Seo Friendly Post Titles Descriptions

Your post title determines whether people find your blog in search results. It also decides whether they click.

Here’s the core idea: Write titles that clearly describe what’s in your post, keep them under 60 characters, and include the main keyword people would search for. That’s 80% of good SEO title writing right there.

Why bother with this? Because you could write incredible content that no one ever reads if your title doesn’t show up in Google or attract clicks. Your title’s job is getting people through the door. Everything else—your writing, your insights, your personality—comes after that first click.

What You’ll Need

• Access to your Badass Network blog dashboard
• A published or draft post you’re working on
• Basic understanding of who reads your blog (or who you want to read it)
• About 15 minutes to rework existing titles or plan new ones

What Makes an SEO Title Actually Work

An SEO title needs to accomplish two things simultaneously: rank in search engines and convince humans to click. It’s easier than it sounds once you understand what each piece is doing.

Search engines care about keywords. If someone searches “how to train a puppy,” Google looks for titles containing those exact words or close variations. Your title needs the keyword phrase that people are actually typing into search bars.

People care about clarity and benefit. They’re scanning dozens of results in seconds. Your title needs to immediately communicate what they’ll get if they click. Vague titles get skipped, even if they rank well.

The sweet spot: Titles that naturally include your target keyword while clearly explaining the benefit or solution you’re offering.

Choosing Your Primary Keyword

Start here, not with the title itself. Your keyword is the phrase people search for when they need what your post provides.

The 60-Character Rule (And Why It Matters)

Google displays roughly the first 60 characters of your title in search results. Anything longer gets cut off with “…” at the end.

That’s not a strict limit—it’s based on pixel width, not character count—but 60 characters is a safe target. You want your full title visible so people can read the complete message.

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

If your title hits 65-70 characters, it might still display fully. But going over 60 means risking your most important words getting chopped off. Front-load the critical info.

You’ll notice the shorter version says everything needed. The longer one’s just adding words that don’t improve clarity.

Where to Place Your Keyword

Put your primary keyword near the front of your title. Google weighs earlier words more heavily.

Strong placement:
“SEO Titles for Beginners: How to Write Headlines That Rank”

Weaker placement:
“How to Write Better Headlines and Blog Post SEO Titles for Beginners”

Both include “SEO titles,” but the first example leads with it. The second buries it after generic filler words. Search engines notice that difference.

Crafting Titles People Actually Click

Keywords get you ranked. Clear benefit gets you clicked.

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

Vague title:
“Thoughts on Blogging”

Clear title:
“5 Blogging Mistakes That Cost You Readers (And How to Fix Them)”

The second version tells you exactly what’s inside and why it matters. Specificity builds trust before the click happens.

Add numbers when you can. “7 Ways to…” or “3 Steps to…” signals a structured, scannable post. People love knowing what they’re getting into. Lists perform well because they promise bite-sized, digestible content.

Use power words sparingly. Words like “ultimate,” “complete,” “essential,” or “proven” can work—but only if your post delivers. If you promise an “ultimate guide” and deliver 300 generic words, you’ll lose credibility fast. Be honest about what’s inside.

Ask questions sometimes. “Struggling with Blog Traffic?” speaks directly to a problem. It feels personal. Question titles work well when you’re addressing a specific pain point your audience faces.

Writing Your Meta Description

Your meta description is that short snippet of text appearing under your title in search results. Google doesn’t use it for ranking, but it absolutely affects whether people click.

Think of it as your title’s sales pitch. You’ve got 150-160 characters to expand on what your title promised and convince someone your post is worth their time.

Include your primary keyword. Google bolds matching terms in descriptions, which draws the eye. If someone searched “blog post titles” and your description includes that phrase, it’ll appear bold in their results. That visual cue matters.

Focus on benefit or outcome. What will readers accomplish or understand after reading? “Learn how to write blog post titles that rank higher and get more clicks” tells them exactly what they’re getting.

Don’t just repeat your title. Your description should complement and expand, not restate. If your title is “How to Write SEO Titles,” your description might be “Discover the exact framework for creating blog post titles that rank in search engines and attract readers—no marketing experience needed.”

Skip the fluff. You don’t have room for “In this comprehensive guide, you’ll discover…” Just state the value. “Master SEO title writing in 10 minutes” is tighter and stronger.

Where to Set Your Title and Description in WordPress

You’ve got two title fields in WordPress, which confuses people. Here’s the difference:

Post Title (at the top of the editor): This is what readers see when they’re on your blog. It appears at the top of your post and in your blog’s archive pages.

SEO Title (usually in a plugin or theme settings): This is what shows up in Google search results. If you don’t set a separate SEO title, WordPress uses your post title by default.

Most of the time, your post title and SEO title should match. Keep it simple. Only create a separate SEO title if you want something more keyword-focused for search engines than what works for your blog’s design.

To set your meta description, you’ll typically need an SEO plugin (like Yoast or Rank Math) or your theme might include SEO fields in the post settings panel. Look for a section labeled “SEO,” “Search Appearance,” or “Meta Description” in your post editor sidebar.

Common Mistakes We See

Keyword stuffing:
“SEO Blog Post Titles SEO Writing Blog Title SEO Tips” reads like spam. Google penalizes this now, and humans definitely won’t click it. Use your keyword once, maybe twice if it flows naturally. That’s plenty.

Being too clever:
“Unlocking the Secrets of the Blogosphere’s Title Enigma” might sound creative, but no one’s searching for those words. Clarity beats cleverness almost every time. Save your creative writing for inside the post.

Forgetting the audience:
Titles like “Advanced Semantic SEO Title Optimization Strategies” work for marketers but scare away beginners. Know who’s reading your blog and write at their level. If your audience is new bloggers, “How to Write Better Blog Titles” is more approachable.

Ignoring the preview:
Always check how your title and description will actually appear in search results. Many SEO plugins show a Google search preview. If something looks off—title’s too long, description gets cut—fix it before publishing.

Promising what you don’t deliver:
If your title says “Complete Guide to Blog SEO” but your post only covers titles, readers will bounce immediately. Match your title to your content. Exaggeration kills trust.

Using the same title format for every post:
“How to [X]” works great… until all 50 of your posts start with “How to.” Mix it up. Use questions, lists, statements, or “Why/What/When” formats. Variety makes your blog’s archive more visually interesting and appeals to different search intents.

Tips for Different Post Types

Your approach shifts depending on what kind of post you’re writing.

Tutorials and how-to posts:
Lead with the action. “Create a WordPress Menu” or “Add Images to Blog Posts” tells people exactly what skill they’ll learn. Include “beginner,” “step-by-step,” or “complete guide” if it’s comprehensive—those phrases rank well and set expectations.

Listicles:
Numbers perform. “7 Ways to Grow Blog Traffic” beats “Ways to Grow Blog Traffic.” Odd numbers (5, 7, 9) statistically get more clicks than even numbers, though honestly, any number works better than none.

Opinion or personal posts:
These are trickier for SEO. If you’re writing “Why I Quit Social Media,” consider adding keywords: “Why I Quit Social Media (And How My Blog Grew Instead).” You’re adding searchable terms without losing the personal angle.

News or updates:
Time-sensitivity matters here. “WordPress 6.4 Update: What Changed” includes the version number people are searching for. Update these titles when they become outdated or the post becomes irrelevant.

Problem-solving posts:
Start with the problem. “Blog Posts Not Showing Up? Here’s the Fix” speaks directly to someone frantically Googling that exact issue. You’re meeting them where they are.

Testing and Improving Your Titles

You won’t nail every title on the first try. That’s fine. You can improve them over time.

Check your analytics. If a post ranks well but has a low click-through rate, your title might be ranking for the right keyword but not converting clicks. Rewrite it to be more compelling.

Look at what’s ranking above you. If your post is stuck on page two for your target keyword, compare your title to the top results. Are they more specific? More benefit-focused? Do they use numbers or power words you’re missing?

A/B test when possible. Some bloggers will rewrite titles on underperforming posts to see if it improves traffic. Give it a few weeks after changing a title before judging results—Google needs time to re-index and adjust rankings.

Ask someone to read your title. Show it to a friend or fellow blogger without context. Can they tell what the post is about? Would they click? Honest feedback catches issues you’ve become blind to.

SEO Title Checklist

Before you hit publish, run through this:

• Primary keyword appears in the title (preferably near the beginning)
• Title is 50-60 characters (check the count)
• Title clearly describes what the post covers
• Title promises something valuable or useful
• Title makes sense to a human, not just a search engine
• Meta description is 150-160 characters
• Meta description includes primary keyword
• Meta description expands on the title (doesn’t repeat it)
• Meta description focuses on benefit or outcome
• Both title and description match what’s actually in the post

If you can check all those boxes, you’re in good shape.

When SEO Titles Don’t Matter as Much

Honestly, not every post needs to be SEO-optimized. If you’re writing something personal, creative, or meant primarily for your existing audience rather than search traffic, don’t stress about keyword placement.

Posts like “My Weekend in Paris” or “Thoughts on Turning 30” aren’t targeting search terms—they’re for people who already follow your blog. That’s completely valid. Not everything needs to rank in Google.

The trick is knowing which posts are for search engines and which are for your existing readers. A mix of both keeps your blog human while still attracting new people through organic search.

What You’ve Accomplished

You now understand how to write post titles that rank in search engines and convince people to click. You know where to place keywords, how long titles should be, what makes descriptions effective, and how to avoid the common mistakes that hurt both rankings and click-through rates.

Your next step? Pull up your five most recent posts and audit their titles using the checklist above. Odds are you’ll spot ways to improve at least a few of them. Start there, then apply what you’ve learned to your next new post.

Want to go deeper? Check out our guides on keyword research, writing compelling blog content, or optimizing your posts after publishing. But the fundamentals you’ve just learned—clear, keyword-focused titles under 60 characters—will get you most of the way there.