How to Write SEO-friendly Headlines Targeting Multiple Keywords

Are you struggling to create a headline that would explain the content’s topic to search engines better?

Do you want to learn a how to write incredibly SEO-friendly headlines that can position your content for more than one keyword?

It's true - Including the target keyword in headlines is the most sure-fire way to ensure a content ranks well for that phrase, after all.

And for the most part, it’s not a difficult task. You either begin your headline with the keyword or weave it naturally into the copy.

Like this:

But how do you do it if you’d like to target two, or more, related keywords? Or if you want to include an extra key phrase to make the page’s topic clearer?

Do you just suck it up and include the main phrase only?

Keyword stuff the headline like crazy?

Sacrifice its readability to pack in more keywords?

Absolutely not!

Before I show you how to do it, though, let's touch on something...

Should You Even Be Optimizing Pages for Multiple Keywords?

My answer, yes. Absolutely, positively, yes.

And for two reasons actually.

One, because multiple keywords could help ensure a greater search visibility.

Think about it, in some cases, your audience could be searching for information using two, only partially related terms. Or use a product category when searching for a specific item.

A tablet and an iPad are probably the best examples here.

To many people, these terms are synonymous. When speaking of one, they actually mean the other, often even when actually looking for an Android tablet!

Optimizing the page for both terms would increase its chances to reach those people too.

Another example, one of my favorite ones actually that Rand Fishkin shares in the video here.

Consider these two phrases: sleeping pills and sleeping aids.

As Rand explains:

“A sleeping pill is […] probably the most popular search query around sleep aids. But I could have a page that is a sleep aids and sleeping pills page that makes sense together, where someone with the intent for one would want to find things that are on the other as well.”

Two, because additional phrases could help you define the page’s topic better.

This very page you're reading is an example of this scenario.

I’m sure you’ve already noticed that I don’t just share advice on writing SEO-friendly headlines. My goal is to cover a more specific topic:

How to include multiple keywords in the headline, title tag, etc.

And so, including two keywords in the headline – “SEO-friendly headlines” and “multiple keywords” – helps me make it more relevant to queries about this particular issue. See:

At the same time, I’m still positioning it for anyone searching for the main phrase (SEO-friendly headlines) and in the process, ensure a greater reach.

However, for this strategy to work, your multiple keywords must meet two criteria:

#1. They must relate to and ideally, match the same topic.

Both examples above illustrate it well.

The terms “iPad” and “Tablet” define a product and its respectively. So, do “sleeping aids” and “sleeping pills.” And the term “multiple keywords” defines the problem relating to “SEO-friendly headlines.”

In short, these phrases relate to or compliment each other.

However, terms like “computer care” and “home improvement” do not. Optimizing a page for both would, most likely, make no sense.

And that’s even if it’s on a website of company offering both services. In such case, the logical step is to create two separate pages to rank in the search results.

#2. They must share a similar intent

Again, using our example keywords above, we can assume that anyone looking either for a “tablet” or “iPad” would have the same intent. It could be to learn more about the device they want to buy. Or simply, find the item they want to purchase.

But I doubt that anyone would search for “computer care” and “home improvement” with a similar intent.

My Two Methods to Writing SEO-Friendly Headlines with Multiple Keywords

A quick note before we proceed.

At first, these formulas will seem ideal for every blog post or other quality content you write. I know. I’ve used them so many times. And I got burnt by them more than once too.

You see, they don’t work for everything you write. Not to mention that each has its limitations.

One often creates too long headlines. The other, depending on the topic, might result in unnaturally-sounding headline.

So, use them consciously and only if it makes sense. But if it does, they I can assure you, they’ll rock your search results.

With that out of the way...

Formula #1. The Double Headline

(Disclaimer: I discovered this formula in this Buffer’s post first.)

As the name suggests, this formula uses two headlines, each targeting a different keyword.

To make them work together, you separate each headline with a colon. Like this:

·   Buying an iPad: How to Choose the Right Tablet for You

·   Do Sleeping Pills Work: Using Sleeping Aids to Get Plenty of Rest at Last

But, as I pointed out above, this formula often delivers long titles.

They often far exceed the optimal length for a headline.

Now, is this a problem? Can be. So, you need to weight your options before deciding on writing such a headline.

On the other side, it can help position your content for far more keywords in the search results.

Formula #2. The Main Keyword at the Start, the Supporting One at the End

I used this formula to write this post’s headline.

Note that it starts with my primary phrase – “SEO-friendly headlines”. I close it with the other one – “multiple keywords”.

Writing multi keyword headlines this way allows you to use fewer words. As a result, you can write shorter headlines while optimizing them for more phrases.

The downside? You may find it difficult to create a headline that reads well.

For example, “How to Choose an iPad that’s the Right Tablet” sounds awful. No one speaks like that, right?

Even if you try tweaking it, the results still leave a lot to be desired:

·   “Choosing an iPad as a tablet for a student”

·   “How to choose an iPad to be the student’s tablet”

Sure, you can get the meaning behind those headlines. But they read well? Or natural?

Nope.

And that’s this formula’s limitation. It doesn’t always work with your desired keywords.

When it does, however, it can help you make your page’s topic clearer. And increase search visibility as well.