Article & Blog Titles

Write titles for published articles - deep dives, hub pages, blog posts.

Core Philosophy: 80% of content performance comes from the title. Generate volume (10+ options), then select best using proven criteria.

The 3-Phase Workflow

Phase 1: Identify Core Value

What transformation does this article promise?

Problem: What pain/struggle does the reader face?
Goal: What result do they want?
Path: How does this article move them forward?

Extract headline elements:

Problem - What pain exists?
Goal - What result does reader want?
Benefit - What will their life look like after?
Concept - What idea/principle applies?
Example - What story/data illustrates this?
Process - What steps lead to the result?

Phase 2: Generate 10+ Options

Use multiple formulas from references/headline-formulas-library.md:

Try 3-4 different headline types
Apply sticky techniques from references/sticky-sentence-techniques.md
Test different element combinations

Phase 3: Evaluate & Select

Apply references/10-commandments-checklist.md:

Score top 5-7 options
Aim for 4-6 commandments per title
Use 4 U's test (Useful, Urgent, Unique, Ultra-specific)
Select highest scorer that fits the content

Core Patterns (With Examples)

1. Definitive Guide

Authority positioning for comprehensive content.

"The Complete Guide to Homeschooling in Utah"
"Everything You Need to Know About ESAs"
"Microschools: A Parent's Complete Guide"

2. How-To + Outcome

Practical promise with clear benefit.

"How to Start a Microschool (With No Teaching Background)"
"How to Use Your ESA Without Losing Money"
"How to Find the Right Curriculum in 3 Steps"

3. List + Specific Promise

Number creates scannability and completeness.

"7 Curriculum Options That Actually Work for ADHD Kids"
"5 Questions to Ask Before Joining a Microschool"
"12 Homeschool Co-ops in the Salt Lake Area (2026)"

4. Problem + Solution Frame

Names the pain, promises relief.

"Feeling Overwhelmed by Curriculum Choices? Here's a Framework"
"When Traditional School Isn't Working: 4 Alternative Paths"
"ESA Spending Anxiety: What You Can (and Can't) Use It For"

5. Contrarian / Myth-Busting

Challenges common belief.

"Why Homeschool 'Socialization' Fears Are Backwards"
"The Case Against Grade Levels"
"Microschools Don't Need Certified Teachers. Here's Why."

6. Comparison / Versus

Helps readers make decisions.

"Classical vs. Charlotte Mason: Which Fits Your Family?"
"Homeschool vs. Microschool: The Real Differences"
"Online School vs. Self-Directed Learning: Pros and Cons"

SEO Considerations

For hub pages and deep dives that need to rank:

Include primary keyword near the start when possible:

"ESA Spending Guide: What You Can Buy in [State]"
"Microschools Near Me: How to Find One in Your Area"

Match search intent:

Informational: "What is..." "How to..." "Guide to..."
Comparison: "X vs Y" "Best [category] for [use case]"
Local: Include state/city for geo-targeted content

Keep under 60 characters if SEO matters (Google truncates longer)

Swipe File

Title	Pattern	Use For
"The Complete Guide to Homeschooling in [State]"	Definitive Guide	Hub pages
"How to Start a Microschool in 2026"	How-To + Year	Evergreen tactical
"7 Alternatives to Traditional School"	List	Comparison content
"Why Unschooling Works (According to the Research)"	Contrarian + Authority	Opinion with data
"ESA vs. Tax Credits: What's the Difference?"	Versus	Decision-making
"The Myth of Learning Loss"	Myth-busting	Contrarian takes
"What I Wish I Knew Before Homeschooling"	Personal wisdom	Experience posts
"The Hidden Cost of 'Free' Public School"	Contrarian	Opinion pieces

Workflow

What's the core question this answers? - That's often the title
Match to pattern - Definitive? How-to? List? Versus?
Generate 5-10 options - Try different framings
SEO check - Does primary keyword appear? Under 60 chars if ranking matters?
Select best - Would you click this in search results?

Anti-Patterns

Don't:

Write vague titles ("Thoughts on Education")
Use insider jargon without explanation
Promise more than the article delivers
Bury the value proposition
Use clickbait that destroys trust
Stop at 2-3 options (generate 10+)
Use hedge words ("might," "could," "possibly")
Write generic promises ("Boost productivity" vs "Double output in 30 days")

Sticky Techniques (For Memorable Titles)

From references/sticky-sentence-techniques.md:

Technique	Example
Alliteration	"Specificity is the secret"
Symmetry	"School measures time. Education measures learning."
Contrast	"Small schools. Big difference."
Rhythm	Two short parallel phrases that feel balanced

Best for titles: Alliteration, Contrast, Rhythm

Quick Quality Check

Before finalizing, verify:

4 U's: Useful? Urgent? Unique? Ultra-specific? (3/4 minimum)
Primary keyword near start (for SEO)
Under 60 characters (if ranking matters)
Would you click this in search results? (honest answer)
No AI-isms: delve, comprehensive, leverage, landscape

Bundled Resources

Resource	Contents
`references/headline-formulas-library.md`	All 15 formulas with OpenEd examples
`references/sticky-sentence-techniques.md`	Literary devices for memorable titles
`references/10-commandments-checklist.md`	Full evaluation framework with scoring

newsletter-subject-lines - Different constraints (email vs web, shorter)
opened-daily-newsletter-writer - Newsletter workflow
open-education-hub-deep-dives - Full article workflow
seo-research - Keyword research for titles

Generate 10+ options using multiple formulas. Evaluate with 10 Commandments. Select best.

article-titles