A good clever title will draw readers' attention
@AbbyGreenhill (45496)
United States
October 31, 2015 12:28pm CST
A title is the first thing your readers see. It can either turn people off or turn them on. A clever title is one way to attract attention to your discussions here on myLot.
You have seen some I'm sure. An example of one I used was, "I'm Throwing in the Towel" which is a catch phrase used when someone is going to leave or quit. I used to as an introduction to talk about doing laundry, throwing towels into the washing machine.
I have seen some that use a little more deceit than that - the ones that say, "I made $50 online today" and the reader might automatically think that person made that much on myLot. Of course they want to get into that discussion and find out more. Only then do they learn that person won a lottery or a bingo game or something totally unrelated to here or other online ways of making money.
Clever titles are important, but they they shouldn't be bait and switch.
17 people like this
13 responses
@poehere (15126)
• French Polynesia
31 Oct 15
I do a lot of writing for different clients who have blog sites. More than once I have had to address this issue in a post for them. One thing is for sure your title is the most important thing you will write on your page. Here some titles are more like the first sentence of their post and the start off with a few words and end it in the post. This is one way but not always the right way. On discussion sites this is a good way to make people read your work because they want to see what or how the sentence ends.
2 people like this
@AbbyGreenhill (45496)
• United States
31 Oct 15
I write for a blog and I know the group that tends to read the blog, so I keep it short and sweet.
1 person likes this
@poehere (15126)
• French Polynesia
31 Oct 15
@AbbyGreenhill Good idea and glad that you understand this one. I hate reading titles that are so long.
@MALUSE (69413)
• Germany
31 Oct 15
I used two-word alliterative titles on a British site for many years. I was called 'Queen of Alliteration' by a staff member. The titles had to do with the post and were witty. I was very proud of them. I've noticed, however, that the members of other sites react differently. They want a kind of short summary in the title.
2 people like this
@AbbyGreenhill (45496)
• United States
31 Oct 15
Can you give me an example of the type of tittle you are speaking of?
@MALUSE (69413)
• Germany
31 Oct 15
@AbbyGreenhill I hope you can open the site. You can find a vast collection of titles there.
The European consumer portal with unbiased reviews, product ratings and offers to help you choose the best from millions of products at Ciao UK
@sueznewz2 (10409)
• Alicante, Spain
31 Oct 15
That's ssooo true...and for me personally, coming up with the title, is often the hardest part of writing the post.... 
1 person likes this
@AbbyGreenhill (45496)
• United States
1 Nov 15
Sometimes I pick a title, write it, then have to change the title because it just doesn't work.
1 person likes this
@sueznewz2 (10409)
• Alicante, Spain
1 Nov 15
@AbbyGreenhill oohhh I 've not written a post that way round before.... I get the theme for the post then try and think of a good title.... 
@Missmwngi (12927)
• Nairobi, Kenya
31 Oct 15
I agree with you. Some titles are a total turn off. When i read the tittle and i am not impressed i don't even feel motivated to read the body
1 person likes this
@AbbyGreenhill (45496)
• United States
1 Nov 15
There are several reasons I move on - titles and subjects.
1 person likes this
@ElizabethWallace (12074)
• United States
1 Nov 15
I agree with you on that. I like playing with words, but aim them at the point of the article.
1 person likes this
@AbbyGreenhill (45496)
• United States
1 Nov 15
Exactly. I'm usually pretty good with 'lead ins'...some are too far off base so I have to redirect!
1 person likes this
@AbbyGreenhill (45496)
• United States
1 Nov 15
@ElizabethWallace Yes, things like that you can't learn...
1 person likes this
@ElizabethWallace (12074)
• United States
1 Nov 15
@AbbyGreenhill I think some people just have a knack for the clever hook.
1 person likes this
@Kazemononoke (248)
• United States
1 Nov 15
I love word play like that. As my real life journalist job, I once covered an explosive ordinance training event and titled it "EOD Trains with a Bang." I thought it was cute.
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (159105)
• Boise, Idaho
1 Nov 15
I think that clever titles are fun and yet some are crazy. I just like to get people interested so they will come read and respond.
@celticeagle (159105)
• Boise, Idaho
1 Nov 15
@AbbyGreenhill ....You can use more than one photo. Put one in the body of the discussion, post it and then respond to it and add another.
@AbbyGreenhill (45496)
• United States
1 Nov 15
@celticeagle I don't think I've seen any with two photos? I'll have to pay more attention. Thanks. Can you put a photo and then edit and add another one? If you respond won't the photo show up only in the comments?
1 person likes this
@AbbyGreenhill (45496)
• United States
1 Nov 15
Get them to read whatever way is possible LOL! I wish we cloud put more than one photo, I think they help also.
1 person likes this
@rebelann (111195)
• El Paso, Texas
31 Oct 15
Yep, all it takes is the right people to see the right header that could start discussions. The problem I see here is that too many members write comments that can't lead to discussions so what I've been trying to do is end comments with questions in hopes someone will answer me so that a conversation can actually take place.
I've had some real fun on mylot but not because of the original post, mostly it had to do with the interaction between people responding on someones comment then inviting some of their followers to join in.
@AbbyGreenhill (45496)
• United States
1 Nov 15
Ending with a question has worked for many years on many sites. Yes, the discussions are really what makes this site what it is.
1 person likes this
like the bait and switch title they are good ones.
@LadyDuck (458230)
• Switzerland
1 Nov 15
I have seen catching titles and meaningless discussions. There was one yesterday saying "how to make $250 online". The post said nothing at all, except the user made about 15 on myLot and it is mysterious from (and if) the rest came into his PayPal account.
@AbbyGreenhill (45496)
• United States
1 Nov 15
See, that's exactly what I mean. That's bait and switch - but maybe that person doesn't even realize he/she did it.
1 person likes this
@Sheilamarie78 (2586)
• Canada
31 Oct 15
I like a good title, but do feel a bit odd when someone uses something provocative in order to get my notice.
1 person likes this
@AbbyGreenhill (45496)
• United States
1 Nov 15
I've done semi-provocative not sure if I've done it here or not!
@Jessicalynnt (50525)
• Centralia, Missouri
31 Oct 15
I also think having a photo and an avatar help draw attention
@AbbyGreenhill (45496)
• United States
31 Oct 15
I go more by title after I see the photo. Some photos turn me off.
@NeldaHoxie (1381)
• United States
1 Nov 15
I hate bait and switch titles. If a person does that over and over, I think everyone learns to distrust them. I also don't think that they are necessary. It's better to make real friends here and genuinely be interested in each other's day. I am beyond happy that I have almost all of my own Bubbler buddies back.
@AbbyGreenhill (45496)
• United States
1 Nov 15
I haven't seen all that many Bubbs people, of course if they change naems or phtoos then I won't know them.
