[wp-docs] Redundancy in article titles

[Carthik Sharma]

On 4/30/07, Jennifer Hodgdon <yahgrp at poplarware.com> wrote:
> Ehi Akwara wrote:
> > Well there is nothing wrong with reinforcing the wordpress brand in
> > users minds. what if someone saves that particular page as a bookmark?
>
> That is not a problem. When you rename a page, the old title remains
> around as a link to the new page, perhaps forever.

I think the point that Ehi was trying to make was that bookmarks
inherit the title of the webpage, and so future bookmarkers will get
only "coding standards" as opposed to "wordpress coding standards" -
its a valid point.

> However, can you want to start changing titles until some consensus is
> reached? One person posted a gripe, and one person answered that he
> agreed, so far.

I suppose no consensus has been reached as to changing titles yet :)

> I personally prefer titles like "WordPress Lessons" over "Lessons"
> (seems more specific and friendly somehow). Also "WordPress Coding
> Standards" makes it clear that the coding standards apply to all of
> WordPress (as opposed to Theme Coding Standards, Plugin Coding
> Standards, etc.). "Getting Started with WordPress" rather than
> "Getting Started" -- makes it clear that it is not going to cover how
> to get started with blogging in general, acquire web hosting, etc.

Well, in that case, barring a few pages, every page on the Codex will
need to have "wordpress" in the title - example: WordPress Template
Tags". Coding standards for wordpress (whether "core" files or
templates or theme files) are the same now. How about using just
"Getting Started" if you are talking about WordPress, which is likely
the more common case on a WordPress documentation site, and using
"Getting Started with CuteFTP" if you dealing with exceptions, like,
in this case, CuteFTP?

Let me try and make my point this way - very rarely do you find
corporate pages with the title "About Corporate-Entity-Name". If you
are at some entity's webpage, then you know that already - no need to
repeat that again.

We should be thinking of reducing redundancy, and making title more
effective - thus, instead of "WordPress for Beginners" - could we have
an action word, or a descriptive noun instead of WordPress? - What
about "Tips for Beginners" or better still "Resources/RoadMap for
Beginners"?

I think I need not invoke Occam's razor now ;) I think it is better
that titles remain short, concise and to the point.

To me, using WordPress in page title implies a general lack of
inventiveness, and adds unnecessary flak in the form of redundant
words to the title. "WordPress" is already there is the URL -
codex.wordpress.org. That should keep the search engines happy.

Carthik.


> Just my 2 cents...
>
>         Jennifer
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-- 
Ph.D. Candidate
University of Central Florida
Homepage: http://carthik.net