What is the most significant factor for search engine ranking? Ask 1,000 SEO experts and you’ll get a 1,000 different answers.
You can bank on most of them saying that getting links and creating great content would definitely be two of the most important, and for respectable reasons. Nevertheless, that’s what Google takes into account as far as ranking factors.
But there’s one additional factor you can and should be concentrating on. It’s something that could double your web traffic. Yet so many folks are overlooking it.
Many SEO titles stink
Search engine optimized headlines are boring. Depending on your industry, everybody is using the same keywords in their headings in the hopes of drawing the most clicks, views and traffic.
Oh okay, you put two or three high-value keywords in the title? Cool. But are folks actually clicking on your links? Is it ranking as good as it possibly could be? Oh wait, you think of adding a comma or an exclamation point will change things for you? Oh Really! That’s the key to your low click through rate?
When doing SEO marketing, content is a vital element, both what’s on the page, behind it and around the page. Google looks at the context and content of your whole website, not just individual web pages. Any given web page on your website could rank for thousands of different keywords. So how does Google know how or where to rank your website?
Click through rate (CTR) is the difference between finding your brand in a good cycle or a death spin.
In a good cycle, you’re getting higher click rates. This sends essential user engagement signals to Google that this is a good content, thus a good website, which eventually results in better placement for more of your other web pages and more web traffic.
In the death spin, though, you have senseless SEO title tags and Meta tags. You’re hurling the same heading over and over and individuals aren’t clicking. The outcome: poor rankings and even less web traffic.
But there is SEO treatment.
The astonishingly simple cure for crappy subject titles
You need to compose more clickable subject titles than every company you want to outrank. Great SEO headlines should be like click-bait titles just better search engine optimized for your most significant keywords.
It’s that easy, yet also that insanely challenging. Or at least, maybe it feels that way.
Many folks struggle to craft outstanding titles. If only there were some SEO research on what makes a viral, eye-catching title.
The Emotional hook
Now you need to grab your users. Use an emotional element or excellent words like “surprising,” “motivating,” “funny,” “dazzling” and so on.
Amazingly, when it comes to most 10x marketers, only two of five titles include the emotional element. My title uses the word “Unusual” to spark interest, while others uses the word “Best,” which will entice clicks from those who seek to become the best.
The other titles lack this hook, don’t let yours. Sure, you could do pretty well without it, but let’s be cruelly honest. Had John Doe been the author instead of a 10x marketer, it probably wouldn’t have done well at all.
If you want higher click-through rates and the aptitude to compete with the biggest brands/companies/influencers in your trade you need every edge you can. Add some feeling to your titles and start growing your CTR!
Possibilities
Headings that get higher click-through rates assure the users of something. What will somebody who clicks on your company’s content get out of it? Will your piece of digital content inform, motivate, educate or amuse your audience? If not, why does it happen?
“Up” and “Enhanced” convey the same thought — enhancement — so by clicking through, I will be educated and expand my knowledge or talents. “Correct” and “How to” specify that by clicking through, I will be knowledgeable in the correct way to do things.
Make sure you clearly indicate the readers benefit. Will the estimates help me in some particular way? Will they help me nurture my web traffic/conversions/sales? Will these calculations force me to rethink my SEO approach?
Remember, conveying user benefit could be the change between your below-average or okay CTR and astonishing click-through rates.