your headline, figure out what words people use when they’re looking for your topic.

Open an incognito browser window. Type a few phrases related to your post into Google. Watch what autocomplete suggests—those are real searches happening constantly. Write down anything relevant.

Check what’s ranking on page one. Read those headlines carefully. You’re not copying them, but you’re learning what Google thinks matches that search intent. Notice patterns. Are they how-to guides? Lists? Question-based?

Most bloggers overthink keyword research. Yeah, there are fancy tools, but honestly, common sense gets you 80% there. What would you type into Google if you needed the information in your post? Start with that.

The 60-Character Sweet Spot

Google displays roughly 60 characters of your headline in search results. Go longer and it gets cut off with “…”

That’s not a hard limit—it’s actually based on pixel width, not character count—but 60 is a safe target. You want your entire message visible so people understand what they’re clicking.

Count while you write. Most word processors show character counts, or just Google “character counter” and use one of the free tools.

If you’re hitting 70+ characters, you’re probably adding filler words that don’t improve clarity. Front-load the important stuff in case it does get cut.

Where to Put Your Keyword

Place your main keyword near the beginning of your headline. Google weighs those earlier words more heavily.

Strong: “Blog Headlines That Rank: 5 Simple Formulas”

Weaker: “5 Simple Formulas for Writing Better Blog Post Headlines That Rank”

Both include “blog headlines,” but the first leads with it. The second buries it after generic setup. Search engines notice.

Headline Formulas That Work

We’ve tested dozens of headline styles. These consistently perform well:

Numbers and Lists

“7 Ways to Write Headlines That Get Clicks”

People love knowing exactly what they’re getting. Lists signal structured, scannable content. Odd numbers (5, 7, 9) statistically perform better than even, though any number beats none.

How-To Statements

“How to Write Headlines That Rank in Google”

Direct and clear. If someone’s searching for a how-to, this format matches their intent perfectly. No mystery about what’s inside.

Questions

“Why Don’t Your Headlines Get Clicks?”

Speaks directly to a problem. Feels personal. Works best when addressing a specific pain point your audience faces.

Before/After

“Bad Headlines vs. Great Headlines: What’s the Difference?”

Shows transformation or comparison. People want to move from one state to another.

Mistakes/Problems

“5 Headline Mistakes That Kill Your Traffic”

Negative angles work because people want to avoid screwing up. Fear of missing out or making mistakes is a powerful motivator.

Ultimate/Complete/Definitive

“The Complete Guide to Writing Blog Headlines”

Signals comprehensive coverage, but only use this if your post actually delivers. Promise “ultimate” and give 300 generic words, and you’ll lose all credibility.

Making Headlines Click-Worthy

Keywords get you ranked. Benefit gets you clicked.

Your headline should answer this in two seconds: “What will I learn or get from reading this?” If someone can’t tell, they’ll pick a different result.

Add specificity. “Blog Tips” is vague. “7 Blog Tips That Doubled My Traffic in 30 Days” tells you exactly what’s inside and includes social proof. Specific details build trust before the click.

Use power words sparingly. Words like “essential,” “proven,” “ultimate,” or “secret” can work—but only if you deliver. Overuse them and you sound like clickbait. We’ve learned to use them maybe once every 10 posts.

Avoid being too clever. “Unlocking the Mysteries of Headline Alchemy” might sound creative to you, but nobody’s searching for those words. Save your creative writing for inside the post. Headlines need clarity over cleverness almost every time.

Address the reader directly. “Your Headlines Aren’t Working (Here’s Why)” feels more personal than “Common Headline Mistakes.” Second-person language creates connection.

Common Headline Mistakes We’ve Made

Yeah, we’ve screwed up plenty of headlines. Here’s what not to do:

Keyword stuffing:
“Headlines Blog Writing Blog Post Headlines SEO Blog Title Tips”

Reads like spam. Google penalizes this now. Humans definitely won’t click. Use your keyword once, maybe twice if it flows naturally. Done.

Being vague:
“Some Thoughts on Headlines”

Cool, but what thoughts? What will I learn? Vague headlines get skipped.

Promising what you don’t deliver:
If your headline says “Complete Guide to Blog SEO” but you only cover headlines, readers will bounce immediately. Match your headline to your actual content. Exaggeration destroys trust fast.

Ignoring your audience:
“Advanced Semantic Headline Optimization Strategies” works for marketers but scares away beginners. Know who’s reading and write at their level. For Badass Network bloggers who are just starting out, “How to Write Better Blog Headlines” is more approachable.

Forgetting to preview:
Always check how your headline will look in search results. Many SEO plugins show a preview. If it’s getting cut off, fix it before publishing.

Using the same format repeatedly:
“How to [X]” works great until all 50 of your posts start that way. Mix up your formats. Use questions, lists, statements, or “Why/What/When” structures. Your blog archive should show variety.

Testing Different Versions

Your first headline probably won’t be your best. That’s fine. Write multiple versions before you pick one.

Open a blank document. Write 10 different headlines for the same post. Yeah, 10. Don’t overthink it—just rapid-fire different angles, phrasings, and formats.

Look at your list. Which ones clearly communicate the topic? Which include your keyword naturally? Which would you click on if you saw them in search results?

Sometimes we’ll show headlines to someone else without context. “Would you click this?” Honest external feedback catches issues you’re too close to see.

Writing Headlines for Different Post Types

Your approach shifts depending on what you’re writing.

Tutorials and guides: Lead with the action or outcome. “Create Your First Blog Post” or “Build a Morning Routine That Works” tells people exactly what skill they’ll gain. Add “beginner,” “step-by-step,” or “complete guide” if it’s comprehensive—those terms rank well and set expectations.

Opinion or personal posts: These are trickier for SEO because they’re not targeting clear search intent. If you’re writing “Why I Quit Social Media,” consider adding searchable elements: “Why I Quit Social Media (And Grew My Blog Instead).” You’re adding keywords without losing the personal angle.

List posts: Numbers perform consistently. “5 Ways to…” outperforms “Ways to…” every time. Usually. Lists promise structure and easy scanning, which readers love.

Problem-solving posts: Start with the problem. “Blog Not Getting Traffic? Try These 5 Fixes” meets people where they are—frantically Googling their issue. You’re speaking directly to their pain point.

News or time-sensitive posts: Include dates or versions. “WordPress 6.4 Update: What Changed” includes specifics people are searching for. Just remember to update or remove these when they become outdated.

Where Headlines Show Up

Your headline appears in more places than just your blog, which is why it matters so much.

• Google search results: That 60-character snippet competing with nine others.
• Social media shares: When someone shares your post on Facebook or Twitter, your headline is what gets displayed. Make it compelling enough that their audience clicks through.
• Your blog archive: People browsing your site see headlines in lists. They’re deciding which posts to read based solely on those titles.
• Email newsletters: If you send post updates to subscribers, your headline’s the subject line. It determines open rates.
• RSS feeds: If people follow your blog through RSS, they’re scanning headlines to pick what to read.

Improving Headlines After Publishing

You’re not locked into your first choice. If a post’s not performing, rewrite the headline.

Check your analytics. If something’s ranking but has a terrible click-through rate, your headline might be the problem. It’s showing up for the right searches but not converting views into clicks.

Compare your headline to what’s ranking above you. Are they more specific? More benefit-focused? Do they use numbers or clear value props you’re missing?

We’ll sometimes rewrite headlines on older posts to see if it boosts traffic. Give it a few weeks after changing—Google needs time to re-index and adjust rankings. Yeah, it’s tempting to check daily, but patience matters here.

Headline Checklist Before Publishing

Run through this before you hit publish:

• Primary keyword appears in the headline (preferably near the start)
• Headline is 50-60 characters (check the count)
• Headline clearly explains what the post covers
• Headline promises something valuable or solves a problem
• Headline sounds natural to a human, not a robot
• You’d click this headline if you saw it in search results
• Headline matches what’s actually in your post (no false promises)
• You’ve written at least 3-5 alternatives before picking this one

If you check all those boxes, you’re good to go.

When Headlines Don’t Need to Be SEO-Perfect

Honestly, not every post needs a search-optimized headline. If you’re writing something personal, creative, or meant for your existing readers rather than new traffic, don’t stress about keywords.

Posts like “Weekend Update: What We’ve Been Reading” or “Thoughts on Turning 40” aren’t chasing search rankings. They’re for people who already follow you. That’s completely valid. We write plenty of posts like that ourselves.

What You’ve Done

You now understand how to write headlines that rank in search engines and convince people to click. You know where to place keywords, how long headlines should be, what formulas work, and how to avoid mistakes that hurt both rankings and click-through rates.

Next step? Pull up your last five posts and run their headlines through the checklist above. You’ll probably spot ways to improve at least a couple. Then apply what you’ve learned to your next new post.

Want to dive deeper? Check out our guides on keyword research, writing compelling content, or understanding search intent. But the fundamentals you’ve just learned—clear, keyword-focused headlines under 60 characters—will get you most of the way there.

Need Help?

Something’s not working? Questions about headlines or SEO?

• Contact Badass Network Support and tell us what you’re struggling with
• Include examples of headlines you’ve tried and what’s not getting clicks
• Share your blog URL so we can review your current approach
• Let us know if you need help understanding analytics or performance data

We typically respond within 24 hours and can walk you through any headline or SEO questions you’ve got.