» September 19, 2007 in
Cory Doctorow is one of the few bloggers on the hugely popular BoingBoing.net and was recently asked in a video "How do I make my blog into a top blog?"The advice wasn't your typical "try and get people to visit your site at all costs" or "write headlines that attract readers with these surefire hooks or bait", instead it was advice that showed respect for your readers (and potential readers) and was refreshing to listen to.
The single best advice he says is "Write headlines as if you were a wire service writer."
What does that mean? My interpretation:
1. When you see the headline, do you know what the article is about? You should! (you will be seeing more on this philosophy integrated into 45n5.com real soon, aside, many of you violate this pretty badly, including me)
2. The first sentence should explain all the things you need to know to SKIP the article. This is brilliant in my opinion, and by "first sentence" I assume he means the headline (if not it's still great advice).
Basically your readers will forgive you if they aren't interested in a post or two IF they can tell by the title that they should skip it. Great titles tell your readers what posts they can SKIP.
You show respect for your readers attention and time plus build trust by making titles that explain clearly what the article is about and letting them easily decided when to skip your posts.
But that's just my interpretation, here it is directly from Cory:
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Michael Martine says on September 19, 2007
That's certainly interesting in that it goes against a lot of advice out there about writing blog post headlines as though you were writing ad copy. No one could ever argue against Boing Boing's success. And although he doesn't call it SEO, what he says about people searching for answers is great. They could've moved a little closer to the camera, though, ya think?
Pat B. Doyle says on September 19, 2007
Hi Mark, sorry this is off topic, but I wonder every time I go to your Top 100 page... What is the sandbox for, and why is Michael Martine in it?
@Michael - do you get a lot of curiosity clicks from it? I know I clicked on your site because of it :)
Valentin says on September 19, 2007
Treated from the "I ONLY want to sell" point of view, self-including-title made to allow visitors to skip / read the article may be correct. May be, I`m not not quite sure.
However, have not so much (or at all) to do with showing respect for readers (visitors). After all, as we are talking about a BLOG, 99% interest is to determine visitors to :
- read
- want more (go to other older pages)
- return
Therefore, respect is to be shown by content quality (of post-article).
Some of most important parameters measuring the value of a (blog, site, forum etc.) `s content are :
- visitors
- readers (where is the case)
- returning visitors
- navigation menu - other links clicks
- TIME SPENT ON SITE
As about last two - but specialy last one - , if article title is the article, odds are visitors will stay seconds (less than 10) on site, then odds are they will miss to see 99% of page content (before last on list) and in very short time the return frequency will become lower - with huge impact on all parameters.
Of course, as "laser targeted niche" style, simply starting the title with one-two descriptive words would be enough to determinate (mostly) only intersted people to read on.
Examples :
"SUV`s engine - how to reduce gas consume to 0 litter/gallon in 3 steps"
or
"P.C. users - tips to keep your keybopard clean"
or
"Internet addicted - simple method to walk your dog without leaving your desk"
or
"Dogs lover - best way to avoid misunderstanding with neighbours, tame your dog(s) to bite them anytime they see".
This last title is exactly as you said in your above article : title contain the article.
Question : why then bother to write the article ?
:-))))))
This sound to me as (aproximative translation) a classical "riddle" : "hat with one leg, guess what a mushroom is"
45n5 () says on September 20, 2007:
@michael - lol, yeah I wondered about that also@pat b doyle - check out the comments here for the info on the sandbox
http://www.michaelmartine.com/2007/09/06/45n5-blog-review/
@valentin - "Question : why then bother to write the article ?"
lol, for the Details, for the details.......
Valentin says on September 20, 2007
hahahahahhahahahahahahaha
What details ?
What is the difference between (and which seems logicaly better) :
- teasing title-headline. make one curious. First paragraph give a briefing, so if reader is not NOW intersted, at least have memorized what-where for later eventual use (even to recommend to a friend) + rest of advantages.
- self explanatory title. One read the title, think is not intersted and leave. later him (or a friend) need info in that area, but he have no clue if that is or not what he looking for ?
Ya know you can`t please everybody ..
here we are just going back to old issues
- do you build a community of downliners-readers or do you join a community of readers ?
- do you blog to grab money from readers or you blog to build a horizontal "list" (community build - read last paragraph here > http://five4all.com/this-post-is-not-for-everyone/) ?
- put post-subject in title as for newbies readers (so they are not intersted in, they go) or tease the experimented internet-blogger to read your words ?
Related to last qiestion, when do you show respect for your readers
- when you treat them with "today I writed about maintenance of wood shirt buttons, natural color, 4 holes, small size"
- when you give`em "longer life for certain type of shirt buttons"
assuming your blog is known be in the "niche" of buttons .. ?
Due to race for making money online, people keep forgeting that blogs are not money making tools, but .. LIST BUILDERS, treating "list" members as equals, horizontaly. Blogs are for building relations, not to get use of an existing one.
Blog is not THE STORE, blogs is the ENTRANCE in store, the LOOK, the EXPERTISE, the IMAGE of store ..
Think offline - people preffer - very large majority - to shop in supermarkets because they can find there ALLMOST EVERYTHING, be it them interest when they go in or not.
One go to a supermarket to buy milk and bananas (he have a new toilet and want to give it a hard test :-)) ), but he see there also fresh fish - maybe he`ll buy, maybe he`ll be back saturday when he`ll see also birthday candles (20 models) fit for his friend`s soon-to-be party.
If was a fish only shop, he`ll come saturday, grab the fish and forget.
Again, what shows more respect (long terms, open minded readers) - "here is about the use of steel pins and red cotton wire, you are not intersted, bye !" or "you MAY want to read this !" ?
:-))
45n5 () says on September 20, 2007:
"Due to race for making money online, people keep forgeting that blogs are not money making tools, but .. LIST BUILDERS, treating "list" members as equals, horizontaly.""Blog is not THE STORE, blogs is the ENTRANCE in store, the LOOK, the EXPERTISE, the IMAGE of store .."
Good stuff valentin,
if you want to draw in every possible reader than teasing them is the way to go. If you respect your readers and want them long term than being honest in the headline is best.
I think we are saying the same thing.
Behövs says on September 20, 2007
Is this true that great title makes readers to skip the POST to read? But by reading the headline we can make guesses like what the article is all about.
Moksh Juneja says on September 23, 2007
The asnwer to the headline question is a really cool!!
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