What gets you to click on a post?

"slipperysallylikespenguins" (slipperysally) 02/21/2020 at 13:49 • Filed to: None

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I thought this would be an interesting question that could be potentially helpful to those on Oppo who are looking for more clicks/views/community engagement.

These are the things I look for.

- A n informative title. If there is no information in the title for what I’m about to read, I’m not going to click it.

-Pictures. If a post has no picture associated with it I’m not clicking on it. I browse Oppo primarily on a PC. I click on a photo and drag it to a new tab, which you can’t do with the title. No picture, no drag and drop, no view .

-Is it a video post? Most video posts have no words in their post to accompany their video. And many(not all) of the Youtube video posters don’t engage in the comments at all. I generally avoid all video posts now.

-Authors. There are certain authors who reliably post interesting content or live in the same geographic region as me. They almost always get my clicks.

-Series posts. Posts that are part of an ongoing series like the regular Aviation History posts, JRITS, and Far Side Friday.

What kind of things do you look for before clicking on a post?

What turns you away from clicking on a post?

Sometimes though I’m just really bored and will click on anything.

CalzoneGolem > slipperysallylikespenguins 02/21/2020 at 13:56

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Usually I use my right hand even though I am left handed.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > slipperysallylikespenguins 02/21/2020 at 13:58

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Unrelated to anything but the pic (which is a part of why I clicked, so on topic after all?), is driving a shoe down the street a form of loafing?

slipperysallylikespenguins > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht 02/21/2020 at 13:59

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As it is a pretty useless form of transportation, I would venture to say yes.

This would be too.

gin-san - shitpost specialist > slipperysallylikespenguins 02/21/2020 at 14:00

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I haven’t thought about this in depth, all I know is I click on most posts out of boredom at work, or to see what Oppo’s been posting throughout the day after I get home and I’m winding down.

I tend to enjoy shitposts, people working on their project cars, dog/cat posts, etc.

Now that I think about it, it’s probably music posts that I don’t comment on frequently. Sometimes I’ll take a quick listen and whether or not I enjoyed it, I have nothing to really say about it so I won’t comment.

Other than that, I’m a shitposter so I just click on anything and comment if I have something fun to add.

JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t > slipperysallylikespenguins 02/21/2020 at 14:01

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previousoppopostrefferenceintensifies

Salvatore Ganacci videos for one...

I mean check this shit out:

W.

T.

F.

but, like seriously, cars or posters or events or music or videos I’m interested in. I like to click stuff and learn stuff. I like JRITS and Aviation History posts (thanks Ttyymmnn and Urambo Tauro for continuing to post these features!)

I can’t really narrow it down more than that... though I can tell you I DON’T click on BMW things, because I can’t be arsed to give a fuck about BMWs that have four wheels.

MonkeePuzzle > slipperysallylikespenguins 02/21/2020 at 14:01

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“beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeewwwwwwwwwwwbs” ~ Honest Trailers Voice Guy

OPPOsaurus WRX > slipperysallylikespenguins 02/21/2020 at 14:01

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All roads

KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time > slipperysallylikespenguins 02/21/2020 at 14:02

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Clickbait titles, shitpost title or tag, [Politics] tag, “Hot take” or “unpopular opinion” in title,  This Date in Aviation History.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > slipperysallylikespenguins 02/21/2020 at 14:02

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HURR HURR LOAFER PUN HURR.

^the above is related to my compulsive goofy reply problem, which is one big reason I click on posts. If I have a goofy reply to something about the picture or headline fulminating in my brain...

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > slipperysallylikespenguins 02/21/2020 at 14:08

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What you don’t read my police blotter posts? I’m calling that in.

slipperysallylikespenguins > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever 02/21/2020 at 14:12

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I always read the blotter but somehow forgot it existed when making this post even though you posted just this morning. I used to live in the Yaak area and still have a lot of family around Missoula, so it’s pretty fun to see the ridiculous things people call in.

phenotyp > slipperysallylikespenguins 02/21/2020 at 14:17

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I read pretty much every Oppo post. It’s been some big ups and downs over the years. There are people who contribute, who make this place good, who comment on the things that people plaintively post when things are going bad for them, and that’s a super-tough thing that makes this community the the best place we all have. We’ve mostly just been a supportive community. There have been so many people who’ve turned to us, here, when they needed a bit of help. And we’ve always been here to help.

I assume best-faith for whatever anyone posts, because I assume that when I do , y’all know it’s done in best faith.

Chariotoflove > slipperysallylikespenguins 02/21/2020 at 14:18

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I will click on posts of videos if they have a title, but I’ll tell young thing that makes me leave a post without continuing.  That’s the video not available screen.  Many vids won’t let you view them embedded, and you have to click out to YouTube to whatever  to see them.  Nope, not happening.  Conversely, when I post a video, I go to great lengths to find a version of a clip that won’t do that to viewers.  You can’t tell which ones will until you post and then click back on it from the main page, so I spend a good deal of time editing until I find one without the offending behavior.

i86hotdogs > slipperysallylikespenguins 02/21/2020 at 14:21

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“FREE BEER!! My take on why the Transit Connect is the greatest vehicle of the 21st century”

Pickup_man > slipperysallylikespenguins 02/21/2020 at 14:22

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I generally click on anything that’s pickup related or motorcycle related on Oppo, even though I don’t always comment. Beyond that an interesting picture, and/or a well worded and informative title gets me in. Those two things give me a good idea of what I’m going into and whether or not it’s relevant to my interests. 

Urambo Tauro > slipperysallylikespenguins 02/21/2020 at 14:25

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Oppo has too many posts per day IMO. I have to be selective about what I click on. It pains me to miss out on an interesting post, but when shitposts keep pushing the good stuff off of the front page (of Oppo), I can only bring myself to keep clicking the “more stories” button so many times. Some days I just give up on trying to catch up on all the new posts since my last visit. Main blog sites are much easier to stay on top of, usually filling about two pages worth of postings on their front pages .

Part of the problem is that Kinja’s ordering system is so strictly chronological. It would be nice if there was a way to sort them by popularity, or to temporarily “sticky” the best posts of the day to the top of the page via a skybox or something. The “Popular from Oppositelock” sidebar doesn’t always coincide with my interests, and it only highlights three posts at a time anyway.

Despite being originally formed as an “off-topic” blog, I always gravitate towards the car-related posts. Especially (but not limited to) wrenching, dashcam, and autonomy stuff.

Future Heap Owner > slipperysallylikespenguins 02/21/2020 at 14:27

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A preview of the post’s body text.

slipperysallylikespenguins > Urambo Tauro 02/21/2020 at 14:31

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Often the shitposts get the most clicks so a popularity category may not help. This might t hough:

https://oppositeblog.kinja.com/

slipperysallylikespenguins > Chariotoflove 02/21/2020 at 14:34

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I’ve never really thought about if videos will load or not, they usually do for me. I’ll usually click to play on Youtube though so I can save it for later if it looks appealing.

slipperysallylikespenguins > Future Heap Owner 02/21/2020 at 14:35

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That was one of the best things they took away from us.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > Future Heap Owner 02/21/2020 at 14:42

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Yes, this has absolutely killed traffic.

Nom De Plume > JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t 02/21/2020 at 14:42

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I’m grateful to be recognized for my significant contributions to the cultural and artistic health of Oppositelock. Having received a nod, I’ll restrict these to quarterly or nearly so.

H eavily concur about pushing the journalizatio n of pets, vehicle posedowns, and all other manner of preening nonsense undeserving of near hourly updates during peak viewing hours to personal blogs . Enough with the pleas for online heavy petting.

jimz > slipperysallylikespenguins 02/21/2020 at 14:50

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An interesting title works, as does the photo (for example, someone driving a large shoe.)

“I’m bored, AMA,” “here’s what I just ate,” and “hour rule” posts are usually an automatic “skip.”

Nom De Plume > Urambo Tauro 02/21/2020 at 14:52

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Oppo has too many posts per day IMO.

The multiple daylight/business day Hour Rules blatantly state a different set of facts than you are presenting. :P

Don’t get this wrong, I can see through the memememememememe’s and the meme’s and even just the plaintive me’s to the person within. It’s the middle of Winter for all but the Aussie’s. Hardly prime top down vacationing and sunny thoughts weather. 

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > slipperysallylikespenguins 02/21/2020 at 14:53

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Used to live in the Yaak area, well you have Montana street cred now. I was born and raised in Arlee, can’t get much smaller than that unless you go to the Yaak. 

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > Future Heap Owner 02/21/2020 at 15:00

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Came here to say that. Of all the bad Kinja changes over the years, that was the worst 

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > slipperysallylikespenguins 02/21/2020 at 15:21

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I pretty much click most posts that seem to have something not arbitrary or obvious to share. And I comment if I have something interesting to add. However, sometimes I wonder how I get no clicks in prime time. For example, this post

https://oppositelock.kinja.com/lets-go-carspotting-in-the-past-part-five-1841193188

got 100 views at 3:30 est. Clearly usename recognition plays a large part. Names like Zoidberg, Rusty Vandura, and many others usually have a style of title that makes their identity present without looking at the author. Noobs like me do not, so we get less clicks.

gin-san - shitpost specialist > Urambo Tauro 02/21/2020 at 15:25

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when shitposts keep pushing the good stuff off of the front page (of Oppo), I can only bring myself to keep clicking the “more stories” button so many times

*glances at my username*

yeah I definitely contribute to that

gin-san - shitpost specialist > phenotyp 02/21/2020 at 15:33

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That’s it - I may not always have something to say in every post or even be interested in every post but I like the variety in the community we have here. We here all share a common love of cars and engines and stuff like that - I think that’s a given. It’s cool to see the other hobbies and stuff going on, which is why I so frequently post food & drink related stuff. Others are building PCs, buying houses, or maybe dealing with personal stuff.

Even though we’re all gearheads, we can’t forget that Oppo began as an off-topic forum, which is something I really enjoy about this place. 

Chariotoflove > slipperysallylikespenguins 02/21/2020 at 15:48

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Different attention spans, I think.

slipperysallylikespenguins > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever 02/21/2020 at 16:11

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I have an aunt with a little sheep ranch near Arlee and a cousin in Polson so I try to make it out there every couple years and then swing through Glacier.

phenotyp > gin-san - shitpost specialist 02/21/2020 at 16:24

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Exactly. 

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > slipperysallylikespenguins 02/21/2020 at 16:31

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What’s your aunts name, I probably know the family.

slipperysallylikespenguins > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever 02/21/2020 at 16:38

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Kelly Ford/Hames.

I think they have been out there about 20 years or so.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > slipperysallylikespenguins 02/21/2020 at 16:41

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Nope. Do urghty is the only sheep farming family I know there. 

slipperysallylikespenguins > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever 02/21/2020 at 16:47

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It’s more of a hobby farm, the most they’ve had at any one time is about 150 head. And a bunch of llamas.