More new Facebook data, continuing this series.
The next Facebook sharing data point I analyzed is the presence of numbers (in digit form, 1 through 9) in titles. In a wide range of marketing arenas digits have been shown to perform very well. They tend to help conversion rates in the form of prices and on social news sites like Digg “Top 10″ style posts have always done well.
The difference isn’t huge but according to my data, articles with digits in their titles tend to be shared more on Facebook than stories without digits. I found that most articles in my data set didn’t use numbers in their titles, and you can see the scale of difference in volumes in the gray bars at the bottom of the chart.
For details on my methodology start with this post, then read
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Yes Dan, I've always heard tips/steps/lists type posts tend to do very well. I've also heard that “How To” posts do great too. Have you tested that before? Can't remember
Ok, so If I got this right, what you are saying Dan is that on Facebook, to maximize impressions, we should post on Fridays and Saturdays, while also including numbers and the word Facebook in the title?
Sorry to miss you at SXSW. A bunch of people I know here in NYC are going and it sounds great!
I really do not understand the function of using numbers and the day it should be posted. Well, I will try these. Thanks.
Rennel
Savannah GA Advertising
Albany GA Advertising
It stands to reason that the same behavior should be seen on Twitter. Do tweets with digits get more retweets?
I don't understand. Are you saying that if say, I posted a link that read Peter Combe Art and added a # after Art ie: 'Peter Combe Art 1'?
One of the reasons for this might be because numbers get more attention. Proof: http://www.useit.com/alertbox/writing-numbers.html
Thanks for sharing the numbers. Your analysis is no surprise. What is it about number in a title that attract readers so much more than an article without numbers. Perhaps those who are reading the articles are looking for more concrete or black and white answers to their questions. Just a thought.
Interesting observation but not surprising. Copywriters have understood this for decades. Pick up any John Caples book.
First let me say that it is great to see some real attempt to measure and research social media. There are way to many non-funded claims floating around on the web regarding social media.
However, I was wondering, do you use any thorough scientific statistical analysis? To investigate that any difference in the means is significant, rather then mere coincidental?
I agree you Dia.
I also want to say as you said that there is not any kind of surpriseness in this post.
But nice article.
I think strategy of this sharing is also very good.
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