I regularly ignore all AI suggestions for my posts. Sentences too long? Not enough headings? Bah! But I write my titles last. And every once in a while I will test out the title generator when I’m stuck finding the right title.
Wow, are those title suggestions dry! For instance, I tried it with this post. Would anyone click through to?:
- How to Write Titles That Connect with Readers and Search Engines
- Balancing AI and Human Appeal
- Crafting Titles for Human Engagement and SEO
But of course those titles are not designed to entice humans to click but instead to allow algorithms to better work for search. As with the rest of SEO like headings, concise summaries, keyword repetition, the point is to make it easy for AI to consume and regurgitate content when a human asks a question.
Linking to related content has been around since we started using the Internet. Making it easy for others to find and navigate content is a mainstay of web design. Our goal remains the same which is to reach a human audience.
Somehow it just feels more personal when we’ve given it a name like Alexa and call it AI. You know the writer wisdom that says we often write for one person? It’s not like I’m going to imagine Alexa as my ultimate audience. If I do, you have my permission to shoot me.
I imagine that people who rode horses thought cars needing to stay on a road was boring and constricted. We give up a little freedom when we want to move faster.
So it is with AI, algorithms and search. We can still write titles that appeal to the human sense of creativity and punny-ness. Then create the links and the headings that help computers help humans find our stuff.
We can write for humans and then format it for findability. But that doesn’t mean I’m going to take any of those silly suggestions!
(featured photo from Pexels)
I’m the host of the How to Share podcast where we talk about things like why we share, how to share personal stories, and how to share professional communications.
I also co-host Sharing the Heart of the Matter – an author and storytelling podcast. I’m a parent of two young children. I help companies achieve organizational efficiency through collaboration, and speak about creativity and AI through the Chicago Writer’s Association.
You can find me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wynneleon/ and Instagram @wynneleon
Yes, who are we writing for: Humans or some algorithm? Ha ha. When I need a laugh, I check out the title generator. Can you be any more off? I do look at the sentence shortener just because I tend to be a rambler! Love my long sentences. I do find that helpful — if nothing else, to keep me honest! 🤣🤣🤣
I’m laughing because I like my long sentences too. Who is AI to tell me not too? 🙂
Exactly! Go home AI! You can’t bully us AI!!! 🤣🤣🤣
Yeah! 🙂 🙂 🙂
Wynne, a very relatable post. 💕
I have learned to trust myself more than I trust AI. Some of the titles AI comes up with are a paragraph long, appropriate for an academic paper maybe, but they overwhelm a haiku! 😄
Then I am told that articles need to be added in counted-syllable poems, that sentences are too complex, and precise language needs to be simplified. Now, I just smile and say, “Thanks for correcting my typos!” 😂
Hope all is well with you! ❤️
Love this comment, Cheryl. Yes – trust ourselves! Funny about the titles for a Haiku. You’d think with the focus on short sentences they’d generate shorter ones. 🙂 So good to see you, Cheryl!
All above my head, I’m afraid. I’ll just fade out of existence the old fashioned way, lol
I’m laughing, VJ! Right!
Yes!
I hava been using AI for more than one year and I must admit that I like it. I consider it my assistant. I ask questions and get replies without hesitation in no time. I also ask for opinions and I receive very useful replies. I also use it to generate titles and I ask for more if I am not happy with it. I ask for tags. I also ask for travel itineraries, vegetarian restaurants, nice hotels and suggestions for most convenient transportation to go. Most importantly I always do fact checking, and I do this regularly. So, I am happy with it. And it doesn’t mean I don’t write for humans, I think that we entered a new era and I want to adapt to it. Exactly when we entered the Internet era.
What great examples of ways to use AI. I agree that it’s like the Internet and we have to adapt to it. Thanks for the examples of how to do that!
The previous comment was from me, Cristiana. I use AI but still have to find my way with WP😂
AI. JUST NO.
🙂
I’ve tried using AI for my post excerpts and it always feels very stiff and formal. I usually end up editing it to sound more like me…a human.
Stiff and formal – exactly, Michelle!
I am sick of AI already.
I’m chuckling about your comment. Right! It hasn’t been shy about showing up and being pushy, has it? 🙂
No, it hasn’t.
Well said and I get tired of them changing my words and I think so be it and go on my own.. lol. I also make my own titles at the end unless they come to me first!
But I don’t make a living at this either.
Shoot me too.. 😂
‘It’s not like I’m going to imagine Alexa as my ultimate audience. If I do, you have my permission to shoot me. I imagine that people who rode horses thought cars needing to stay on a road was boring and constricted. We give up a little freedom when we want to move faster. So it is with AI, algorithms and search.” 💗😎
Ah, I’m in good company if we are going to be shot together, Cindy! Thanks for the great comment.
You sure are and yes together, we’ve got this! You’re always welcome 💕
People generally resist change, yes. Myself included, though I’ve been working on that, on a personal level, over the last few years. I’m old school with my writing but I did use Chap GPT today to put together a list of bookstores. That was helpful and fun! I love writing titles, usually last also.
Ah, I love you write titles last too. You make such a good point about resisting change. A big factor for sure. It is interesting how much info these tools can pull together for us. I guess the trick is figuring out how to make it work for us. Thanks, Michele!
Yes, that’s it! And stay open to things and changes that can help us. Thank you for the wonderful reply. 🙌🏻
You’re very welcome, Wynne! I’m glad this landed well with you.
I actually enjoy coming up with my own titles and I prefer short ones.
Of course I want people to find and read my writing, but not enough to make me do some of the things AI recommends- I just don’t like a lot of those suggestions!
Writing for humans worked for me. Thanks
A refreshing take on balancing AI and authentic writing! Your emphasis on writing for humans first really resonates and reminds us that creativity and connection can’t be replaced by algorithms.