TL;DR: To write SEO blog post titles for tutorials under 70 characters, start with the phrase “How to,” add your target keyword, and keep the promise specific and scannable. Aim for 50–60 characters so your title displays fully in Google search results without truncation.
Step 1: Start With the “How to” Formula
Begin every tutorial title with “How to” followed by a strong action verb — “Build,” “Fix,” “Write,” or “Set Up.” This matches how people actually search and signals step-by-step value to both readers and search engines. Example: “How to Write SEO Titles in 10 Minutes.”
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Step 2: Place Your Primary Keyword Early
Put your main keyword within the first 40 characters so it appears in the visible portion of the search result. “How to Write SEO Blog Titles” beats “A Beginner’s Guide to Writing Titles for SEO” because the keyword is front-loaded and the character count stays low.
Step 3: Add a Specific Benefit or Number
Numbers and concrete outcomes boost click-through rates. Try formats like “How to [Task] in [Time]” or “How to [Task]: [Number] Steps.” Keep the benefit honest — only promise what the post delivers.
Step 4: Count Characters Before Publishing
Use a free character counter or your SEO plugin’s preview tool. Trim filler words like “the,” “a,” and “really” until you land between 50 and 60 characters. Verify the full title fits under 70 characters to avoid truncation in search results.
Step 5: Test Two or Three Options
Draft three variations using different formulas, then pick the clearest one. Ask a colleague which title makes them want to click — clarity beats cleverness every time.
Tips
Keep title case consistent across your blog. Avoid clickbait and ALL CAPS. Match the title’s promise to the first paragraph of your post, and reuse the winning formula across your tutorial series for a consistent, scannable archive.
FAQ
Q: Why should tutorial titles stay under 70 characters?
A: Google typically displays about 60 characters of a title in search results, so staying under 70 — ideally 50–60 — prevents truncation and keeps your keyword visible.
Q: Should the “How to” phrase always come first?
A: It is the safest default because it matches search intent, but “How to [Task]: [Number] Steps” or “How to [Task] in [Time]” variations work equally well as long as the keyword appears early.
Q: Can I change a title after publishing?
A: Yes, and you should if it exceeds 70 characters or underperforms. Update the title, keep the URL stable, and monitor click-through rates for a few weeks.
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