Feb
10 Ways To End The ‘Numbered Post Title’ Madness
Maybe it was these five reasons, but some people are putting an end to the whole “numbers in the post title” madness. SMM decided to quit, Patrick Altoft followed suit, and some others probably did too. (I doubt Lyndon Antcliff will join in, though.)
But if you want to join in, here is a list of the top 10 ways to ditch the numbers from your post title. We’ll start with a “top 10″ list and switch it up so it’s no longer a “top 10″ list, but instead, a great article.
Numbered title: “Top 10 Ways to Get More Blog Comments”
To make it fit the latest non-numbered linkbait trend, try these titles instead:
1. “How to Get More Blog Comments”
In this case you just drop the number and use “How to” instead. It’s a time-tested, classic headline.
2. “The Ultimate Guide to Getting More Blog Comments”
Who needs a numbered list when your post is the “ultimate” guide?
3. “Little-known Secrets to Getting More Blog Comments”
Someone might already know the top 10 ways to get more blog comments, but they certainly don’t know the “little-known secrets” for getting more blog comments.
4. “Get Tons More Blog Comments - Here’s How”
Another way is to take the “how to” aspect and place it at the end of the post title.
5. “Boost Traffic and Get More RSS Readers By Increasing Blog Comments”
Now we’re getting serious. Instead of focusing on just increasing blog comments, throw in a few benefits of getting more blog comments to make a really appealing title.
6. “Want To Get More Comments on Your Blog?”
Form your headline into a question where the obvious answer is “yes” and the reader won’t be able to resist. This idea works best when you’re targeting people who watch Jeopardy.
7. “How to Coax Your Blog Readers Into Leaving More Comments”
You don’t just get blog comments out of thin air, so add in a little something about the blog readers that will be leaving the comments.
9. “Encourage Blog Commentators By Making Simple Mistakes In Your Post”
Make some sort of mistake or spelling error and some people will comment about it to show how they are far superior since they caught something you missed.
A great example is posting something like “Google updated PR today” and you’re guaranteed that at least one idiot stops by to say “Actually, Google constantly updates PR. Today was just a toolbar PR update.” (You know, like they’re the only person that realizes that…)
10. “An A-List Blogger’s Guide to Getting More Blog Comments”
Add in an expert’s name to show that your ways to get more blog comments are better than the average post about getting more blog comments.
There you go. A good ‘top 10′ list to tell you how to quit doing top 10 lists! 
The question is, will you actually quit writing “top 10″ lists?
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Click here to buy me a beer, because damn, I need to get drunk to forget how much internet marketing sucks!
Oh the irony.
When top lists stop working, I will stop using them, I’m not going to stop using them because a few people think they are overdone. They are not overdone, they are badly done.
A good list can hit the target between the eyes quicker than any other format.
Sure digg spammers, I mean social media marketers get sick of them because they see them all day and they see a lot of bad implementation. But that is no reason to take the tool out of the toolbox and throw it into the lake.
You use what works.
Yeah, I guess it’s like any other content - it can be great, or it can be crap
Re. #9 and PageRank. … but do you really want people leaving comments on your blog only to call you out as a schmuck? You might get one more comment than you would have, but you’ve now signaled to the world that you don’t know what you’re talking about - that’s going to discourage subsequent visitors, not engage them.
Not such a good example.
Actually it was a great example, you just don’t realize it.
1. Realize that each post here is making fun of people. Then…
2. Realize that when an intelligent person says “PR was updated today” they mean toolbar PR and have a full understanding of how the PR system works. It’s the person that points out what they thought was an error that is the schmuck.
Thanks for being a perfect example!
P.S. The PageRank bit was just a rant, not even the example. I suggest reading Lyndon’s post and then come back and you might see the example…
Man, I think you`re right. This time you ARE right.
Down with top 10 lists !
Long live :
“Top 9 …” lists !!
THAT will be a change. Revolutionary deep change, similar to change from web 1.0 to 2.0 or whors.. aaa .. better.
Top “XX” as a title prefix just gets way over used. I think people like Top “XX” styles articles because they are usually fast reads. I don’t think they are going away.
Yes, “Top 9″ lists!
I only did a Top 10 list once. ONCE!!
I will now do only Bottom 3 lists.
I am also fed up with these lists. They really suck and turn me off.
Although… I think calling someone a schmuck in your comments is probably a much better way to generate comments than baiting someone to try to correct you. That way you can start a flame war that goes on indefinitely, instead of making a mistake that one person points out and no one else has incentive to point out again.
That would require too many comments. It would be much better to say “everyone reading this is a schmuck! yes, that means you!” right in the post and get it out of the way
The point is not whether someone, (any one posting) thinks there are schmucks out there or not doesn’t matter much.
What DOES matter is that you get a flow of ideas and more readership by making your blog interesting. (this comment section today is a great example.
blogging comments are FUN, interaction with people is Fun.
Learning the things you learn doing the comments and checking back on what others say is FUN ! TOMMY
Yep, you might also enjoy this fun
You know I’m having fun… and I have this inexplicable, overwhelming desire to buy office cabinets in Los Angeles. Hmm…
Amazing Site! i have got lot of information by going through your site.Some great ideas there.I think that internet marketing success has a lot to do with the original intent of each individual marketer. When you get online and decide you want to do something online.
Thanks for all the information.
A top ten list of ways to end the use of numbers in post titles. Isn’t it ironic?
I stand with those who will use numbers until the results change. People just like numbered lists.
Yes Top list are annoying but they still seems to work. Probably because they sound quick and easy to read and that’s what people are looking for in the information-overload age. But some variation could be fun, I loke the bottom list one.. AHAHAH
I’ve had it with numbered lists as well. That’s fine for the actual article content, but please come up with an original headline.
Glad I haven’t try numbered title. Maybe that would be acceptable, as long as you have the original content.
I agree. I am sick of numbered points in a post. I don’t want to read an outline, I want to read an article!
Sorta depends on whether you want your blog to be associated with the cheesy likes of David Letterman, et al. For some, that’d be just fine. I’d rather be taken a smidge more seriously…
Lists in general aren’t a bad thing though. It’s all about balance.
But the crowd adores it! They can’t get enough of top ten lists! In fact, I can think of the top ten reasons that people like top te-
wait a second…
I like a little controversy. On one of my blogs I had a comment where I was called every sort word related to an idiot about the article, but IMO this is juice for a blog.