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How Some People Are Using Triberr To Kill Blogging

October 29, 2012 by 49 Comments
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Don’t make the monkey mad.

Some my fellow tribesmen are using Triberr to kill blogging and it is not because your content is horrible, even though some of it truly is.

Stop using hashtags in your headlines.

What makes you think that sending out headlines populated by hashtags is a good idea, because it is not.

This is me shouting INCONCEIVABLE!

Those headlines look like hell and read worse.. It is alphabet soup and simply horrid. If you are going to pump out gibberish you might as well have fun.

Why not try one of these:

  • Flying Butt Monkeys Attack Squirrels
  • Spicy Food Hairy Nuts
  • #^$@^$^Y#%%^^
  • 123 Uses for Viagra and Female Alligators
  • Your Words Make Flames Shoot Out of My Derrierre

I’ll lay odds that one of those five will be as effective as sending out “Toms, Drums and Mud #music, #drums.”

It is time to return to regular headlines and to stop the madness. Don’t make the monkey mad because believe me you wouldn’t like to fight with the mad monkey. You’ll lose.

And if by some chance you defeat the monkey in single combat you’ll feel badly that you beat up a monkey and even worse because the crazy people in PETA will sue you on behalf of the monkey.

What will your children say about this. How will you explain that you lost your house because you went bankrupt trying to prove you had the legal right to defend yourself against the mad monkey.

Besides the monkey has friends. You don’t want to face the monkey’s friends.

clown How Some People Are Using Triberr To Kill Blogging

The Monkey’s best friend.

Don’t say I didn’t warn you. Change your ways or risk the wrath of the mean monkey and the scary clown.

P.S. If I share your post I am probably going to strip the hashtags out anyway because they really do look like hell.

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Filed Under: Blogging, Triberr

Jack Says That Self Promotion Isn’t Easy

There are several schools of thought regarding self promotion and whether bloggers should be doing it. I belong to the one that says it feels a bit awkward but it is necessary.

What that means is that I am asking for you to join the community at my TheJackB Facebook page.

And of course I would love it if you would sign up for my newsletter. You can see a recent copy and sign up here.

Thank you for your time. I appreciate it.

Comments

  1. Aaron Brinker says:
    April 8, 2013 at 9:11 pm

    Jack,

    I have used a hashtag in the title only a few times. Every time I have used one in my title it has been at the request of a sponsored post of some type. My personal opinion is that I think it would hurt your google ranking if you continued to do it. I think the spiders would read them as partial gibberish….just my opinion of course.

    Aaron Brinker aka DadBlunders
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  2. Karen Maskall says:
    April 5, 2013 at 1:50 pm

    I’ve only just joined triberr today Jack so I’ve got lots to learn about it yet. I arrived here because I was doing a search on triberr to see what folks had to say. Seems like the consensus is that it it a very good place to be as long as people stop spamming ( not unlike any other place where self promotion is allowed hmmmmmm)

    Looking at that mean monkey friend… I am NOT going to risk his wrath ho ho
    Karen Maskall recently posted..Grants: Funding Schools for the FutureMy Profile (dofollow)
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    • Jack says:
      April 6, 2013 at 11:16 am

      Hi Karen,

      Triberr is a wonderful tool and its usefulness has quite a bit to do with how you use it. I say that often but I have really found it to be true.
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  3. Shonali Burke says:
    November 2, 2012 at 6:20 am

    You SO made me laugh! So… this is an interesting conundrum to me; are people using Triberr to kill blogging, or has Triberr so enamored people that they’re losing commonsense? I used to really like Triberr but I’ve been feeling more and more uncomfortable about it… not enough to quit it yet, because I have to figure out my discomfort more clearly. But part of it is that it feels like it’s contributing to a lot of shouting, over-sharing & less engagement. Ooh – I think I just found the premise for a blog post I’ve been wanting to write!
    To your point about hashtags; same thing with @ names in the title – again, they’re doing it because it makes the most instantly shareable without you (anyone) having to go in & edit the title (which most people don’t do anyway, from what I can tell). Me, I’ve used hashtags in titles when they’re relevant (eg if it’s a #measurePR recap, or if it’s an event like #give2max or whatever). Not otherwise.
    Shonali Burke recently posted..Launching a SMAC!Down: Sock Monkeys Against CancerMy Profile
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    • Jack says:
      November 2, 2012 at 10:14 am

      Hi Shonali,

      Common sense does seem to be missing. The methods we used to use to communicate with people are evolving and not everyone is keeping up.

      Twitter has become much more of a broadcast channel than it used to be. Time was that you could tweet a link and your followers would go check it out but I don’t think we see the same sort of response to CTAs anymore.

      Since I like to experiment I joined some more tribes and now have a reach of about 6.5 million or something like that. It sounds great, but I know I am not seeing the kind of response I would like to get from that many.

      If ten percent made this blog part of their daily routine…

      So I am trying to figure out how to rework and adjust how I use Triberr to see if I can make it more efficient and effective for me. I am still a fan, but just need to tweak it.

      BTW, I edit headlines. I will strip out the hashtags and change the titles. I don’t do it every time, but it has happened more than once.
      Jack recently posted..Dad Will Kill Them Dead!My Profile (dofollow)
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    • Saul Fleischman says:
      November 20, 2012 at 12:38 am

      While I know full well that people can be spammy, I must agree with Shonali. Far worse than the blog article with a title littered with long, chcaracter-eating hashtags is the one that aims to get the guest author (or even the author and an organization – two @mentions) Twitter mentions by injecting their Twitter handle in the post title.
      In fact, hashtags can be a very good thing, for organization, for reaching far beyond your/our own followers because they can assist in reaching those actively and passively following tags – who may not be following us in Twitter.
      I’d like to show you my own private-beta stage hashtags optimization tool, sometime, and how people put it to use to do non-spammy things. Connect in G+ and Hangout soon?
      Saul Fleischman recently posted..What a Business Better Know About＃HashtagsMy Profile
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  4. Si says:
    November 2, 2012 at 2:02 am

    I agree, mate. Let’s ban hash tags in titles! It makes for terrible reading and it’s and so unimaginative and lazy.
    Si recently posted..Good! Compensation for flight delays in EuropeMy Profile

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  5. jetts31 says:
    November 1, 2012 at 9:01 pm

    Its the curse of the Internet. We’ve learned a hashtag might just make a post visible to more people so titles are littered with #’s and content is forgotten about. I think we all know what sort of shameless shills people are on the world wide web and anything (in their minds) to push a post a little bit more, they’ll try.
    I don’t know that I ever used a hashtag as part of the title to one of my posts? I don’t think that I have. And if I did, the monkey would kick my ass.
    jetts31 recently posted..Why Disney Won’t Ruin Star WarsMy Profile
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    • Jack says:
      November 1, 2012 at 11:36 pm

      Hey Jimmy,

      Yeah, I think most of us are “guilty” of trying to promote our posts through multiple methodss, some not as clean as the others. I certainly have been a part of it.

      But I am working hard on balancing the “need” as best I can.

      That scary monkey and his clown friend are intimidating.
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  6. Julie says:
    October 30, 2012 at 4:20 pm

    If you want to know who wins, the monkey or the clown, just watch Cabin In The Woods. It’s the be-all-end-all of which scary freak ghost clown psycho wins. OK I’ll tell you – no one. The Demi Gods come back and destroy the Earth. Same thing for Triberr or maybe just lotsa traffic.
    Julie recently posted..Surprise YourselfMy Profile
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  7. Tim Bonner says:
    October 30, 2012 at 7:49 am

    I’ve not seen too many headlines with hashtags to be honest but I’d probably remove them too. Maybe the Triberr company I keep are more discerning. :-)
    Tim Bonner recently posted..Why Customer Experience Means EverythingMy Profile
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  8. Stan Faryna says:
    October 30, 2012 at 7:35 am

    There are several schools of thought regarding packing hashtags in headlines and whether triberrites should be doing it. I belong to the one that says it feels mad money awkward but it may be necessary on occasion. [grin]
    Stan Faryna recently posted..The Dunning-Kruger Effect: Part OneMy Profile
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    • Jack says:
      October 30, 2012 at 4:30 pm

      Hi Stan,

      Well I like to argue as both anarchist and purist but from a practical POV I understand it might be worth trying out. I probably won’t but it would be sort of interesting to see what happens.
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  9. Craig McBreen says:
    October 30, 2012 at 6:37 am

    Everyone mentioned the clown, but what about the f*ing monkey? I hate monkeys.

    Hashtags are evil. Makes me think of hashmarks in your undies every time I read the term.

    And isn’t “Spicy Food Hairy Nuts” listed on Copyblogger’s “How to write awesome headlines” post?
    Craig McBreen recently posted..The problem with white space (And what you need to know about design)My Profile
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  10. Kristen Daukas says:
    October 30, 2012 at 4:19 am

    I’ve gotten to the point that I hate hashtags. They are one of the most abused and overused things ever. I get it – you want your post, photo, tweet whatever to show up in every single search known to mankind. Write better content and it will show up regardless.
    Kristen Daukas recently posted..Obama is not Coming After Your Guns and Romney is not Coming After Your TamponsMy Profile
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  11. Bill Dorman says:
    October 30, 2012 at 4:05 am

    Don’t make the monkey mad, and don’t spank the monkey………….at least in public…….

    I have noticed lately when I approve a post in Triberr but don’t do anything else, I don’t think it is going out. Have you noticed that?
    Bill Dorman recently posted..Pardon my dust, brain under constructionMy Profile

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  12. Jens P. Berget says:
    October 29, 2012 at 10:20 pm

    I agree. I usually either remove the hashtags or don’t share the posts. But, on the other hand, if the headline is really awesome, I’ll probably end up sharing anyway. It comes down to the discussion of how important headlines (and link bait) are.
    Jens P. Berget recently posted..My 3 best relationship marketing tipsMy Profile
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  13. Amanda Blain says:
    October 29, 2012 at 9:52 pm

    My blog posts are auto imported via Google Plus. They include hashtags that work well in the twitter space… and on my blog. I’m not exactly sure why you think this is a blogging killer? O_o
    Amanda Blain recently posted..*Amazing Sandy Storm Pictures Surfacing - But Many Are Fake*My Profile
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    • Jack says:
      October 29, 2012 at 10:10 pm

      Hi Amanda,

      It is not really a blogging killer, that was linkbait and is tied into a discussion I have been having with several people about headlines.

      However the hashtags are problematic for myself and some others. Don’t know how many people dislike them, but outside of Twitter I find them disruptive.

      There is something about placing them in the headlines that sets me off. If I share the post I usually strip them from the headline because that is not how I like to share.

      People can do what they want. I am not saying that it is wrong to put them in there, just that I dislike it and that it sometimes impacts my decision about whether to read or share.
      Jack recently posted..How Some People Are Using Triberr To Kill BloggingMy Profile (dofollow)
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  14. DJ Thistle says:
    October 29, 2012 at 7:50 pm

    Who would win the monkey or the clown?

    I honestly think twice about sharing articles with hashtags, especially multiple hashtags.
    DJ Thistle recently posted..Increase Productivity with IQTellMy Profile
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  15. Trey Burley says:
    October 29, 2012 at 6:17 pm

    Side note. I do like your headlines. One of the things I like/don’t like about Triberr is that it educates you as a writer. I’ve discovered that a good headline is mandatory and a great headline can make a post. Because of Triberr I’ve become more aware of what my weak spots are and my ‘crutches’ that I use.
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  16. Trey Burley says:
    October 29, 2012 at 6:14 pm

    Your title made me laugh. I also like monkeys.
    Trey Burley recently posted..#1 and #3 of 18 Summers: Curiosity and finding our legsMy Profile
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  17. Ralph says:
    October 29, 2012 at 1:57 pm

    Jack, check out Triberr. Your post populated 3 times in my Tribe (Globespotting). Not sure why. That is one scary clown, dude!
    Ralph recently posted..The Studio: Ep3: Working within the extremes of Iteration and Passion.My Profile
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  18. Carolyn says:
    October 29, 2012 at 1:52 pm

    So true. Those hash tags are a blight on blog titles. You can always add hash tags to the tweet later.
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  19. Mark says:
    October 29, 2012 at 12:28 pm

    “Spicy Food Hairy Nuts”

    Hey, I just got a new blog post idea – haha!

    Peeps better stop monkeying around :o

    Happy Monday, Josh : )
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  20. Kate Finley says:
    October 29, 2012 at 11:12 am

    All you really had to do was post a picture of that clown. Eek!
    Kate Finley recently posted..TGIF: Stand Up, Enjoy the Moment and DROP THAT SCALEMy Profile
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  21. Mark says:
    October 29, 2012 at 10:17 am

    While I agree that it looks bad, I don’t agree that they are killing blogging. I wonder, are they editing these titles just for Triberr, since the primary share there is through Twitter? It’s a smart idea, whether you think so or not, it can attract a lot of attention. My issue is not with how it looks for them, but how it looks in my Twitter stream. I usually just avoid sharing those titles, then it doe not effect me either way. BTW, if their content is crap, don’t syndicate them. It’s your Twitter stream they will be infecting.
    Mark recently posted..Networking Tips: Don’ts for Social MediaMy Profile
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    • Jack says:
      October 29, 2012 at 5:10 pm

      Hi Mark,

      Nah, not killing blogging at all- I went for linkbait and it worked quite well. Haven’t had a ton of comments but the traffic has been steady and heavy.

      In concept I agree that it is a smart idea but I am not sure if it works out the way they want it to. It doesn’t make me want to read the posts, if anything it is off putting and that is not a good thing.

      I don’t share everything that comes through because I don’t want my stream to look like hell. It is not as clean as I would like it now, but there are compromises we make to generate the additional promotion of our own material.
      Jack recently posted..How Some People Are Using Triberr To Kill BloggingMy Profile (dofollow)
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  22. Erin Feldman says:
    October 29, 2012 at 9:29 am

    Ugh…That clown! That clown! I’m going to have nightmares.
    Erin Feldman recently posted..Death to Busy WorkMy Profile
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Trackbacks

  1. Curating Content in a Diverse Media Landscape says:
    April 26, 2013 at 3:16 pm

    [...] Triberr is a powerful yet dangerous tool for digital curation. It’s a great way to build an audience. But it’s also a great way to kill blogging. [...]

    Reply

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