What is the optimal length for a blog post headline to improve SEO?

1 Why headline length matters

Headline length is one of the factors that affect how your blog post appears on search engine results pages (SERPs). A good headline should capture the attention of your potential readers, convey the main idea of your post, and include relevant keywords that match their queries. However, if your headline is too long or too short, it may not display properly on SERPs, reducing your click-through rate (CTR) and visibility.

2 The ideal headline length for SEO

According to various studies and best practices, the optimal length for a blog post headline to improve SEO is between 50 and 60 characters, or about 6 to 10 words. This is because most search engines truncate headlines that exceed 60 characters, cutting off important information and making them less appealing. On the other hand, headlines that are too short may not provide enough context or value to entice readers to click.

3 How to write effective headlines within the optimal length

Writing effective headlines within the optimal length requires following certain guidelines and tips. Utilize clear and concise language to communicate the benefit or solution of your post, and include your main keyword or phrase as close to the beginning as possible. Modifiers such as numbers, adjectives, or questions can be used to create curiosity and urgency, while avoiding filler words like “a”, “the”, or “of” that take up space without adding meaning. Try different headline variations and use tools like CoSchedule's Headline Analyzer to measure their effectiveness.

4 How to adapt your headline length to different platforms

While the optimal headline length for SEO is generally between 50 and 60 characters, you may need to adjust your headline length to different platforms, such as social media, email, or mobile devices. For example, on social media, you may want to use shorter headlines that are more catchy and shareable, while on email, you may want to use longer headlines that are more descriptive and personalized. On mobile devices, you may want to use headlines that are responsive and fit the screen size.

5 How to balance headline length with other SEO factors

Finally, while headline length is an important SEO factor, it is not the only one. You also need to consider other SEO factors, such as relevance, quality, authority, and user experience, when writing your blog posts. A headline that is too long or too short may not matter if your content does not match your headline, or if your site is slow, insecure, or hard to navigate. Therefore, you need to balance headline length with other SEO factors to create a holistic and effective SEO strategy.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?