Headlines and Blog Titles: cute and quippy vs SEO

Having just come across this post, by Joy Victory of WordPress.com Are You Writing Rockin’ Blog Post Titles?,  I would have to agree that the advice here is pretty perfect for journalism/blog newbies.

I could add, though, that considering the algorithms of Google, concern for relevancy does tend to affect how clever/quippy/quirky a title/headline can be.

This is why mine aren’t as interesting (eye and interest-catching) as they might otherwise be. I may add a subtitle, providing the “cuteness” after once establishing the content in the title/headline.

This method served me well when preparing papers for college courses in APA format. This way I could appeal to the stringent requirements of the structure of the paper, while piquing the interest of the “audience,” my professor(s).

It worked so well that even though adding images to papers as part of the title is a definite no-no in APA, I did so frequently, finding they helped me stay on topic, and many of professors complimented my creative additions to otherwise drab academic writings.

I would also like to mention that in reference to the issue of capitisation of words within a title/headline, I have always capitalised the first word, and any subsequent ones that weren’t articles (a, the, an,) or prepositions (in, to, of, etc.).

However, as an online journalist for the Examiner.com site, I have learned that the preferred style is to only capitalise the first word and any proper nouns (names of things). This site turns to the AP (associated press) for its title/headline formatting.

But then, again, they also stress that the site, is not a blog space. So perhaps Joy’s way (and mine, as well), are the best ways to go on WP posts.

So keep in mind that while search-related optimisation may seem to make for less-inticing entries, none-the-less, if you consider that should you choose NOT to provide a cohesive message in your title, your post may never see the light of day on search engines’ results, no matter how clever it is.

New Theme: Selecta

New Theme: Selecta.

Today we’ve got a treat for you — a new theme called Selecta. This might be the theme you’ve been waiting for if videos or images will be the primary focus of your blog. The design, originally created by Obox Design, fuses the modern with the retro — a bold, striking color palette (in six color schemes), rounded edges, and wider-than-usual frames around content.

What’s it all MEAN??

Definitions of farrago:
noun: a motley assortment of things

Definitions of forum:
noun: a public facility to meet for open discussion
noun: a public meeting or assembly for open discussion
noun: a place of assembly for the people in ancient Greece

So this is a place where SPDworks (that’s me,) can post thoughts on pretty much anything I like, to share with those that come by. It’s also a place where those that come by are welcome to share their thoughts. This is why I’ve chosen to call this space a “forum.” For it’s intended to provide a place where we can all interact and discuss issues and ideas.

I want to thank you for stopping in, and invite you to return soon, since I plan to begin filling this new space with all sorts of inks and inklings. I think I’ll start with porting all my Facebook notes to this space. There’s a little something for everyone, including those things found in my WP blog’s categories list, such as law, ethics, marketing, politics, religion, and yes, scribbles and scribing, as well as SocNet discussions. So come back and witness what comes of new news and old traditions in the Farrago Forum. Can’t wait to see you here again soon, and be sure and subscribe!