Making Thread Titles a Little More Specific(?)

21 replies
I really value the people/posters who make their thread titles specific. Unfortunately, there are a ton of threads that have begun that have titles like "Newbie Seeking Advice"....

Perhaps, as a better and more preferred approach, you could actually write the question as the thread title?....or at least something a little more specific?

With tons of threads to sort through, most of the time, I won't even know what a thread is about until i click through and begin reading...

(Unless, of course, that is the point to get me to click on it....lol....then, mission accomplished and point taken )

I think this approach would just be easier on everyone here....

Thoughts?
#making #specific #thread #titles
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    • Profile picture of the author Dan C. Rinnert
      Originally Posted by x3xsolxdierx3x View Post

      P.s. I apologize if my thread title wasn't specific enough...lol
      It wasn't. It wasn't clear whether you were asking how to make your thread titles more specific or if you were asking others to make their thread titles more specific. Then again, maybe it was about titles for posts on tire treads in which case you're in the wrong forum.
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  • Profile picture of the author mike.leembruggen
    lol... yeah... but you'll notice that the threads with titles like "newbie seeking advice" get a lot more views. It intrigues people to click.

    it happens on every forum... so while I agree with you... it would be great to scan through thread titles and read what interests you... if you want a lot of views and answers on your thread post than it makes sense to put a basic but intriguing title in your post.
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  • Profile picture of the author charlesburke
    Hi x3,

    This may be harder to "fix" than we think. The threads I've started with nice, specific titles have usually pulled fewer readers than the vague ones did.

    Example - just for testing purposes, you could re-post this same note with a new title like "Why Don't You Say What You Mean?" or maybe "Terminal Vagueness a Hazard." Then watch and tally the results. That should settle the question.

    In any case, does somebody else have experience with this?

    Cheers from warm and smiling Thailand,
    Charles
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    • Profile picture of the author Steven Wagenheim
      As much as I hate to admit it, vague titles pull better. That's just the way
      it is. Unless of course you come up with a thread title like...

      "Here's How To Make $16,978,263 In 7 Days"

      Then you'll have a ton of views until the darn thing gets deleted.

      I've given up trying to get people to be specific with what they want. If I
      don't know what the thread is about BEFORE I click on it, I don't open it.

      Maybe if more people did that, the problem would correct itself.

      But they won't because by nature, we're just a bunch of curious creatures.

      Guess I must be the odd ball. :confused:
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      • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
        Banned
        [DELETED]
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        • Profile picture of the author Dan C. Rinnert
          Originally Posted by Alexa Smith View Post

          And my last $63 of that didn't come in until the 8th day ... do I get a refund? :confused:
          I think that means he's running a scam, right?
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          • Profile picture of the author Michael Mayo
            Originally Posted by x3xsolxdierx3x View Post

            I really value the people/posters who make their thread titles specific. Unfortunately, there are a ton of threads that have begun that have titles like "Newbie Seeking Advice"....

            Perhaps, as a better and more preferred approach, you could actually write the question as the thread title?....or at least something a little more specific?

            With tons of threads to sort through, most of the time, I won't even know what a thread is about until i click through and begin reading...

            (Unless, of course, that is the point to get me to click on it....lol....then, mission accomplished and point taken )

            I think this approach would just be easier on everyone here....

            Thoughts?
            I agree and do it often. The results are less views/replies.
            Originally Posted by mike.leembruggen View Post

            lol... yeah... but you'll notice that the threads with titles like "newbie seeking advice" get a lot more views. It intrigues people to click.

            it happens on every forum... so while I agree with you... it would be great to scan through thread titles and read what interests you... if you want a lot of views and answers on your thread post than it makes sense to put a basic but intriguing title in your post.
            Totally agree!
            Originally Posted by charlesburke View Post

            Hi x3,

            This may be harder to "fix" than we think. The threads I've started with nice, specific titles have usually pulled fewer readers than the vague ones did.

            Example - just for testing purposes, you could re-post this same note with a new title like "Why Don't You Say What You Mean?" or maybe "Terminal Vagueness a Hazard." Then watch and tally the results. That should settle the question.

            In any case, does somebody else have experience with this?

            Cheers from warm and smiling Thailand,
            Charles
            Also agree as I stated above.
            Originally Posted by x3xsolxdierx3x View Post

            Oh boy...I hope I didn't just inspire a whole flood of people to begin posting completely vague thread titles now...lol
            They will do it any way because it works...
            Originally Posted by Steven Wagenheim View Post

            As much as I hate to admit it, vague titles pull better. That's just the way
            it is. Unless of course you come up with a thread title like...

            "Here's How To Make $16,978,263 In 7 Days"

            Then you'll have a ton of views until the darn thing gets deleted.

            I've given up trying to get people to be specific with what they want. If I
            don't know what the thread is about BEFORE I click on it, I don't open it.

            Maybe if more people did that, the problem would correct itself.

            But they won't because by nature, we're just a bunch of curious creatures.

            Guess I must be the odd ball. :confused:
            Agreed before and still agree!
            Originally Posted by Alexa Smith View Post

            And my last $63 of that didn't come in until the 8th day ... do I get a refund? :confused:
            Alexa, If the reply is No then just do a charge back!
            Originally Posted by Dan C. Rinnert View Post

            I think that means he's running a scam, right?
            Dan, You Nailed it! Too many threads today about it must mean it's true, Right?

            Have a Great Day!
            Michael

            PS. FYI, Here on the WF you can hover your mouse pointer over a thread title and see part of
            the OP post then make a call if you want to open the thread or not.
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            • Profile picture of the author Dan C. Rinnert
              Originally Posted by Michael Mayo View Post

              Dan, You Nailed it! Too many threads today about it must mean it's true, Right?
              If it's on the Internet, it must be true.

              Doubly so if it makes it to page one of Google.
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              Dan's content is irregularly read by handfuls of people. Join the elite few by reading his blog: dcrBlogs.com, following him on Twitter: dcrTweets.com or reading his fiction: dcrWrites.com but NOT by Clicking Here!

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            • Profile picture of the author charlesburke
              Originally Posted by Michael Mayo View Post

              FYI, Here on the WF you can hover your mouse pointer over a thread title and see part of the OP post then make a call if you want to open the thread or not.
              Thanks for that reminder. I've been away from WF for a few months tending to business and had forgotten that.

              Cheers,
              Charles
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      • Profile picture of the author abednego
        Originally Posted by Steven Wagenheim View Post

        ...
        Guess I must be the odd ball. :confused:
        Yes, you are an odd ball.

        ... but! You're also overly honest, which is a trait lacking in a lot of people I think it adds a lot of value to your posts, imo.
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        • Profile picture of the author Paul Myers
          I have been seriously considering deleting any threads with vague, misleading or overly dramatic subject lines. I'm getting tired of wasting time with them.

          As far as the impact they have on the number of reads, that tends to be irrelevant. What matters is how many people read it who can actually add something useful to the specific discussion.

          If someone opens a thread only to find they know nothing about the subject, you've just wasted their time.


          Paul
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          • Profile picture of the author x3xsolxdierx3x
            Originally Posted by Paul Myers View Post

            I have been seriously considering deleting any threads with vague, misleading or overly dramatic subject lines. I'm getting tired of wasting time with them.

            As far as the impact they have on the number of reads, that tends to be irrelevant. What matters is how many people read it who can actually add something useful to the specific discussion.

            If someone opens a thread only to find they know nothing about the subject, you've just wasted their time.


            Paul
            Exactly, Paul. The vagueness, as a strategy, is clearly effective, as evidenced by the increase in views that these threads have compared to others....

            But, what does it really matter if people are constantly feeling misled and can't contribute anything anyway. I think adhering to specificity would immediately weed out the people who don't know or don't want to respond....

            With this, the likelihood of those open the thread, who actually comment, will be much greater. If it isn't relevant to you...just ignore it...it's that simple.
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  • Profile picture of the author shakingspear
    I think sometimes people just fill in the Title box before they've completely thought out what they want to ask or say. And then once it's asked they don't go back to change the title.
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  • Profile picture of the author christomax
    Hmm i agree with this, on other forums that i have been on people have also started bashing people because of there titles :O but yea i think they could put a little effort into there titles, i'm sure it could help in the long run
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  • Profile picture of the author Janice Sperry
    I think I have wasted more time here from opening bad or vague title threads than on any other forum. Part of it is my fault though because I get hooked real quick and can't stop reading. There are some very smart, funny, creative and experienced members here. Even a topic I don't need to learn or one I can't help with keeps me reading. When I can only stop in for a quick look it is discouraging though not to be able to quickly scan the titles for what interests me. Most of them I have no clue what they might be about so I just ignore them.
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