In closing the inaugural post – I really think we’ve developed something special with a lot of potential. If you agree or disagree or have any feedback please let me know. I’ll be listening carefully. Thank you Source: The Blogrize Blog » Blog Archive » BlogRize beta launches – and louisgray invites work now!

Until then … well I’m claiming and signing up.

Post from: EveryJoe

BlogRize beta launches, builds community through you and your readers

Louis Gray feels the same way, and he points out that it isn’t just getting our attention via RSS, but Digg, Reddit, Techmeme, FriendFeed focus on headlines so a poorly written headline won’t get play there either:

Contributing factors to whether I share a post on my link blog include the newness and uniqueness of the information, the quality or brand of the source and conversely if it’s a new and emerging blogger, the amount of interest I have in the topic, that I perceive my readers to have in that topic, and the quality or content of the post itself.
But also a factor? The headline. If I happen upon two stories on the same topic, of interest to me and my readers, where the source is equal, it can be the headline and first paragraph that make one item shared over another. And as it is only the headline that is displayed in my Google Reader shared items on my blog or on FriendFeed, that’s sometimes all the consumers see as well.
The issue of headlines becomes especially important for sites like Digg, Reddit and the like. Reddit, in fact, shows only headlines, begging for an up or down arrow. Digg shows a headline, and a submitter’s authored one paragraph description. When you see stories that have hundreds or thousands of Diggs, do you really think all of those folks clicked out to the story, read it, and returned to Digg it? I doubt it.
Outside of social news submission sites, you can also see the importance of the headline on places like TechMeme. Items in the TechMeme discussion links show only a headline, and the story’s source. Often, there can be 5-20 different stories from different sources on the same topic, making the headline, or the brand of the source, be the deciding factor for which post to click. Source: louisgray.com: In Blogging and RSS, Headlines Can be Make or Break: Silicon Valley Blog

Louis shares his Google Reader attention data…here is my latest slice from FeedDemon:

Notice that the top feed is my meta feed from aideRSS.  Why is that?  Because it is distilled.  And that information comes from other sources like links, comments, and sharing on Google Reader–all places where headlines are key.

I found Louis’ article on Techmeme…just from the headline.

Tips for a great headline
I might not be the best person to ask (I’d defer to Darren of ProBlogger or Brian of Copyblogger), but I’ll give it my best shot.  My tips are both for SEO and attention (please feel free to add to the list in the comments):

• be descriptive. Use the product or company name in the headline. Give some idea of what the article is about (like are you challenging the status quo)
• be cheeky. Given above, a little controversy or humour goes a long way to get attention and readers.
• write the headline, write the post, check the headline.  I always write my headline first, but sometimes when I’ve finished the post, the headline doesn’t hit the key idea I’ve written about.  Go back and check the headline.  Does it match?
• Look at the top headlines on Reddit, Techmeme, Digg, etc.  What gets your attention?  There is a good reason for that–so why don’t you use those as examples?
• Do not just copy someone else’s headline or something similar.  Again, Techmeme is a great place to see this in action.  When there are hundreds of post about a topic, how many just seem like a rehash?  A lot, correct.  Why? Because the titles are just a minor rehash of what everyone else is saying.

That’s all I have.  I know, pretty thin, but I think there are just a few rules to look at and you’re on your way.

Just for comparison, I just took this screenshot of Techmeme … what headlines catch your eye (click for full screen)?

Post from: EveryJoe

Want my attention? It’s the headlines stupid–Write good headlines for more readers.

Mathew Ingram discusses this issue going over Louis Gray’s post about Mashable not linking or giving quotation credits when due.  Mathew closed his post with the key point–small blogs can be “discovered” when they are given the acknowledgement and props they deserve:

Attribution is something that has been — and is still — a long-running debate in traditional media as well. Television stations “rip and read” newspaper stories, but newspapers themselves routinely take articles from wire services like Reuters or Associated Press and use virtually the entire thing, but put their own writer’s byline on it. Sometimes they put a small “with files from” at the end of the story.

The fact that you can link on the Internet is one of the most powerful forces there is. A link from Mashable can help people find new blogs such as Louis’s, and they shouldn’t be stingy with their attribution — and they definitely shouldn’t be lifting quotes holus-bolus. I hope Pete and his team can set a good example for others. Source: I’m glad Louis Gray called out Mashable – - mathewingram.com/work

This issue isn’t new, of course, we have the same issue with photography online.  I provide my pictures with a CC license that allows you to use my pictures, and even make derivative works from them, as long as it is non-commercial and you give me credit for the photo.

Outlinks and props are key to how I blog.  I generally but a good quote into my posts, as you can tell, and try to at least include links to other blogs as well.

When I was writing for the HomelyScientist and PimpYourWork here at b5, I didn’t link out enough.  At least to the folks who link back.  And this stifled the growth of both blogs I think.  When I was starting with blognation I knew I had to get it going fast.  The only way I could do that was to read more and more Canadian blogs and link to them.  Often.  In nearly every post.

Quotes, props, congrats.  It’s all part of what makes this new media great, IMHO.  This is way I shared my OPML file of Canadian blogs with all of you (I’ll refresh it on the post soon, but the aideRSS feed is already updated).

I hope Louis’ and Mathew’s posts make folks like Mashable change how they report the news.

Post from: EveryJoe

Cross-linking and attribution are critical to conversation and social media