Writing More Effective Module Titles
Squidoo's default module titles are intended as placeholder titles to help lensmasters know what a given module is -- and does. Some lensmasters choose to use the original default module title, but others have learned that approaching module titles with more creativity can help readers get more out of a lens -- and help modules perform better. Here are some ways to think about your module titles.
Set Expectations
This is a basic approach to module titles, but sometimes a straight-forward description is al you need. If an Amazon module is going to share books you recommend, don't shy from the title, "Books I Recommend." If a Link List module features the web sites you think everyone needs to bookmark, the headline "Sites You Need to Read" might be appropriate. Tell people what to expect from a module -- and then deliver on that promise.
Reinforce Your Theme
When people search for lenses in Squidoo, lenses are selected based on lensrank and relevance. You can make your lenses more relevant by using your primary keywords and tags in several places. Consider using your top-level tags in your lens name, lens title and module titles -- as well as in other text you add to your lens. A lens that incorporates a term more than once will come up as more relevant than a lens that uses it only one time.
Work in Some Numbers
One of Squidoo's appeals is the power of recommendation. Lensmasters don't point people to every single web site on a given topic, they highlight what they consider the best of the best. So the number of resources featured in a given module could be of a relatively limited number. Consider using that number in your module title: "The One Book You Need to Read," "Five Important Articles" and so on.
Show the Flow
Some lenses show readers how to do something, in effect outlining a process. If your lens walks people through a number of steps, consider numbering your module titles to show that order. "1. Tools You'll Need," "2. Removing the Cover," "3. Identifying the Widget" and so on. Then people can use your lens as a checklist of sorts to make their way through a new process or method.
Describe. Then Describe Further
Module titles are important, but they're not the only tool lensmasters can use to tell readers what a module is going to offer and do. If you think about your module title, subtitle and description as a whole rather than as discrete entities, you might be able to accomplish more with your titles. Use the title as the top-level view -- or headline -- and the subtitle as a refinement on the topic -- like the deck of a newspaper article. Don't just use the module title. See what you can do with subtitles and descriptions, too!
Have Fun
Module titles can also be fun -- and funny. While it might get tiresome if you go ape with this approach, consider using puns, alliteration and other less-serious approaches to writing your module titles.
