Use of 2 vs Two in the Title of a Project?

SeanIM · 08-21-2008, 01:44 PM

What's your take on the use of

2 versus Two in the title of a project...say something like

2 Step Coaching

versus

Two Step Coaching

Would you consider the advantage going to the numerical as used so often in successful headlines?

Thanks in advance for any insight on this.

- Sean

Scott Murdaugh · 08-22-2008, 01:43 AM

I have no real evidence to back it up, but my gut tells me "two" is the way to go.

Jared Alberghini · 08-23-2008, 05:37 PM

My honest thought when I saw both titles, I liked '2 Step Coaching' better... it for some reason seemed simpler to me... I don't know why... it could be that it was quicker to read & comprehend, less characters, it hit me 2 looked easy, but geez you want me to read the whole number out? TWO? that seems like work.

also, with the gr8 # of ppl using internet slang now adays, be it online or texting, the shorter words seem to hit a bigger crowd.

- Jared

Bruce Wedding · 08-23-2008, 05:48 PM

I read somewhere that using digits pulls better. It may have been in Herschel Gordon Lewis' book The Art of Writing Copy.

I always try the digits first and decide if it looks right. Remember, there are no "cast in stone" rules.

Ken Strong · 08-23-2008, 05:54 PM

To my eye, it looks funny using the digit when it's the first word of the sentence. It wouldn't bother me if it was further in. Maybe you could try it with a hyphen (2-Step Coaching).

ecoverartist · 08-23-2008, 06:51 PM

FWIW I had a professor tell me to always write out the number unless it was 10 or more. So my vote would go to Two-Step... Seems to look better to me. For some reason "2-step" makes it sounds like the dance move

SeanIM · 08-26-2008, 11:37 PM

Thanks for some really good feedback. I have a few more things to consider testing now.

I'm digging on some of the dash variations...that does seem to help a bit.

In the end I'm just going to have to do some test runs.

:thumbsup

-S

colinredk · 08-28-2008, 10:58 PM

I guess it's more of a target-audience question. If it was a formal book type of title, it should be "Two" but if you want a more ad agency type of approach, you should use "2" and with or without the hyphen.

It's also like SMS or text messaging, where some words are abbreviated. "2day" for "today", or "Crazy4U" on a vanity plate.

MakingMoneyAtHome · 08-30-2008, 03:45 PM

I was taught that 1-9 should be spelled out and 10 and above should be numbers.

Dawn

Jared Alberghini · 10-10-2008, 08:26 PM

How about using BOTH??? like this 2 (Two), or the other way around if you prefer, Two (2)

Simple solution, use the best of both worlds!!!

Genius I say...

- Jared

chillingbreeze · 10-12-2008, 09:11 AM

If you're talking about an article title then # will grab quick attention, I assume.

Top 10 Steps To.....

Top Ten Steps To...

Of course, number looks better, IMO.

Cheers!

erinwrites · 10-13-2008, 09:54 PM

Using the 2 at the beginning of the title is kind of awkward. My initial reaction was a knee jerk--oh no, another texter trying to write a sales letter!--kind of reaction. Still though, 2 plays better with your concept than Two. Quite a conundrum!

Paul Coleman · 10-14-2008, 12:22 AM

Quote:

2 Step Coaching

I think numeral 2 looks more dynamic in this case. Especially if it's part of a graphic or banner.

Paul

dbishop · 10-14-2008, 09:28 AM

Looks to be acceptable either way, according to the consensus here, so maybe it would depend on the target audience? I'm with the crowd that says spell out numbers under 10, but that may be because my background is journalistic and follows style manuals rather than straight sales copy. I just think 2 as a digit looks odd at the beginning of a sentence.

Dee

Lance K · 10-14-2008, 04:01 PM

How about using Roman Numerals?

II Step Coaching

And let me guess the 2 steps:

They give you money
You coach them

dbishop · 10-14-2008, 04:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lance K

How about using Roman Numerals?

II Step Coaching

Mmmm... I don't like it. But I'm picky.

Dee

zapseo · 10-14-2008, 07:39 PM

For "2 Step" -- I'd use number, all the way.

Here's another reason for using "2" -- it has to do with "chunking" and how we grasp information. The meaning of "2" is more dense information - 1 character instead of 3. May sound silly -- but stuff like this DOES matter.

Let me ask you this...when was the last time you saw an offer for one dollar, as opposed to $1 ?

How the mind "locks onto" information is an important (and somewhat ignored concept) in copywriting.

While they are kind of negative on "copywriting" (throwing a brickbat at John Caples!!!!), but the boys that wrote "Made To Stick" have some important stuff to communicate about how brains grasp meaning.

Lance K · 10-14-2008, 08:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dbishop

Mmmm... I don't like it. But I'm picky.

Dee

Dee, I wasn't being serious.

08-21-2008, 01:44 PM	#1
SeanIM Don't think about rabbits War Room Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: ...between my left and right ear. Posts: 768 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 38 Thanked 69 Times in 53 Posts	Use of 2 vs Two in the Title of a Project? What's your take on the use of 2 versus Two in the title of a project...say something like 2 Step Coaching versus Two Step Coaching Would you consider the advantage going to the numerical as used so often in successful headlines? Thanks in advance for any insight on this. - Sean
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08-22-2008, 01:43 AM	#2
Scott Murdaugh ResultsCopywriting.com War Room Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: San Diego, Ca Posts: 909 Thanks: 265 Thanked 573 Times in 210 Posts Social Networking Contact Info	Re: Use of 2 vs Two in the Title of a Project? I have no real evidence to back it up, but my gut tells me "two" is the way to go.
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08-23-2008, 05:37 PM	#3
Jared Alberghini Godson of The Godfather War Room Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: The NorthEast Kingdom - Vermont, USA Posts: 2,163 Blog Entries: 25 Thanks: 786 Thanked 1,065 Times in 441 Posts Social Networking	Re: Use of 2 vs Two in the Title of a Project? My honest thought when I saw both titles, I liked '2 Step Coaching' better... it for some reason seemed simpler to me... I don't know why... it could be that it was quicker to read & comprehend, less characters, it hit me 2 looked easy, but geez you want me to read the whole number out? TWO? that seems like work. also, with the gr8 # of ppl using internet slang now adays, be it online or texting, the shorter words seem to hit a bigger crowd. - Jared
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08-23-2008, 05:48 PM	#4
Bruce Wedding The Reality Check War Room Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Cancun, Quintana Roo, MX Posts: 3,545 Thanks: 266 Thanked 464 Times in 215 Posts Social Networking Contact Info	Re: Use of 2 vs Two in the Title of a Project? I read somewhere that using digits pulls better. It may have been in Herschel Gordon Lewis' book The Art of Writing Copy. I always try the digits first and decide if it looks right. Remember, there are no "cast in stone" rules.
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08-23-2008, 05:54 PM	#5
Ken Strong Marxist (Groucho) War Room Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Seattle, WA, USA. Posts: 4,644 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 759 Thanked 1,492 Times in 707 Posts Social Networking Contact Info	Re: Use of 2 vs Two in the Title of a Project? To my eye, it looks funny using the digit when it's the first word of the sentence. It wouldn't bother me if it was further in. Maybe you could try it with a hyphen (2-Step Coaching).
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08-23-2008, 06:51 PM	#6
ecoverartist You need to become a War Room Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: A cave with 47 computers and an internet feed Posts: 1,641 Thanks: 208 Thanked 156 Times in 72 Posts Social Networking Contact Info	Re: Use of 2 vs Two in the Title of a Project? FWIW I had a professor tell me to always write out the number unless it was 10 or more. So my vote would go to Two-Step... Seems to look better to me. For some reason "2-step" makes it sounds like the dance move
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08-26-2008, 11:37 PM	#7
SeanIM Don't think about rabbits War Room Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: ...between my left and right ear. Posts: 768 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 38 Thanked 69 Times in 53 Posts	Re: Use of 2 vs Two in the Title of a Project? Thanks for some really good feedback. I have a few more things to consider testing now. I'm digging on some of the dash variations...that does seem to help a bit. In the end I'm just going to have to do some test runs. :thumbsup -S
	Interested in how to publish with SEO in mind and also into the Social Media space? It's merging and I'll have another updated product out on this soon. - Sean Mitchell For now you can checkout Social Search Exposed

08-28-2008, 10:58 PM	#8
colinredk Active Warrior Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 43 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Use of 2 vs Two in the Title of a Project? I guess it's more of a target-audience question. If it was a formal book type of title, it should be "Two" but if you want a more ad agency type of approach, you should use "2" and with or without the hyphen. It's also like SMS or text messaging, where some words are abbreviated. "2day" for "today", or "Crazy4U" on a vanity plate.

08-30-2008, 03:45 PM	#9
MakingMoneyAtHome Active Warrior Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Port Huron, MI Posts: 61 Thanks: 2 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Social Networking Contact Info	Re: Use of 2 vs Two in the Title of a Project? I was taught that 1-9 should be spelled out and 10 and above should be numbers. Dawn
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10-10-2008, 08:26 PM	#10
Jared Alberghini Godson of The Godfather War Room Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: The NorthEast Kingdom - Vermont, USA Posts: 2,163 Blog Entries: 25 Thanks: 786 Thanked 1,065 Times in 441 Posts Social Networking	Re: Use of 2 vs Two in the Title of a Project? How about using BOTH??? like this 2 (Two), or the other way around if you prefer, Two (2) Simple solution, use the best of both worlds!!! Genius I say... - Jared
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10-12-2008, 09:11 AM	#11
chillingbreeze Warrior Member War Room Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: www.eContentAxis.com Posts: 17 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post Contact Info	Re: Use of 2 vs Two in the Title of a Project? If you're talking about an article title then # will grab quick attention, I assume. Top 10 Steps To..... Top Ten Steps To... Of course, number looks better, IMO. Cheers!
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10-13-2008, 09:54 PM	#12
erinwrites Writer Warrior War Room Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: PDX, USA Posts: 293 Thanks: 42 Thanked 28 Times in 25 Posts Social Networking Contact Info	Re: Use of 2 vs Two in the Title of a Project? Using the 2 at the beginning of the title is kind of awkward. My initial reaction was a knee jerk--oh no, another texter trying to write a sales letter!--kind of reaction. Still though, 2 plays better with your concept than Two. Quite a conundrum!
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10-14-2008, 09:28 AM	#14
dbishop Freelance Writer Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Knoxville, TN Posts: 34 Thanks: 2 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts Social Networking	Re: Use of 2 vs Two in the Title of a Project? Looks to be acceptable either way, according to the consensus here, so maybe it would depend on the target audience? I'm with the crowd that says spell out numbers under 10, but that may be because my background is journalistic and follows style manuals rather than straight sales copy. I just think 2 as a digit looks odd at the beginning of a sentence. Dee
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10-14-2008, 04:01 PM	#15
Lance K Senior Warrior Member War Room Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: USA Posts: 3,866 Thanks: 1,435 Thanked 646 Times in 405 Posts Contact Info	Re: Use of 2 vs Two in the Title of a Project? How about using Roman Numerals? II Step Coaching And let me guess the 2 steps: They give you money You coach them
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10-14-2008, 07:39 PM	#17
zapseo Judy K - WSOTD Copywriter War Room Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: San Jose (Silicon Valley), CA , USA. Posts: 4,617 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 151 Thanked 238 Times in 162 Posts Social Networking Contact Info	Re: Use of 2 vs Two in the Title of a Project? For "2 Step" -- I'd use number, all the way. Here's another reason for using "2" -- it has to do with "chunking" and how we grasp information. The meaning of "2" is more dense information - 1 character instead of 3. May sound silly -- but stuff like this DOES matter. Let me ask you this...when was the last time you saw an offer for one dollar, as opposed to $1 ? How the mind "locks onto" information is an important (and somewhat ignored concept) in copywriting. While they are kind of negative on "copywriting" (throwing a brickbat at John Caples!!!!), but the boys that wrote "Made To Stick" have some important stuff to communicate about how brains grasp meaning.
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