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article-titles skill

/.claude/skills/article-titles

This skill generates 10+ blog titles using proven formulas, then evaluates and selects the best with a structured criteria.

npx playbooks add skill cdeistopened/opened-vault --skill article-titles

Review the files below or copy the command above to add this skill to your agents.

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SKILL.md
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---
name: article-titles
description: Write titles for blog posts, deep dives, and hub articles. 15 proven formulas + 10 Commandments evaluation. Generate 10+ options, select best through systematic criteria.
---

# 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:**
1. Problem - What pain exists?
2. Goal - What result does reader want?
3. Benefit - What will their life look like after?
4. Concept - What idea/principle applies?
5. Example - What story/data illustrates this?
6. 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

1. **What's the core question this answers?** - That's often the title
2. **Match to pattern** - Definitive? How-to? List? Versus?
3. **Generate 5-10 options** - Try different framings
4. **SEO check** - Does primary keyword appear? Under 60 chars if ranking matters?
5. **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 |

---

## Related

- `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.*

Overview

This skill writes high-impact titles for blog posts, deep dives, and hub articles using proven headline formulas and a systematic evaluation. It generates 10+ distinct options across multiple patterns, scores top candidates against a 10-commandment checklist, and selects the best-performing title. The approach balances clickability, accuracy, and SEO constraints to maximize content performance.

How this skill works

First, the skill extracts the article's promised transformation by identifying the problem, goal, benefit, concept, example, and process. Next, it generates more than ten title options using diverse headline formulas (definitive guides, how-to, lists, contrarian, comparisons) and sticky techniques like alliteration and contrast. Finally, it scores the top 5–7 titles against a 10-commandments checklist and the 4 U's (Useful, Urgent, Unique, Ultra-specific) to pick the highest-scoring, context-appropriate title.

When to use it

  • Creating titles for hub pages, comprehensive guides, or deep dives that need authority.
  • Writing blog posts and tactical how-to articles that require clear outcome-focused headlines.
  • Optimizing existing titles for SEO or search intent alignment (keyword placement, length).
  • Generating multiple headline variations for A/B testing or editorial review.
  • Producing local or comparison titles where geo-targeting or versus framing improves relevance.

Best practices

  • Always start by defining the transformation: problem → goal → path.
  • Generate at least 10 options across 3–4 headline patterns before selecting.
  • Use the 4 U's and aim for 3–4 commandments satisfied per title as a minimum.
  • Place the primary keyword near the start for SEO and keep titles under 60 characters when ranking matters.
  • Avoid vague language, clickbait, insider jargon, and hedging words like 'might' or 'could'.

Example use cases

  • Write 12 title options for an ESA spending guide, then pick the top headline for a state-specific hub page.
  • Produce 15 variants for a microschool how-to article and select the one best for organic CTR.
  • Create list and comparison-style titles for a post comparing homeschool curricula and choose the most specific.
  • Generate local search-friendly titles for 'Microschools Near Me' articles with city or state included.
  • Develop contrarian headlines for opinion pieces that also meet the 4 U's for shareability.

FAQ

How many title options will you generate?

I generate 10–15 distinct title options using multiple headline formulas and sticky techniques.

What criteria determine the final selection?

Top candidates are scored with a 10-commandments checklist and the 4 U's; the highest-scoring title that fits intent and SEO constraints is chosen.

Can this produce SEO-optimized titles?

Yes—titles can include the primary keyword near the start and be kept under 60 characters when ranking is a priority.