Creative blog entry titles have to go Nov13 '06

I am really getting annoyed with "creative blog entry titles."

The titles for blog entries should be straight-forward, and "to the point." Don't try to be creative, unique, or whatever. Save the reader time by telling them exactly what you're talking about, in your title.

With all the headlines out there, readers don't have time for euphemisms and puns. It's a recipe for disaster. Sure, they may sound perfect, sometimes... but other times, you'll sound like a complete idiot.

A classic example is this baseball blog, by the Chicago Cubs television announcers, Len Kasper and Bob Brenly. As much as I love reading what they have to say, and being able to respond directly to them - they insist on trying to come up with a creative title for every single blog post.

I have to admit... sometimes they "hit the nail on the head." But most times, it just sounds ridiculous.

Take, for instance, the latest entry, titled Homeward Bound.

What does that even mean?? At first, I thought it was a reference to the movie, Homeward Bound, but then I thought, "What could that possibly have to do with the actual blog entry, which talks about the recent signing of Aramis Ramirez and Kerry Wood?"

Why not title it, "Wood and Ramirez remain Cubs" ... ? That sounds much more understandable.

How about In Pod We Trust. Obviously referring to a podcast, this title is simply a "play on words," for the phrase, "In God We Trust." Not very funny, if you ask me.

How about Hodge-Podge? Again, they're thinking of any phrase that has the word "pod" in it.

It gets worse...

And the worst yet: Hey Man, Got Any Pod?.

Enough already!!

Disclaimer: I don't mean to pick on Len and Bob - they were just "in the right place, at the wrong time."

Categories: Rants , Web Sites , Writing

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matthom is published and produced by Matt Thommes - an independent publishing enthusiast, mobile blogger, content creator, informative writer, web developer from Chicago. Never one to conform, Matt intends to promote the effect the web has on our lives, in an effort to intensify, instruct, and clarify all that is happening around us.

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