[RANT] Start creating better subject lines if you want views - or why I'm not looking at your thread

Originally Posted by Kim Standerline

So instead of whingin about it, think about how you can make your titles better

This is a marketing forum gal, grow a backbone and learn something from what he said!

Kim

Wow! That was harsh.

[rhondaklewis]

Sorry Steve, you are very helpful in this forum. I guess I used the wrong word.(intolerant)
I don't think I will ever understand why a post cannot be answered regardless of how it is written. (I am not talking about spammers)
So I will just let it go and continue to answers the any post that I happen to know the answer.
Again Steve and Kevin I sincerely apologize for saying something that I know isn't true. Dont know where my brain was then.
Rhonda

[Evita]

Originally Posted by rhondaklewis

I don't think I will ever understand why a post cannot be answered regardless of how it is written.
Rhonda

Sure, posts can be answered regardless of the headline.

However, if I come here and have only so much time and only so much skill,
I will totally not waste my time on meaningless headlines. I prefer to read the posts where I may possibly be of help, or if the thread interests me.

Also, I feel that having a post answered is not something one can demand, as it almost
sounds like you do. To my ears anyway.

Having another volunteer their time and expertise and skill for free is such a wonderful thing that happens on this Forum all the time.

Why do they have to read every post? Is it not up to them what posts they read?
Why should they have to read posts with headlines meaning nothing? Why do they even have to answer to ANY posts?

Why??

Why should not the person who really want an answer do a bit of the effort?

No one is entitled to an answer.

Folks answer through the goodness of their hearts. It is a voluntary thing. You want people to volunteer their time on your behalf? Then at least ask a question that makes sense.


Evita

[Steven Wagenheim]

Originally Posted by Evita

Sure, posts can be answered regardless of the headline.

However, if I come here and have only so much time and only so much skill,
I will totally not waste my time on meaningless headlines. I prefer to read the posts where I may possibly be of help, or if the thread interests me.

Also, I feel that having a post answered is not something one can demand, as it almost
sounds like you do. To my ears anyway.

Having another volunteer their time and expertise and skill for free is such a wonderful thing that happens on this Forum all the time.

Why do they have to read every post? Is it not up to them what posts they read?
Why should they have to read posts with headlines meaning nothing? Why do they even have to answer to ANY posts?

Why??

Why should not the person who really want an answer do a bit of the effort?

No one is entitled to an answer.

Folks answer through the goodness of their hearts. It is a voluntary thing. You want people to volunteer their time on your behalf? Then at least ask a question that makes sense.


Evita

Evita, I could not have said this any better.

Just some common courtesy.

[Paul Myers]

Some people just don't know. They are used to "keeping it short" They just want help. If they don't know then they just don't know. Why penalize them by not reading their post.

I have only so much time in a day. If I use part of that to answer questions here, I want to make that as productive for the people asking those questions as possible.

There is also a limit to my knowledge. I can be much more helpful in some areas than others.

Make it clear to me that you're asking about something I can help with and you're likely to get my attention. Make it an Easter Egg Hunt, and I'm going to ignore you. You're taking my time away from areas where I can be more productive.

Besides, way too many of the posts with vague titles are also so vague in their content that you can't tell what the hell they want.

Being picky isn't penalizing the vague poster. It's keeping the vague poster from penalizing others.


Paul

Edit: Note to self: Read the whole thread before replying. Evita already said all this, and quite nicely.

[Angela V. Edwards]

Originally Posted by Chris W. Sutton

It always has to be about Kevin Riley, doesn't it? KEVIN wants this. KEVIN wants that. KEVIN. KEVIN. KEVIN.

What about MY wants? What about MY needs? Has that ever even crossed your mind? I thought not!

Next time, before you post, just try to remember that there are other people in this world who just may like the subject lines just the way they are!

Next time THINK before you go trampling all over someone elses feelings!

BTW, take care and have a great day!

I think that was his point, Chris...it has to interest ME.

[Susan Hope]

Originally Posted by rhondaklewis

I guess now when newbies post they might be hesitant in asking for help because they can't word it the way YOU want it to be worded.

Rhonda,

I think this thread was posted originally to help educate new forum users so that they will get an answer when they do need/want to post.

On a fast moving board like this one, if they post things like this:

I need help
help please
OMG!
question

The list can go on and on - they are most likely to be one of the ones that don't get an answer and that does not help them.

Your statement above seems to me to be just your take on how a newbie would view this thread and you are missing the point somewhat.. we need people to take the above list and just add a little bit about the problem as well, such as:

I need help with a squeeze page
help please with my host account
OMG! PayPal just did blah blah
Question about Article Directories

So then we can quickly look down the subject titles and either...

Know if we are likely to be able to help OR if we are new we can see if our problem has already been posted and therefore we won't be double posting.

I'm thinking that perhaps the use of the words "skim the forum" earlier in this thread have made you see this whole subject from the wrong angle.. I see it as..

I need to be able to skim the forum quickly by using the subject titles because I don't have much time to see if I can:

a) help or
b) learn something myself.

It will waste my limited time to open every thread with no clue in the subject to see if it will fit either a) or b) and then I don't get anything from that and neither does anyone who needs help.

And although a point has been raised about writing good subject lines will draw readers in and that is a good point, for me this thread has bugger all to do with whether I think they have written the subject title well or not, couldn't care less about that, I just want to know what the thread is about.

Sue

[Lance K]

THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH HOW A POST IS WRITTEN.

It's about the TITLE you chose.

You can't get help if your post doesn't get read. Use your title in a way that will get people to read your post.

End of story.




P.S.

The rant was initiated due to people thinking being cute or vague with their thread title will get people to read the thread.

It won't.

Use some sort of qualifying information in your thread title. Don't fight a battle of futility. It is what it is.

The folks who you want help from are telling you exactly what will give you the best odds of getting that help.

You can lead a horse to water...

[Kevin Riley]

Originally Posted by Angela V. Edwards

I think that was his point, Chris...it has to interest ME.

Angela

Chris Sutton is a poor misguided soul who wanders these corridors like a lost puppy with soulful eyes begging for attention. Just scratch him between the ears and he'll be happy.

He is really quite harmless.

[Kevin Riley]

Originally Posted by KenStrong

Here's the subject line of a current thread: "Beer for the warrior who can find."

Those make me laugh. As though a beer will entice us. I don't even like beer, and I never help because I want beer -- I just help because I can.

[Ken Strong]

Originally Posted by Kevin Riley

Those make me laugh. As though a beer will entice us. I don't even like beer, and I never help because I want beer -- I just help because I can.

Well, my point was that it looks like the poster got distracted or bored halfway through writing the subject line, and hit "Submit" anyway. Find what?

[DrC]

Originally Posted by Frank Donovan

No



Frank

Frank . . . I was kidding

[Chris W. Sutton]

Angela

Chris Sutton is a poor misguided soul who wanders these corridors like a lost puppy with soulful eyes begging for attention. Just scratch him between the ears and he'll be happy.

He is really quite harmless.

There you go again, Kevin, talking about things which you know absolutely NOTHING about! A puppy, my shangdoolie... a puppy can lick in places I ain't never even thought about reaching! Shows how much you know!!!

[J Elizabeth Dize]

I get what Rhonda is saying. I think she wants to make sure we aren't rude or ignore new people who come in just because they don't consider that we all get the same questions/the headlines are incredibly vague.

Sue hit the nail on the head though...this is a great thread to educate them (and more seasoned marketers) on how to properly format a thread headline that gets a good response.

But, we all do have to see where Rhonda is coming from...she's just trying to be considerate to new people...which is very refreshing Perhaps a sticky could be make about getting a "best response with your headline"...though it's not likely the problem will go away, it could help.

Remember what it was like to be new (though some just do it to be lazy, lol.)

[Frank Donovan]

Originally Posted by DrC

Frank . . . I was kidding

Er...me too, DrC

[Ken Leatherman]

You know I know better than to put an evasive topic title, but once in a while I still do it. Normally when it happens it's because I'm not certain of what I'm looking for. I suspect that's part of the problem for noobs.

Think through your question and try to be as specific as you can when you post the question in the title. You don't have to write a book, but write what is necessary to get the help you need.

I have to agree with Sue and others that this thread is a lesson in marketing and the importance of "Titles" and "Headlines". It's reinforced it in my poor old brain.

Ken
The Old Geezer

[Sarah Harvey]

The goal is to get people to wonder what they need help on. If it was dead specific then less people might be interested. There is method beyond their madness.