Choose a catchy title to get views - or maybe not
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (326434)
Rockingham, Australia
August 10, 2018 7:12pm CST
I recently posted two discussions about windmills. I put them up one after the other which probably wasn’t the best idea. One was called A Windmill Museum blah blah and the other A Windmill named Bruce.
At the moment the latter has three times the number of views of the former and I can’t help but think it’s because one title is a bit more enticing than the other. I’ve noticed before that a straightforward title often gets ignored but if you can come up with a title with a bit of a difference it gains a lot more interest.
Does the title influence whether you read the discussion or not? I would read posts put up by my ‘best’ myLot friends whatever the title said but otherwise the title does influence me.
I think my best title ever was ‘Stripper at a party’ which drew people like magnets. I wonder why? 
The photo is of a seed pod from a reed near a salt lake near Peak Charles in Western Australia. Isn't it a strange-looking thing?
The photo is of a seed pod from a reed near a salt lake near Peak Charles in Western Australia. Isn't it a strange-looking thing?25 people like this
24 responses
@JohnRoberts (109857)
• Los Angeles, California
11 Aug 18
I just put up straightforward titles and leave response to fate.
3 people like this
@caopaopao (12395)
• China
11 Aug 18
I do read the title. Sometimes when I look at the title, I give up reading the discussion.
2 people like this
@caopaopao (12395)
• China
11 Aug 18
@JudyEv 
I don't understand football either. I don't like politics, either.
I don't understand football either. I don't like politics, either.2 people like this
@JudyEv (326434)
• Rockingham, Australia
11 Aug 18
@caopaopao Yes, and religion. Mostly I steer clear of those topics.
2 people like this
@velvet53 (22528)
• Palisade, Colorado
12 Aug 18
The picture is strange but cool. I read what catches my eye at first then I read a lot from the people that I have been replying to for awhile. I have made new friends by reading a new person and that is interesting too. A catchy title does help.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (326434)
• Rockingham, Australia
12 Aug 18
No, I'm sorry I don't. I think you need to respond and comment on lots of discussions and write some of your own and gradually people will start to recognise your name and will come to visit your posts and respond and comment. Too many new people expect instant results. Give yourself a few weeks to get known here and you'll find the pennies will start to roll in. And welcome to myLot. Think about enjoying the site and not too much about the money and it will all happen.
@KrauseHome (36448)
• United States
13 Aug 18
That might have some say to it, but not really sure. Some say it is the timing as well. But when I have friends who I enjoy reading about their adventures like I do with you, I read as many as I get time too, just to see what you've been up too.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (326434)
• Rockingham, Australia
13 Aug 18
Thanks. Because I'm usually in bed when most of the myLot activity is going on, I don't pay much attention to the timing as I can't do anything about it. People seem to read my posts even if I'm not online so I'm grateful for that. I like to keep up with my friends' posts too.
@JudyEv (326434)
• Rockingham, Australia
12 Aug 18
I always try to get an interesting photo but half the time I never notice if there is a photo on the post I'm going to read. And if the post is by one of my friends here I read it whatever the title. Do you feel 'misled' if the photo/title doesn't really match the text?
@snowy22315 (170756)
• United States
11 Aug 18
Yep, I think you are right..I think title has a lot to do with readership. It is a well known journalism practice..Some are expert at that here honestly.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (326434)
• Rockingham, Australia
11 Aug 18
Puns often create a catchy title too and I'll read the post firstly because the writer has made me smile.
@Aquitaine24 (11653)
• San Jose, California
11 Aug 18
Stripper at a party--funny
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (326434)
• Rockingham, Australia
12 Aug 18
If you search for 'stripper' you can find the discussion. It wasn't a real stripper - it was a can of paint stripper.
@just4him (307688)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
11 Aug 18
I've read both and found them interesting. I read the top post of the person who commented unless I read all the posts of that person, then I just go to the next one in order. The only posts I do my best to avoid are political posts.
Your picture is interesting. It looks like the head of a bird. I didn't know it was a seed pod. Nature is awesome!
1 person likes this
@lovebuglena (43103)
• Staten Island, New York
11 Aug 18
When writing a post you just never know how much interaction it will get. Sometimes a catchy/intriguing title helps. At others times it doesn't and a straightforward one gets more visits. I don't really dwell too much on a title when I write a post. And when look for stuff to read I don't care as much whether a title is catchy or not. If it's on a topic I am interested in, it doesn't matter what the title is. I might check it out either way.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (326434)
• Rockingham, Australia
11 Aug 18
I think you're right but I like to try to think of a catchy title if I can.
@Shiva49 (26233)
• Singapore
11 Aug 18
Thanks for sharing your trade secret!
Some thoughtful posts did not attract many responses but others I thought were run of the mill did.
I try to have a title to reflect the subject matter.
I do understand an attractive title does the trick - Siva
1 person likes this
@arunima25 (85719)
• Bangalore, India
11 Aug 18
This seed pod looks like beak of some bird. Yes title catch our attention but sometimes they mislead also.
1 person likes this
@arunima25 (85719)
• Bangalore, India
12 Aug 18
@JudyEv Yes it caught my attention at once.
1 person likes this
@much2say (53942)
• Los Angeles, California
11 Aug 18
I think the right title helps - but there are so many variables as to why a person picks a post to read. I love that there are so many different and unusual plant species in Australia period - I've seen photos but I would love to see these plants in person! Wow, how big is this seed pod - almost looks like a goose head!
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (326434)
• Rockingham, Australia
11 Aug 18
Even a catchy title needs to have something a bit interesting to go with it. It's a great looking plant isn't it?
@RasmaSandra (73861)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
11 Aug 18
I have noticed the draw of title too but I still read whatever my friends post. In the photo that looks like the neck and head of a goose at least to me.
1 person likes this
@Freelanzer (10744)
• Canada
11 Aug 18
I can't say for sure if a title draws people in. Mostly I think it is just who is on the site at the time.
1 person likes this
@Starmaiden (9311)
• Canada
11 Aug 18
I try to choose titles that ate straight forward, relate to the topic and don't mislead. 
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (326434)
• Rockingham, Australia
11 Aug 18
That's very true - and a good thing really. In the end, it doesn't matter much.
