think of title that will MAKE PEOPLE CLICK ON IT.... just as "the eye buys" a title that appeals to human nature will attract people....

sex sells!!!! 

my last title was "Not A Quickie...Need to be Social and We'll Love You In the Morning".....  

another one that I recall is "Do You Know What Goes Up My Butt Sideways?"

I rarely go literal, you have to be eye catching or curiosity raising...innuendo and double entendres are fun too.

For example: GOT ANY WEED?

was the title of my lawn care blog once.

It depends on the material that's being written. If it's a market report or a listing, I will have Market Report or Listing in the title or property address, but all others might be more creative to catch attention.

I think it really depends on what you think people are looking for.  In my view, there are three main types of blog titles:

1) The factual - This is the most common in listing blogs.  Title is something physical and factual, such as "123 Main Street, Any City, USA".  Great if you have a listing and want to catch those that search for the address.

2) The "Wow Factor" - This is something that makes people want to see the blog.  Think most "click bait" ads online "7 tricks to spice up your love life" or in real estate: "Amazing single story with stunning city views."

3) The long tail search - This is something that is related to what people might be typing into Google.  Examples: "What is my Thousand Oaks home worth?" (I use this for my market blogs), "Single story 3 bedroom home near UCLA" (a format I've started using for listings instead of the address as more people are going to search for something like that instead of the particular address), and something I searched for recently: "Walking tours of Maui" (I was looking into a vacation).  This last is good for basic information about the area, to help brand you as a local expert.

I usually write the post, first.... and then look through the language to see if there's anything that stands out as a title, and pull that sentence (or sometimes modify it) to attract to some attention.

Well my answer is not as entertaining as Sam & Barbara's comments.

I just write the post & then ponder on what would get the most views. If it is a consumer piece I just go with what keywords G likes. After all, it's in the ranking for them with a market graph.

There was a website that helped you with titles. I will have to find it for everybody.

Basically, my process is pretty much what Alan May said.

This is one of those subjects that auto-runs for me. It just works out fine

There is art and science behind creating the optimal title to ensure the maximum number of clicks.  You can also try A | B split testing.

I want to catch attention and if public then relate to the post.

I just say something to describe what the post is about, but others do a much better job than I do.

Make it interesting so people would want to click and read.

Harry F. D'Elia The answers generated by your question are making me chuckle.  Thanks!

I have a lot of market reports so most are rather boring but the point gets made -- so to speak.  

A question in the title seems to work

Clever titles too.

Taking something from the news and tying in with your subject.

Harry,

There are days when we have the title in mind prior to writing the post, and there are days when we write the post first...then when we find the picture, sometimes the picture dictates the title.  "Don't LetThe Ants Get In The Way of The Elephant!"

If you write the post first and then look at it for a minute, something might just pop out at you.  If not, have a glass of wine and repeat!

Click Bait .... and then there needs to be good engaging content to keep them there. 

There should be a thought process for sure.  Something that will grab a reader and make them want to know more.

Anything catchy, but relevant to the topic.  Barbara Todaro has one that caught my eye and I am going back to check it out.

Harry F. D'Elia Most of the time, I have an idea for a title and try to keep my post within that focus. After I write the post, I may tweak it a little.

Count on good advice from Barbara Todaro. 

I look into Google Keywords for the number people searching for specific terms. I try to think of subjects that my clients ask about.

Use your imagination and keep trying until you get something you like

I think about the audience I'm targeting and what search words they might be using. 

I usually follow the process outlined by Alan May.

Try some eye catching topic after you have completed the article.

Think outside the box, what would make people open it and want to read it. Dont fear being a bit over the top with it. 

The others have answered.

Sometimes the title comes and the blog follows, or a thought or emotion within the blog inspires the title. I try to make them interesting enough that people will want to see what's inside.

I sometimes google the topic to see what are top results for that topic are.

Harry F. D'Elia - there are some good posts about selecting a good title for the blog posts. If you have number in the title - like '5 myths' ....it works best!

Think of an eye catching title that grabs your interest and makes you want to click.

I just pull some words from thin air

What is the purpose of your post? Think how people will search for the information and compose your title around that. 

Depends on the topic. Keywords might be more important that being cute or creative, but for some topics definitely something creative that will get people to click

Something that will make people click on it, without being misleading.

I listen to my muse.