Comments on: Why Blog Titles Are Like Your In-laws

By: Alex Lim

Alex Lim — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 12:16:44 +0000

This comment is just a reminder. I bump in a blog few days ago. To be honest I was magnetized by its catchy title but unfortunately the expectation imposed by the title did not exceed the value of the content, result, I was disappointed together with a number of readers. The author basically did not give justice to its great title so it ended up with comments expressing frustrations and disappointments. Lesson, the title of the post creates a level of expectation to readers so don’t exaggerate, be careful with how you choose your words.ss

By: Nathan Hangen

Nathan Hangen — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 03:38:33 +0000

All great points…I’m not sure why I thought I could scrape by with less than thoughtful titles until now, but you are right…buzzworthy content on Twitter usually has a recipe, and that recipe includes a good title.

By: Lisa Barone

Lisa Barone — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 16:05:40 +0000

Ari: I usually start with a headline…but it’s long gone by the time the article is done. My mind wanders so sometimes posts take completely different turns than I intended them. :)

A valid point on the WP plugin suggestion. I’ll see what I can do about that. :)

By: Ari Herzog

Ari Herzog — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 03:17:22 +0000

Nine times out of ten, I write the headline before the content and never change it, else the content changes. I rarely write the headline after. If anything, I'll change words around, but never a complete rework. My headline guides what I write. Post script: On a side note, since you don't offer me a way to receive follow-up comments, I'll never know if you reply, will I? May I suggest installing the Subscribe to Comments plugin for Wordpress?

By: Lisa Barone

Lisa Barone — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 20:35:48 +0000

Ethan: I’m not sure what I’m supposed to do with you but…I want whatever you’re having. :)

By: Evan Morris

Evan Morris — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 20:13:30 +0000

I KNOW THE ANSWER TO THE CHICKEN OR THE EGG PROBLEM AND I WILL ANSWER IT BELOW!!!

See, I got you again! The truth is I really don’t know which came first, but I wanted to keep my joke about titles going for as long as I could. Ok I think I’m done.

Lisa, don’t sell yourself short. Obviously it’s the sparkling personality that keeps bringing me back. To be honest I can barely read! I judge a post mostly on the pictures. For instance, Rhea’s post yesterday had a picture of cats fighting with lightsabers and using Force lightning. As a result…it is one of the greatest posts I have ever read, and I don’t understand keyword research at all!

By: Lisa Barone

Lisa Barone — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 19:11:38 +0000

John: I said Brian Clark because I remembered this post from a few years ago:

http://www.copyblogger.com/cosmo-headlines/

In regards to intent: If you’re attracting people who want to read the post “despite” the title, isn’t it still the title that attracts them? Chicken, egg.

By: john andrews

john andrews — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 18:13:31 +0000

I hate it when Michael gives Michael credit for my comments. I recall the discussion, but can’t find it because, well, it probably had a quirky, off-topic title, while some SEO’s commentary on it had a title like “Cosmo Knows Sexy Titles” or some such. Woe is me.

Anyway I disagree with one part — you ignored intent. Your declarations that everyone should or everyone should want or “Your headline is what gets people to read your first sentence” is not absolute. Sometimes, you specifically want to reach only those who want to read the post despite the title. In reverse, you may want to deter those who would read only if there was a sexy title. It depends on your intent.

I think the title is part of the content, and needs to be crafted in context, as part of the overall mission. I think this is why so many headline writers get flack — and deserve criticism. They operate under a different mission than the writer of the article, and can ruin a well crafted (written) piece. Nothing like setting the wrong tone or demeanor at the start of an otherwise crafted article, or priming the wrong expectations, setting the writer up for a fall.

By: Lisa Barone

Lisa Barone — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 17:27:35 +0000

Michael: Brian Clark talks a lot about the Cosmo approach to magnetic blog title writing. It’s actually kind of fun to go check out a newsstand and then change the title of gossip or trashy magazines to fit the SEO space. I mean…not that I do that. For fun. I have other hobbies. REALLY INTERESTING HOBBIES.

Evan: You, are ridiculous. :) And pfft, you come back here for sparkling personality. And probably because you’re bored at work. :)

Joe: Hmm, that’s interesting. I haven’t noticed a correlation between title tone and comment tone. That’s definitely one to watch. I’m just no good at writing titles. Never have been but I make an attempt. One day I’ll rival Andy. One day! [shakes fist] (okay, fine, probably not)

By: Joe Hall

Joe Hall — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 17:21:25 +0000

I freakin love title writing! Although some times you can attract the wrong type of readers. For example, I have noticed that when I write an agitating blog title/post I get a lot of agitating comments. Same goes for funny feel good titles, I get funny feel good comments. And the titles that are blah, I don't get any comments at all.