Clowing Around in Headlines May Cause SEO to Suffer

We write articles and posts because we want people to read them.  The first impression of your article is you headline.  Your article may never get read or come up in search engines if your headline is not straightforward.  I know what you are thinking. You are thinking that funny headlines make people click over and read your articles.  No.  Funny headlines make people giggle, guffaw, or smirk but not always click over.  If the headline is a joke the reader may pass over it to get to the article with the information he seeks. 

In addition, SEO is no laughing matter.  Google does not care if your headline is funny, quirky, or jazzy.  Google does not care if you use irony, a metaphor or a simile to make your point.  Google only cares about keywords and meta data.  Straightforward headlines with keywords are the only way to impress Google.  You can still be yourself but if your headline does not come up easily in search engines it may not get found.   

But can we be witty and SEO sound at the same time?  You sure can be!

For example, let’s pretend you are writing an article about a Literature professor who was fired for smoking a cigarette in class.  Let’s says, he was simply acting out a role but due to complaints he lost his job anyway.  What possible titles can you come up with that will grab attention of readers and SEO. 

Sample Headlines

Fired after the Smoke Clears  

Perhaps cute and a bit funny but too vague for a reader looking for this story to click on and for Google to rank high in the search engine. 

Burning Up Over Lighting Up 

Again, vague.  Trying to be funny and cute will only lead to an article with low pageviews. 

Professor Fired for Smoking in Class

Google will know exactly what to do with this title.  Anyone searching of the story will type in most of these words if not all of them.  Your article is sure to show up in a search and it will be obvious to the reader this is what he is looking for.  Sure, it is boring but you can show off your personality in the body of your post. 

Much Ado About Nothing:  Theater Professor Fired for Smoking in Class

My favorite title because it is SEO sound and witty at the same time.  The title tells Google and the reader exactly what the article is about.

As a general rule, keep your headlines clear enough for Google to rank and readers to understand.  Do not sacrifice clarity for wit.

Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life

Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life is popular book written by Wendy Mass. The book is recommended for children in grade 5 through grade 7. It is a book about adventure, drama, comedy, and the meaning of life.

Synopsis

Jeremy Fink is 12 and still mourning the death of his father. His father died in a car accident when Jeremy was 8 years old. A fortune teller told Jeremy’s father that he would die at the age of 40. The fortune teller was wrong. Jeremy’s dad died at age 39. Jeremy has led a very focused and safe life since. Until one day something usual happened.

On the cusp of Jeremy turning 13, he receives a package in the mail. In the package is a box with note. The note states that inside the box is the meaning of life. There is only one problem. He must find the key to open the box. He cannot destroy the lock or the box to get it open or it could damage the contents. He must find the right key. So, he and his friend Lizzy set off to find the right key to find the meaning of life

Exciting News

On March 6, 2012, Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life will be available on DVD, on demand and in digital release. The DVD is full of special features such as cast interviews, deleted scenes, and a limited edition embossed o-card with glitter spotting.  Also included is a downloadable audio of the author, Wendy Mass, reading the first chapter of the book. 

The movie is a family friendly adventure with Mira Sorvino and Joe Pantoliano.  Family movie night is back! 

The film is a great adventure for the whole family.  The film is rated PG and is approximately 88 minutes long.  The cast is excellent.  You feel like you are on the journey with Lizzy and Jeremy as they travel to flea markets and science museums to find the meaning of life.  So grab some popcorn and steal 88 minutes as a family to enjoy some time laughing and having an adventure together.  A great film if you read the book or not.  However, you may want to add the book to your family reading list to prepare for the movie! 

For more information about Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life, please visit www.Phase4Films.com, www.facebook.com/phase4films  or @Phase4Films.

Hello and thank you for visiting Under the Golden Apple Tree! Have you heard that Google Friend Connect will no longer be available to non-Blogger blogs as of March 1, 2012?  If you are following through GFC, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed and like Under the Golden Apple Tree on Facebook so you don't miss anything! Thanks so much for visiting!

Disclosure:  As a member of Team Mom I was generously provided with products to test.  My opinions are my own and may or may not reflect that of Team Mom or the vendor. 

My Blog Spark: Big G Retro Giveaway!

It's time again for another My Blog Spark giveaway!  The Big G Retro Giveaway is exciting!  If you like cereal, remember Atari and shop at Target, this is the giveaway for you.  If you just like two of the three or even one of the three you cannot go wrong.

Prize Pack

• (2) Big G Cereal boxes (Any 2 Big G cereals so you may be surprised!)
• $10 Target Gift Card 
• Free Download of "Atari 80 classic Games in One!" 

Disclosure:  I received the prize pack from Atari, Target and General Mills through MyBlogSpark!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

12 Ways To Use Vinegar

Vinegar. I buy huge jugs of the stuff at a time. It's dirt cheap, completely natural (made from fermented fruits, vegetables, or apple cider), and has more uses than I can count. It has replaced our pesticides, herbicides, Windex, dishwashing Rinse Aid, shoe polish, deodorizers, meat tenderizers, and much, much more.  

I love it when natural, non-toxic stuff, is also the cheaper, more effective method to dozens of household problems. Vinegar saves on money by eliminating the need for an entire host of products, can be made yourself or bought for a price even a miser can afford, and it holds its own in the job quality department. 

Here's a list of ways we regularly use this cheap, natural, acidic wonder: 

• Kill weeds. Pick a scorching hot day a drown your weeds with full-strength vinegar. We did this to our driveway last year, and they were all withered and crusty within three days of applying vinegar faithfully.
• Clean floors. I use 1 cup of white vinegar diluted in a pail of hot water to do mine.
• Relieve sunburn. If I get a little sun-kissed while gardening, I apply a little white vinegar to my red shoulders to relieve the heat.
• Unclog your drains. Throw a scoop of baking soda down there followed by a cup or two of vinegar down there and see if they don't run a little better.
• Dishwashing agent. We have terribly hard water. When the most expensive brand of Rinse-Aid couldn't get our glasses and silverware clean, we tried vinegar instead. Voila! We no longer have to serve our guests glasses that look like we just drank milk from them.
• Clean stainless steel. Once in a blue moon, I go nuts on our house and wipe everything shiny with a vinegar dampened cloth. *Sparkles*
• Clean your windows. Say Good-bye to Windex. It used to be my best friend until I met Vinegar. 
• Removed stains from pots and pans. Baked on food happens. Let it soak for a while in a water/vinegar solution and you'd never know.
• Remove lint from clothes. Add half a cup of vinegar to your rinse cycle to brighten your colors and to get rid of the fuzzy-wuzzies.
• Prolong the life of cut flowers.  Two Tablespoons of vinegar and three Tablespoons of sugar per quart of water can make the difference between a short-lived bouquet or a long lasting, perky one.
• Treat colds, sore throats, sinus infections, upset stomach, warts and arthritis. All by digesting, swallowing, gargling, and applying vinegar.
• Disinfect. Use Vinegar to disinfect any germ haven: cutting boards, bath tubs, floors, fixtures, counter tops, appliances, utensils-anything! 

Are you a fan of vinegar? What else have you used it for?

Jacinda is a sinner saved by grace, the cherished wife to her husband of three years, Brad, and the blessed mama to two precious children so far - Charity (2), and Judah (7 months). She is a homeschool graduate with counseling certificates from CCEF, and passionate about serving the Lord as a "keeper at home." You can find her blogging about her adventures in homemaking at Growing Home, where she records the struggles and triumphs of crafting, gardening, homeschooling sticky-fingered toddlers, living a counter-cultural life, and cooking gluten-free. 

Preschooler's Lunch Inspected and Taken Away by School

I am not sure why I continue to be surprised by the insanity reported in the news.  Moreover why I am surprised by the lengths the state through the public school system will go to undermine parental rights.  Yet, I stand in shock that a preschooler's lunch was inspected and taken away by a state worker.  That is why I pay taxes...so little children can have their lunches taken away by state workers. 

In the news yesterday, was a story that should not have surprised but alas I was anyway. Fox News reported that a preschool girl was not allowed to eat the lunch her mother packed for her because the contents did not meet “”U.S. Department of Agriculture guidelines.”” The student was provided a lunch of chicken nuggets provided by the school cafeteria to provide the nutrition she needed to live. In what world can chicken nuggets provided by a school lunchroom be considered edible much less healthy? You may be thinking that her mother surely packed her a lunch of wood chips and pixie sticks to merit such an action.

The student’s lunch consisted of:

• turkey and cheese sandwich
• banana
• apple juice
• potato chips

 Moreover, the student was sent home with a letter and a bill charging the parents for the chicken nuggets. The letter stated that parents who did not pack a healthy lunch would force the school to supplement and parents would be charged. What? You mean the schools are not taking the time to inspect children’s lunches? Yes. Yes, they are. That is your tax dollars at work. Since your tax dollars were not enough to pay the state workers who inspect the lunches, they need to find ways to say a banana is unhealthy so they can nickel and dime parents to supplement with healthier options. Healthier options such as chicken nuggets.

As you can obviously tell this news is appalling to me. I am tired of the school systems playing parent. This is the first step in a school system claiming they know better than the parent and will take action. Sure, it is only chicken nuggets today, but if we continue to hand over our rights neatly tied in a bow, it will not end here.

By the way, I don't care what the student's had in her lunch.  Short of illegal substances, her lunch should not have been inspected and replaced.  If I was the parent, I would not pay the $1.25 for the nuggets.  The school should pay the parent for a lunch that was not eaten.  

From my homeschool to yours...

Have a heart shaped day!

Building on a Mission with Mega Bloks

One of my family’s favorite types of toy is building toys.  We love to create vehicles, cities, and out of this world characters and things.  I enjoy seeing the kids create and use their imagination.  So, I was thrilled to present to them the All About Blok Squad Construction Unit Mission.  The idea of combing a construction crew and Mega Bloks was genius!  These guys get used all the time to build, teardown, and recreate amazing scenes.  The best part is that the set is only $9.99.  How often can you find fun for multiple ages of children for only $9.99.  The set is for children ages 5 and up, but my three year old enjoyed being part of the fun as well. 

Block Squad Construction Unit Mission by Mega Bloks

Getting the job done is easy and fun with this construction crew.  The set includes two construction vehicles including a front loader and a 4x4!  The multi-use front loader is the favorite among the kids in this set.  Everyone also loved the two construction workers and wheelbarrow.  The set has 218 pieces in total. 

What the kids loved:

The kids loved the front loader and the construction workers.  They also loved to create scenes with all the Blok Squad playsets to create a little city complete with policemen, firemen and the construction workers.  The kids put the crew to work building vehicles, buildings, jails, and houses.  They thought it was very cool to bring the Squad outside and play in the sand and dirt!

What I loved:

I love the creativity that always comes in a box of Mega Bloks.  Mega Bloks are timeless and appeal to a large age group.  I know once I purchase a set, it will be enjoyed for years to come.  Not to mention it makes a great gift that will not break the bank. 

 For more information please visit www.megabrands.com!

Don't forget to join the Mega Bloks Family Club!

Disclosure:  As a member of Team Mom I was generously provided with products to test.  My opinions are my own and may or may not reflect that of Team Mom or the vendor.