Comments on: Whores, Pimps and the People Who Love Them

By: Pablo Edwards

Pablo Edwards — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 19:09:17 +0000

Wonderful post. I wish I would have seen this a bit earlier for personal reasons, but glad that I stumbled upon it this morning.

By: KellyeCrane

KellyeCrane — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 02:57:02 +0000

Very nice use of the sizzle vs. steak – couldn't agree more!

By: phildunn

phildunn — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 22:42:29 +0000

Great title, btw. And the article is definitely steak.

By: phildunn

phildunn — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 22:41:17 +0000

This gets me thinking about “steak and sizzle.” The product (which is the article, content or media of some sort) has to be delicious. A sizzling title will enhance that, but without a good product, there's “no there there.”

Ogilvy and Caples knew how to do headlines well – but they were also committed to great products/companies/brands, focused intently on the right audience/target, and linked great titles with great copy.

So.. as always.. greatness/remarkableness/uniqueness/delivering-the-goods is the key.

By: aime

aime — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 04:17:20 +0000

I guess the people that desperately grab for it are the ones that need it. If they don't mind the negative attention they get from looking desperate, more power to them.

By: There’s too much ME-ME-ME in social MEdia. | that damn redhead

There’s too much ME-ME-ME in social MEdia. | that damn redhead — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 13:07:08 +0000

[...] not the only person to notice and point certain aspects of the social ME-ME-MEdia phenomenon out. I certainly won’t be the [...]

By: KellyeCrane

KellyeCrane — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 22:45:17 +0000

Thanks for sharing your motivations, Arik – nice explanation. Interesting that numbers 1 and 3 are the two approaches you've used, since the consensus among commenters is that neither of these is bothersome (and in many cases, it's expected). So, obviously you're right on the money!

By: Arik Hanson

Arik Hanson — Sat, 26 Jun 2010 18:10:01 +0000

I can only imagine the traffic you're going to get given the title of this post, Kellye

I'd like to comment on #1 and 3 above since I have used those approaches in the past (and probably will continue to).

As a rule, I don't try to “trick” readers with post titles. But, I do attempt to use intriguing titles that certainly aren't the norm from time to time. Case in point: “All I learned about social media I learned from Barry Manilow.” It as a play on the fact that I was just at BlogWorld and there was a 70-foot tall mural of Barry and I wanted to have some fun with it. The post was one of my most read and shared posts of 2009.

As you know, I'm a big fan of lists. But, I probably have a little different approach than others. I know many see these as popularity contests and link bait, but I don't. I see them as tremendous community building tools. Case in point. When I created my “Most Intriguing People” post earlier this year, I received a comment from one Gini Dietrich. At the time, I didn't know Gini. Today? She's a good friend and someone I look to for advice and assistance regularly (she's since guest posted on my blog). And now I'm looking forward to meeting Gini in person in August in Chicago. That list led to a mutually beneficial relationship. Link bait? I think not.

The PR Readers Choice Awards is another example. What most may (and have) painted as a popularity contest (and to an extent, it is–any readers choice award is, to be honest), I see an opportunity to publicly recognize some of the best blogs in our field (by the way, bummed this blog wasn't nominated–I probably should have done that). Is there a benefit to me? Yeah, sure. But, do I care? A little, but not nearly as most people probably think. I care much more about the people and blogs on that initial nomination list. Really, I do. That list is meant to be a resource for all–the ultimate PR blog roll, chosen by the readers. No more, no less.

So I definitely fall on the side that think lists are valuable–and I will probably continue to use them liberally.

Great conversation starters, Kellye. Well done.

@arikhanson

By: Rebecca Leaman

Rebecca Leaman — Sat, 26 Jun 2010 02:23:11 +0000

Oh, Kellye, really? Thank you so much for letting me know!

By: KellyeCrane

KellyeCrane — Sat, 26 Jun 2010 02:07:29 +0000

Rebecca- it's so appropriate that you would comment on this post, because you were the first person to ever actually *respond* to me on Twitter when I first started (don't know if you knew that). Responding to those who have 10 followers the same way you respond to someone with 10,000 is the hallmark of someone who is generous and “real.” Obviously, your mama raised you right.