New Permalinks

It seems that the emerging standard for permalinks in the blog world is the title of the post.

So I've made the switch and you'll see that my titles are now my permalinks.

It was hard to figure out how to do this in Typepad.

I had to consult the HTML experts.

I hope everyone finds this easier and better.

Comments

[page]

Fred,
I think that by keeping your title as the microcontent that it is, you actually give the user more information than by making your title a permalink. It sounds ironic I know.

When you had a permalink, the content and action of the link were in alignment. I knew exactly what that link was going to do.

By having your title as the permalink, many users might think they are going to an expanded version of the post.

Cheers

[scott partee]

I think no harm, no foul on the issue page brings up. I use Title as Permalink and like it. It's easier for "linkers" in that they don't have to hunt for a "permalink" link and, beyond that, most people don't know what a "permalink" is. If, as page asserts, that users will click looking for an expanded version, then they will get it (should one exist) and, if not, there's no problem (in my mind) if they don't.

I guess the only concern on that second issue would be that it keeps people from seeing your other posts, but you have a good navigation at the top of each page. If people can't figure that out, they probably weren't going to read any more posts on your blog anyway.

[page]

I received my Webmaster training back when 'Webmaster' was an actual job title .

But I don't think that Web site *usability* is any different now than it was in 1998. While the platforms have changed, people, and their need for hypertext conventions haven't.

I was always under the impression that a link should indicate by it's content, what it is or/and where it is going to go. Whether it be a blog, or personal or corporate Web site. For example, 'email this link" or "print this".

By combining the title with another function such as the 'permalink' of the post, I think that usability suffers to some degree.

One approach, however, would be to bring 'permalink' back but change the words to 'permanent link'

That would certainly be the most usable.

Cheers

[Beth]

So, you're not going to share the how to? Also, how did you hack typepad to create the "bookmark in delicious" link?

[Beth]

So, you're not going to share the how to? Also, how did you hack typepad to create the "bookmark in delicious" link?

[Beth]

So, you're not going to share the how to? Also, how did you hack typepad to create the "bookmark in delicious" link?

[john t unger]

Hi Fred,

I like the title as permalink concept, but I agree somewhat with Page that a lot of readers aren't going to notice it or figure out how to use it. Seems to me that if a large number of novice blog readers can't find or understand the concept of a permalink when it's labeled as such, they'll have even more trouble figuring out how to use the title as a link when it is NOT labeled...

I'd be inclined to use both: make the title a link and leave the permalink in the footer as well. That way you don't lose anyone who's expecting one convention over the other. And it doesn't seem like it adds much fluff.

I would love to see a post from you that explains how do the title as link hack. If you used TypePad's help ticket system, it wouldn't be hard to just cut and paste the instructions they gave you into a post. I recently did this with instructions on how to keep a permanent "intro" post at the top of my index page... I left in the entire correspondence, because I figured that it provided a clue as to where things went wrong at first and where they finally went right. Quite a few people seem to have founf the post interesting and stopped by to read it.

I'll be watching my RSS feed to see if you decide to enlighten us on this one.

And, BTW, thanks for all the great posts in general. I've been enjoying A VC quite a bit since I found it.

[Kevin Burton]

Hey Fred.

This helps with SEO as well.. Google boosts on URL/title matches.

Kevin