From Edie: Learn how to use AI tools to create stronger blog post titles that rank in search. This practical AI + SEO guide shows you how to brainstorm, refine, and optimize titles that increase visibility, boost clicks, and help your content get found in both AI search and Google.
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How to Use AI to Write Blog Post Titles That Rank in Search (AI + SEO Guide)
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How to Use AI to Write Blog Post Titles That Rank in Search (AI + SEO Guide)
by Edie Melson @EdieMelson
I have been blogging here on The Write Conversation since December of 2008. I've watched blogging evolve in every way I thought possible—and then here comes AI (Artificial Intelligence). At first I was hesitant—using AI felt like cheating. However, I've come to realize I can use it just like I would a virtual assistant. It can help with the repetitive drudgery and with brain storming.
I used to spend way more time creating an SEO friendly blog post title than I ever did writing a post. But now, after I've written the post, I can get AI to help me brainstorm. AND THEN, I go back and refine the title and add my voice and the needs of my specific audience. It's a wonderful advance and has helped me immensely.
Because, let's face it, blogging is shifting faster than ever, and one of the biggest changes is how readers discover our posts. Search engines (and SEO) aren’t the only way posts get found. Now, AI has taken center stage through—ChatGPT, Bing, Copilot, Google’s SGE, Pinterest Ideas feeds, YouTube AI summaries, and all the other AI driven sites. When readers ask questions, the answers are now based on the quality of the title and clarity of the topic. If you want to learn more about How to Get Your Blog Posts Found in an AI Search (not just Google), here’s a link to that post.
That means our blog post titles are no longer just an SEO tool.
It’s a signal to both humans and AI about what our posts deliver.
But there is good news in this new paradigm of blogging.
AI can help us write stronger titles—without losing our voices or creativity.
Here are some things I’ve found that allow me to use AI wisely, strategically, and ethically to craft titles that work in 2025 and beyond.
Why Blog Titles Matter More Than Ever
For years, I’ve taught how to create titles that help our blog posts get found through Search Engine Algorithms (SEO).
Now we need to pivot and write titles for:
- AI that ranks answers
- Humans who skim quickly and click even faster
- Search engines still scanning keywords and structure
A strong title must now do three things at once:
- Signal clear intent to AI tools
- Use keyword phrases humans actually search for
- Spark curiosity without resorting to clickbait or black hat tactics
This is a balancing act—but I’ve found ways AI can help lighten the load.
How AI Thinks About Blog Post Titles
AI looks for titles that clearly answer a real user question.
It prioritizes titles that:
- match common queries
- include helpful keywords
- make the topic specific and unambiguous
- promise a complete, useful answer
If our titles do these things, AI is more likely to recommend our posts when a user asks a related question.
Here are some examples of AI-friendly title structures:
- How to…
- What to Do When…
- The Best Ways to…
- X Mistakes Writers Make…
- A Beginner’s Guide to…
These structures align naturally with user intent—and AI knows it.
How to Practically Apply this and Use AI to Brainstorm Strong Blog Titles
Step 1: Start with Your Working Title
We all begin with a working title when we start a blog post. And most of use spend a lot of time refining it after we’ve finished the post. That’s where AI can help.
Ask AI:
“Give me 10 alternative blog post titles based on this draft title: [your working title goes here].”
This gives you:
- variations
- clarity boosts
- keyword-rich options
- different angles you may not have considered
Example:
Working title: Why Blog Titles Matter
AI-generated versions might include:
- “How to Write Blog Titles Readers Actually Click”
- “Why Your Blog Title Determines Whether Anyone Reads Your Post”
- “The Secret to Crafting Strong Blog Titles in 2025”
These immediately give us a direction.
Step 2: Go Deeper and Ask AI for Search Questions Readers Are Asking
This is where AI truly shines.
Ask:
“What questions are readers asking related to this topic?”
Example for a post about writer’s block:
- How do I overcome writer’s block quickly?
- What causes writer’s block and how do I fix it?
- Why do writers get stuck and how do I get unstuck?
Then turn those questions into titles.
Step 3: Ask AI Which Title Is Most Search-Friendly
AI can evaluate clarity, search potential, and SEO structure.
Ask:
“Which of these titles is most likely to rank well in AI search and Google?”
AI reads the phrasing the same way readers do.
It will prioritize:
- clarity
- usefulness
- keywords
- questions readers might type or ask
This gives you a second pair of expert eyes.
Step 4: Use AI to Strengthen the Keywords
Ask:
“Rewrite this title using stronger keyword phrases while keeping it conversational.”
Example:
Original: Tips for Writing Better Titles
AI version: How to Write Better Blog Post Titles That Improve Traffic and Engagement
More specific. More searchable. Still human.
Step 5: Add YOUR Voice through Emotion or Curiosity (This is where YOU come in)
AI can draft structure.
You add soul.
Ask AI:
“Give me 5 variations that add a light emotional hook or curiosity.”
AI might give:
- “Why Your Blog Title Isn’t Working—and How to Fix It Fast”
- “The One Thing Every Great Blog Title Has in Common”
This last layer is where your voice guides the final choice.
The Best Prompts to Use (You are welcome to Copy and Paste these for your own use)
For Brainstorming Options
“Give me 12 blog post titles for a post about [topic]. Include a mix of how-to, list, and question formats.”
For SEO/AI Optimization
“Rewrite this title to match common search queries and user intent: [title].”
For Matching Human + AI Needs
“Give me 10 titles that are both SEO-friendly and AI-friendly for this topic: [topic].”
For Adding Emotion
“Add a small emotional or curiosity hook to this title: [title].”
Examples: AI-Enhanced Titles Writers Love
Topic: Using AI in Writing
AI-generated titles might include:
- “How Writers Can Use AI Without Losing Their Voice”
- “The Best Ways to Use AI Tools to Improve Your Writing Routine”
- “A Beginner’s Guide to Using AI as a Writing Partner”
Topic: Author Branding
- “How to Build a Strong Author Brand Readers Trust”
- “5 Mistakes That Hurt Your Author Brand (And How to Avoid Them)”
- “What Makes a Powerful Author Brand in 2025?”
These are all AI-search-aligned and immediately clear to readers.
Bottom Line: How AI Helps Create Stronger Blog Titles
- AI can brainstorm dozens of title variations quickly.
- AI can tell you WHY certain titles work better than others.
- AI knows search intent patterns and can suggest phrasing that matches what readers ask.
- AI can strengthen keywords without making your writing robotic.
- AI can evaluate clarity, usefulness, and clickability.
- You remain the storyteller—AI just plays the role of an assistant.
The future of blogging belongs to those of us who embrace the pathways readers are using to find content. This means we keep our creativity and ask AI to help us with application.
Use AI as your brainstorming partner, your keyword helper, and your title coach—but never as your replacement.
Now it's your turn. How do you use AI in blogging or in searching for information? What questions do you have about learning to use AI better? Be sure to leave your thoughts in the comments section below.
Don't forget to join the conversation!
Blessings,
Edie
TWEETABLE
She and husband Kirk have been married 43+ years with three grown sons and four grandchildren. They live in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains and can often be found with their big black dog hiking the mountains.
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