I’ve talked about episode numbers in a number of previous episodes: when to use episode numbers, when to keep away from episode numbers, and how one can embody episode numbers in your titles. And people all constructed on my unique ideas I shared about episode numbers 12 years in the past.
However one state of affairs has been irritating me: if you legitimately want episode numbers, however you additionally need an awesome episode title that begins with a quantity. For instance, “5 Steps to Success” or “20 Tricks to Enhance Your Method.”
That will get complicated quick.
It additionally weakens one of many largest advantages of utilizing numbers in titles, which is glanceability. As an alternative of speaking clearly, the title begins to look cluttered. So listed here are 3 ways to deal with it.
1. Add a number one phrase
One easy resolution is so as to add a phrase earlier than the quantity within the title.
So as an alternative of “5 Steps to Success,” you can say “The 5 Steps to Success.” As an alternative of “20 Tricks to Enhance Your Method,” you can say “Greatest 20 Tricks to Enhance Your Method,” or possibly “Quickest 20 Suggestions” or “Best 20 Suggestions,” relying on the angle.
This solves the rapid formatting downside as a result of your episode quantity is not sitting proper subsequent to the quantity within the title.
Generally this may even show you how to sharpen the episode’s angle. If “20 suggestions” feels too broad, including a phrase like “quickest,” “easiest,” or “most cost-effective” could make the content material extra centered and extra compelling.
That mentioned, I nonetheless assume titles usually sound stronger when the numeral comes first. So this works, however it could not all the time really feel like the perfect ultimate model.
2. Spell the quantity within the title
An alternative choice is to spell out the quantity within the title as an alternative of utilizing the numeral.
So as an alternative of “5 Steps to Success,” you’d write “5 Steps to Success.”
That often seems to be cleaner if you’re additionally displaying an episode quantity, as a result of it removes the visible battle between two numerals proper subsequent to one another.
The draw back is that spelled-out numbers are often much less punchy. Numerals stand out quicker, and that’s one of many causes they work so nicely in titles within the first place.
I feel this strategy works greatest with smaller numbers, particularly twenty and under. When you get into bigger numbers, spelled-out variations grow to be longer and clunkier. “Twenty-two” or “100 twenty-two” is lots much less environment friendly than simply utilizing numerals.
So this may work, however it’s extra of a compromise than an excellent resolution.
3. Title your episode otherwise in your RSS feed
That is the strategy I like to recommend most.
Relying on the device you utilize, you could have extra management over episode titles than you notice. You would possibly have the ability to set one title in your web site, one other in your RSS feed, one other for Apple Podcasts (<itunes:title>), and possibly even separate titles for search engine optimization or social sharing.
That issues as a result of episode numbers often usually are not essential in your web site, in search outcomes, or on social media. In these locations, the title itself is doing the actual work. Meaning you possibly can let your web site and social title be one thing clear like “5 Steps to Success” with out forcing the episode quantity into probably the most precious a part of that title.
Then, inside your RSS feed or podcast app title fields, you possibly can deal with issues otherwise.
In case your publishing device offers you a separate episode-number discipline, use that. Some podcast apps, like Apple Podcasts, Overcast, and Pocket Casts, can show episode numbers individually from the title. That offers you the perfect of each worlds. Your title can nonetheless start with the numeral, and the episode quantity can seem in its personal correct place.
In case your device doesn’t provide you with that a lot management, then that is the place the primary two methods can assist. Use a number one phrase or spell out the quantity within the model that seems within the RSS feed, whereas preserving the stronger title elsewhere.
That means, you optimize the title for every context as an alternative of forcing one model to do the whole lot.
For those who solely publish episodes that begin with numbers on occasion, that is most likely not one thing it is advisable to remedy each week. However when it does come up, it’s value dealing with nicely.
I feel the perfect resolution is often to customise your titles by context every time your publishing workflow permits it. That lets your web site, social shares, and podcast apps every present the model that makes probably the most sense.
And in case your device doesn’t assist that sort of management but, it’s value asking for it.
Particular thanks
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