Dear NS Community Manager,

[Monsieur_Patate]

Hey NS community manager,

I just have a quick request, please don't start with the social media headlines 'click-bait' like so many other pages before you that I have now 'unliked'.

I haven't really noticed that from NS before, probably because you share more media content that news, but today on facebook I saw this post about Logan Imlach joining Armada, which is great, but it was titled: "The world's most interesting skier just joined Armada Skis!", and of course your community manager made sure not to mention Logan's name anywhere on fb, gotta get those clicks, bro! You could also probably argue this new 'most interesting' title, but whatever.

I know it's the trend and everybody is doing it, but those facebook posts are so fucking annoying. I do get the point of hiding the crucial part of the news and using superlatives and exaggerations to make sure you get clicks, but come on, you know it's wrong.

I have two examples for you:

- Mashable: uses headlines such as 'MIND BLOWING', 'WOW', 'GREATEST (insert whatever) EVER' for 'news' I wouldn't even want to read when taking a dump. And also you'll never know what this 'mind blowing' news is about before actually clicking that link.

- Deadspin: Always put the actual news directly into the fb headline. I click what I want to click, and I know what to expect. I'm thinking about sending their community manager some beer or something, considering how rare it is nowadays.

I know I'm ranting, but this behavior has been annoying the fuck out of me for so long. I never cared enough to actually say something, I just clicked 'unlike' instead. But I love NS, so I figured I would share my opinion and vent at the same time.

Thanks,

 

[Kretzschmar]

To build off of SDrvper's post, the FB post that he provided as context was chosen because we have been harvesting the old archives and throwing stuff up to see what sticks, typically over night in US is when we post such things.

Some titles are "clickbait" on the user end of things when they title the video upon upload to NS. We have no control over that. While I must say my article title about Logan was a bit "clickbait-y" it still was well received by the vast majority of users that clicked on the post.

Anyways, I appreciate your feedback about the posts and such. It's a fine line to walk about giving away the entire article away so we don't people to click on it to come to the site and total clickbait. I'm constantly trying to find a balance of the two. I could go on for days regarding our social strategy and other factors it but I won't. Cheers man.

 

[Monsieur_Patate]

Thanks for taking the time to respond guys.

I have a hard time with you saying that NS posts frequent clickbait for a few reasons.

Well, I'm sorry if I didn't make myself clear, but I don't think I ever said that. Actually the exact opposite. I said it was the first time I saw a post I considered 'click-bait' by NS.

My point was, please keep it the way it is and don't start with the click-bait posts. And I completely agree with the rest of your post too.

Also thanks Krotch for your post, as I said I love seeing NS on my feed, and my remark was very specifically targeted at that specific post, never had any complaint before, or since.

I just wanted to give my honest opinion.