I confess.
If you came here looking for 15 blog headlines that don’t suck… you were sucked in.
By a blog headline that didn’t suck!
“Find ways to get people to your blog!”
“Draw your audience in!”
How many times have we heard all that?
Yes. I know. So I won’t go over all that again.
That photo? Suzy Q. rolling in the grass. Because it doesn’t suck.
The thaang is
The thing is, recently my blog (and news) consuming habits have been very “un” SSMG [Supposed Social Media Guru]-like. I’ve been working really hard, playing equally hard (swing dancing, anyone?) and, all in all, enjoying life thoroughly.
So when it comes to keeping up with my blog reading, I’ve been doing a woefully poor job. At least I’ve started to log back into Feedly, which I wasn’t doing for the longest time.
And you know what I realized?
Everything the SSMGs say is true!
If the headline sucks… I don’t read it. Even if it’s from a blog(ger) I know and respect. Because, let’s face it, we all go through those patches of sucky Aitches [prize to anyone who can tell me what that is, and if you read P. G. Wodehouse, you’re disqualified].
And when Kevin Duggan (who totally doesn’t suck and who I totes respect and, even more, like) goes and writes this… he totes proves my point.
The challenge
So I thought I’d ask you – my trusted readers – to give me some headlines that don’t suck.
And then I’ll write posts that fit those headlines… or are in radical contrast to them (kinda like this one, only… not really…) – and we’ll see if the post matches up to the promise of the headline.
Whaddya say?
Please do play along, I’ll be crushed if you don’t! Ready… Set… Go!
![Social Media: The Key to Transforming Doctor-Patient Communication [Redux]](https://shonaliburke.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/2478514667_c11f906e33_b-300x225-500x383.jpg)
Shonali mark.sofman lizscherer I assume my usage was correct because going to Google and searching on “define barfshine” both hits were to your May 2011 WUL blog post: So, guilty as charged. ;-)
I will confess to having a knack for remembering such trivia, minutiae or esoterica. I surprise myself sometimes. Usually it comes out when meeting up with people I haven’t seen in decades (high school, college reunions, etc.) – there’s something happening on those occasions that I think of as some sort of telepathic firing of synaptic connections. Proximity that is face to face and oftentimes lubricated/catalyzed with adult beverages of your choice improve results. It’s the only therapeutic method for CRS Syndrome that works for those of us “of a certain age.” ;-)
ryancox Please do pick one for a GP! When can we have it? ;)
Diane Lennox So you remember how the word “barfshine” evolved, right… right here on #WUL! mark.sofman lizscherer
mark.sofman I LOVE that you used “barfshine”! lizscherer
mark.sofman Shonali lizscherer “barfshine” could be my favorite new word, looking for a headline. AND YOU WON’T BELIEVE WHAT HAPPENED NEXT!
Shonali I told you I love Shonali and anything for her! lol You’re very very very WELCOME! I’d even guest post one of those if you wanted. I’m so excited to see all eight of these. #realtalk
Shonali lizscherer I hear you, Shonali. I posted those because they are so pedestrian, so daily routine, so humdrum as opposed to so many blog heds in the PR/comms space that are just so much hype and barfshine. You know, stuff like: “Social Media Makes Life Tolerable” or “Re-branding For More Sex” or “Pinning You Way to Health, Wealth & Celebrity” or whatever.
Yeah, I am cynical. ;-)
mark.sofman I feel like the first two could be lamentations from my local listserv. lizscherer could tell you all about that… ;)
I love these, thank you, Mark! I don’t know if I can fit posts to them, but I will try…
bdorman264 I’m really looking forward to seeing you and adamtoporek on the 11th, fingers crossed “life” doesn’t have other plans for you!
I don’t think your titles are bland at all. I know I haven’t been commenting that much over at your place, but I haven’t been commenting (or doing that much reading) anywhere, for all the same reasons others are doing (or not doing) the same. Sigh. Life, eh?
Thank you for taking the time to stop by when you have so much going on, Bill!
richardbagnall Thanks, Richie! Btw – did you get my note about London next month and then October in DC?
BeckyGaylord Super – thank you, Becky!
ryancox #OMG. You just gave me the keys to a treasure chest. THANK YOU!!!
– 3 reasons why you’re not successful
– Shut up and do it already
– 5 things I’ve failed at and how it made me a better business owner
– The power of the word please
– Why relationship building is not the same as business development
– 10 things I’m tired of seeing on social media
– 5 things to stop doing via social media
– 3 reasons why buzzwords suck
Here are two:
Top Ten Clues You’re Social Media Savvy
and
One Rule That’s Absolutely Essential on Social Media”
Evening! Ok, how about this one then…
‘Finally, social media measurement made simple’
I feel your pain; if there is not a ‘hook’ to pull me in I’m probably not going to even open it. But that’s because I’m reading very few blog posts these days anyway.
And I am as guilty as most as having a bland title with a bland topic that you can just about count on I will be talking about myself….talk about clearing out a crowd…:).
Hope to see you on the 11th.
Here you go, Shonali:
No Surprise Here: Sun Rises In The East!OMG: Power Still On! Water Heater Still Works!
My Car Started Today!
My Obituary Didn’t Run In Today’s Newspaper