Overview
Choosing the right title for your post is essential for attracting readers and improving SEO. This post will guide you on how to create a title that meets specific validation criteria using regular expressions (regex).
Understanding the validation rule
The validation rule involves two regex operations:
- Remove invalid characters
This removes any character that is not a word character (\w), whitespace (\s), or a hyphen (-).
string validTitle = Regex.Replace(title, @"[^\w\s-]", ""); - Normalize whitespace
This replaces multiple spaces with a single space and trims leading/trailing whitespace.
validTitle = Regex.Replace(validTitle, @"\s+", " ").Trim();
Tips for choosing a valid title
- Focus on Keywords: Include relevant key phrases, like “10 Essential Healthy Eating Tips.”
- Be Descriptive and Clear: Avoid vague titles. Instead of “Tips for Life,” use “10 Practical Tips for a Healthier Life.”
- Limit Length: Aim for 50-60 characters to ensure the title isn’t cut off in search results.
- Avoid Special Characters: Exclude !, @, #, etc. Use letters, numbers, spaces, and hyphens.
- Use Hyphens and Spaces Appropriately: Hyphens improve readability, e.g., “Step-by-Step Guide to Home Renovation.”
- Ensure Proper Spacing: Avoid multiple consecutive spaces.
Examples of Valid Titles
Invalid Titles:
- “The Best!@# Blog Post” - Contains
!@#. - ” Too Many Spaces “ - Has extra spaces.
- “Learn & Grow” - Contains
&.
Valid Titles:
- “The Best Blog Post” - Special characters removed.
- “Too Many Spaces” - Extra spaces normalized.
- “Learn Grow” - Special character removed.
Conclusion
Choose a title that is engaging, clear, and compliant with validation rules. Focus on key phrases, avoid special characters, and ensure proper spacing to create effective and valid titles that attract readers and enhance your post’s visibility.