Just how seductive is an article that starts with 'How to ...'? It's a tried and tested technique - not new, not particularly clever, not sophisticated, but I fall for it time and time again. And I know I'm not the only one. Why?
- I'm looking for a quick answer to something I know I ought to know but haven't had time to learn
- I want to know if what I do know is complete and up to date
- I want to check out just who this person is who knows 'how to ....'
It's a close relative of the 'Three reasons why ...' It's really tempting to just take a peek, even if you suspect it's just some copy writer's trick to get you to read. Course, once you do read it, if the information is good/new/useful, you might just subscribe to the blog. If it's a let-down, you may not respond the next time. So it pays not to 'cry wolf'.
Anyway, I've come across some very good 'how tos' lately, so there may be something here that interests you:
How to write effectively for Twitter and the Social Web - this is a massive list of resources, more of a library to bookmark than an article to read.
How to find industry influencers - some solid advice here, and well illustrated
How to get more comments on your blog - ha! I definitely should take this advice
How to Make Twitter Less Like Listening to One Side of a Phone Call for Your Followers - oh yes, there's a 'how to' for just about everything!
Photo credit: Foxypar4 on Flickr
