Comments
10 CommentsI was just talking to Paul about how so many Note topic titles are really enticing, in contrast to so many blog entries around the net that are cryptic, short, or just boring. Here are some of my ideas for making your Note or blog entry titles more exciting and clickworthy:
- Use absolutes. "Why Microsoft and Yahoo just can't beat Google" was a recent Note title, and it dropped the assumption that something was impossible right in the title, prompting a click regardless of if you agreed or completely disagreed. Hint: people who completely disagree with your viewpoint most likely will read your articles more often, so always have a strong position on an issue.
- Specific question. "Tivo: is it worth it?" was another recent title here on Notes. The author immediately directed attention to a physical object that people have knowledge of or can relate to, then asked a pertinent and directed question about this object. Very clickable.
Anybody else have ideas on writing clickworthy titles?
Rich
Written May. 30, 2007 / Report /
Having a fucking relevant post title, for a start. (And community placement -- bad Mike!) Titles like "lol this is funny" and "Question???.." are a sure way of guaranteeing less clicks.
Mike
Written May. 30, 2007 / Report /
A post about blogging titles doesn't belong in Technology? :)
Ollie
Written May. 30, 2007 / Report /
I would have said writing, because essentially, you're talking about writing, are you not?
Short, to the point and good grammar/spelling always help. I tend not to read posts/notes that start with "UR VEWS ON DA WRLD" or similar. Speak to me like a human, not a mobile phone!
peroty
Written May. 30, 2007 / Report /
When posting title, I struggle not to put the whole note in the title if I'm asking a question. But I also try to make it searchable later on with good keywords and tags.
Many times I'll try to go back and find a note to reference to quote someone, or to find a bit of information or a recommendation and I just can't find it because the title was "Look! Birdies!" or something utterly nonsensical.
This is the interweb where nothing goes away. Post things with an eye to the future. And for the mythical FAQ section comes about to cover things like Hosting, Wordpress Help (I swear we need a WP category around here), and other things that get asked time and time again.
Kamigoroshi
Written May. 30, 2007 / Report /
Since my posts are more personal and commentary in nature. I often find double entandre's most helpful. Sex sells alright, but as long as it relates to the topic at hand, you can be politically correct and still get away with it.
For instance, the most read post on my blog is and still is "Make Your Penis Bigger". It has nothing to do with actually making your penis bigger but it relates to it since it's about spam.
Other posts give the same effect, they are creative abstracts of the actual point. It draws people for the most part.
Mike
Written May. 30, 2007 / Report /
Yeah it could have gone into writing, but I assumed people looking for ways to write better blog entry titles would be coming from the technical side of the coin (Starting a blog! Want to get better! Technology!) rather than from the writing side (I'm a professional writer! Starting a blog! How do I write for a blog?) but it could go either way.
JustinKistner
Written May. 30, 2007 / Report /
That's funny. I do use a different strategy for naming blog posts than I do Notes. I'm going to try using a more click enticing style for my blog entries.
peroty
Written May. 30, 2007 / Report /
Sounds like another possible addition to the 2010 update. Multiple, or a second category for Notes.
Oli
Written May. 31, 2007 / Report /
Or even descriptions of the categories so people can place things better...
cooper
Written May. 31, 2007 / Report /
I post my personal blog titles much like kamigoroshi, but that is much easier to do with a personal blog.
Notes? Well, I have not started that many and when I do they are usually a call for aid, so they are pretty straight-up.