As a publisher managing multiple websites, I often encounter articles with poorly optimized headlines. The biggest mistake I see is burying keywords, which is detrimental to search engine optimization. My primary goal is to improve the SEO of my sites, and your articles play a crucial role in that effort.
The key is to prioritize keywords in your headlines. Consider these examples:
1. ‘California Real Estate – The Secret to Making a Bundle’
2. ‘The Secret to Making a Bundle in California Real Estate’
The first headline is far more effective. It places the keywords ‘California Real Estate’ at the beginning, making it ideal for SEO and easy to adapt into a meta title. This tells me you understand my needs as a publisher. I’m far more likely to read the article, and if the content is well-formatted, I’ll publish it on my site and add you to my list of preferred authors. I’ll actively seek out your new articles in the future.
In contrast, the second headline buries the keywords at the end, rendering it almost useless for SEO. This signals that your article isn’t a good fit for my needs. While I might revisit it if I’m desperate for content, it’s more likely I’ll simply move on.
Many writers prioritize captivating headlines to attract a broader audience. However, as a publisher, I’ve already built the audience. My sites generate traffic, and readers will see your article simply by virtue of it being published on my site. Your primary focus should be on optimizing your headline for search engines by front-loading the keywords to grab my attention.
Writing effective headlines is a straightforward process. By prioritizing keywords, you significantly increase the likelihood of your article being published and reaching a wider audience.