53 Reasons You Need to Read This
Numbers. Magical, aren’t they? Not really. But for some reason, when it comes to blog post titles, they magically produce readers, better than any Copperfield magic trick ever could.
The entire thing baffles me.
Let’s look at two fake blog titles and you tell me which one you would click on.
17 Ways to Be Happy
vs.
The Secret to Happiness
I’m willing to bet my Jack of All Blogs paycheck that the first one would receive the majority of clicks. Think about how stupid that is. Why would you want to do something 17 ways when you can do it once? It goes against Web logic. We want things fast. Immediate gratification. Yet, rather then take the easiest route possible, we need lengthy laundry lists that in many cases are jammed with filler.
If a blog writer is going to do the research so the reader doesn’t have to, just cut to the chase and give me the solution. I don’t need 9 Ways to Get the Smell of Garlic Off My Hands. I need the ONE that will do the trick.
Anyone can make a list. But not everyone has the editorial know-how to write balanced reviews and make analytical decisions. Even if it’s not a “knowledge” issue it might be a balls issue. As in, having the intestinal fortitude to go on the record with strong thoughts and opinions. I know it’s a trick that works, but c’mon bloggers – it’s time we find the next “click trap.”
I’m not saying that numbers don’t make for attention-grabbing headlines. But are we as readers so gullible that a simple numeric will pull us in every time?
11 Ways to Unclog a Toilet
6 Must-Have Writing Utensils
17 Stars Under 30 Born in April
These are stories that should attract ZERO interest. But the addition of a mere number would surely lure in readers.
Take a look at the front page of Digg or Mixx or Thoof – or the social news site of your choice. Odds are, their home pages are jammed with more numbers than Steven Hawking could handle.
In fact, since numbers are everywhere in blog titles, I’m going to start only clicking on word-only headlines. Since they are the exception, not the rule, they’re starting to stick out more than ever before.
There weren’t 53 reasons you needed to read this. In fact, there probably wasn’t even one.
What do you think?