Back when I first started blogging, I wasn’t aware of the importance of my blog post titles. I didn’t have much of an audience and I didn’t think of the long-term effects of using jokey or funny blog post titles. I figured; people will get it. But you know who doesn’t understand my humor? Search engines, that’s who.

Popular for the Wrong Reasons

I was excited to see the traffic picking up on my blog one day and decided to look into it to see why. It seemed my post about how I had threatened to spank my toddler son was incredibly popular. I didn’t actually spank him, and he didn’t even know what a spanking was at the time.

It was a perfectly innocent post about him asking me to spank him after I told him I was going to. He was bending over and bouncing his butt while giggling and saying, “Mommy spank me!” So of course, I thought that would be a great funny blog post title for the story.

It was not.

My Funny Blog Post Title Backfires

I realized my mistake when I looked up what search words were bringing in this new traffic, and “Mommy spank me” and “mommy spanks” were at the top of the list.

It slowly dawned on me that these visitors were not parents looking for humorous mom stories, which was also evident by the high bounce rate for the post. This was not the type of post they were looking for, but Google was serving it up as a page one result.

I realized I’d accidentally wandered into fetish town by trying to be funny, and that I definitely should not use a title that could so easily be taken out of context.

I didn’t want to delete the blog post, so I amended the title to add “a Toddlers Request,” and the misdirected traffic eventually slowed down.

Oops I Did It Again

Around the same time, after I’d learned not to use suggestive or funny blog post titles but not yet learned the importance of descriptive titles, I had a post go viral on Pinterest.

This was a post about a wonderful shower I took one day when my son was finally old enough to be left watching PAW Patrol for 15 minutes.

It was wonderful because I was able to do it before my son went to bed and I actually had time to shave and everything. It felt like getting a tiny shred of my life back.

I even snapped a photo to mark this momentous occasion. I’m completely covered in a large white towel, with not even a hint of leg or cleavage showing.

And not thinking anything of it, I pinned the post titled “The Greatest Shower of All” on Pinterest using the photo.

If it’s one thing I’ve learned since being online, it’s that the Internet has an audience for everything.

It wasn’t long before the post started blowing up, bringing in loads of traffic every day. That was six years ago, and the post is still bringing in traffic today!

Unfortunately, it also brought in some unsavory comments like, “I was hoping to see you shower” and “Take the towel off” because people just have to make things weird.

I eventually learned to make better titles, although I still feel like they are sometimes the most challenging part of a post.

Writing Better Blog Post Titles

A clear title communicates the topic and purpose of your blog post upfront, helping readers understand what they can expect and whether it aligns with their interests.

This clarity not only attracts the right audience but also improves the overall user experience by reducing confusion and ensuring that readers find relevant content quickly. You may think your funny blog post titles are clever, but not everybody (including search engines) will get it.

Additionally, clear titles contribute to search engine optimization (SEO) by incorporating relevant keywords and improving the visibility of your blog in search results.

Here are some tips to help you craft an effective title for your blog post:

1. Be Clear and Concise: Your title should clearly convey what the blog post is about in a concise manner. Avoid vague, jokey or overly long titles.
2. Use Keywords: Include relevant keywords in your title that people are likely to search for. This helps with SEO and makes your post more discoverable.
3. Be Descriptive: Give readers an idea of what they can expect from the post. Use descriptive words that capture the essence of your content.
4. Create Intrigue: Spark curiosity or interest with your title. You can do this by asking a question, using a surprising fact, or teasing a solution to a problem. Just avoid misleading “click bait” type facts or questions.
5. Use Numbers or Lists: If applicable, include numbers or lists in your title. For example, “5 Tips for Writing Engaging Blog Post Titles” is more enticing than “Writing Blog Post Titles.”
6. Consider Your Audience: Tailor your title to your target audience’s interests and needs. Use language and tone that resonate with them.
7. Be Unique: Stand out from the crowd by offering a unique perspective or angle in your title. Avoid clichés and generic phrases.
8. Keep it Relevant: Ensure that your title accurately reflects the content of your blog post. Misleading titles can lead to disappointment and a high bounce rate.

I’m sure there are a lot of disappointed spanking enthusiasts out there after visiting my mom-life post!

I try to stick with short descriptive titles these days, but sometimes I can’t help myself and get a little creative. It is my blog after all. I just remember to try and make sure whatever I title a post can’t be mistaken for something embarrassing later and bring in the wrong audience.

About the Author

Candy Keane is a digital content creator and long-time cosplayer, most well-known for being on the cover of the Star Wars documentary Jedi Junkies. After making costumes professionally for over a decade, she now writes about geek culture and mom life, and continues to cosplay for fun, while sharing her love of costumes on Instagram @SewGeekMama. Her first children’s book, I’m Going to My First Comic Convention, was published in 2020 and won a Story Monsters Approved award for Excellence in Literature.

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