If that is a screenshot of the experiment you were running, you just wasted $70. None of those differences is statistically better than the other one.
If you got benefit out of being #2 on HN, good for you, just say so.
Use Adwords to find the best title for your Hacker News post
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Re: Use Adwords to find the best title for your Hacker News post
#22I love this idea, very clever. A small spend can indicate a good option to you, and the traffic HN can generate is well worth it. The spend isn't even a complete waste of money either, it's still pulling in a few new visitors during the test. Very smart!
Thanks!
I was hoping it might be helpful to other people launching their startup. If you're already running Adwords, then that's a great place to start looking for guidance about how to market your product in a single sentence.
Re: Use Adwords to find the best title for your Hacker News post
#23An article about gaming Hacker News is now the top post on Hacker News. I don't think that is a good sign.
He is not so much gaming HN but rather HN readers.
Re: Use Adwords to find the best title for your Hacker News post
#24If that is a screenshot of the experiment you were running, you just wasted $70. None of those differences is statistically better than the other one. If you got benefit out of being #2 on HN, good for you, just say so.
I think there’s real value in that it lets you think or other candidate titles which I would have originally dismissed as too simplistic or too boring. I'm not always going to pick the top one, but some degree of confidence and guidance about what resonates with people is better than nothing!
Also there were a lot of other titles with far lower results than are visible in those screenshots.
Re: Use Adwords to find the best title for your Hacker News post
#25can't find the thread but i remember we sort of "agree" (lack of better word) to help upvote Show HNs at least to give credit to those who ship. i think if a submission (1) has Show HN (2) and really showing your newly launched product, it deserves an upvote
Re: Use Adwords to find the best title for your Hacker News post
#26I like this - people are more likely to click on things similar to thinks people are more likely to click on.
Its almost trivial and obvious... but not.
The only problem is running ads is an investment of its own...
Re: Use Adwords to find the best title for your Hacker News post
#27You learned one of the basic rules of writing good headlines. Don't overstate it. Always get to the point. Quick!
Your first one was really bad.
Show HN: ChargeBack.cc – Battling the last frontier in payments
It has a Star Trek reference, and no mention of what is it that you do. Bad headline. Good for learning.
The next one is worse.
Show HN: ChargeBack.cc – an innovative solution to a messy problem
A messy problem? You know what products relate to messy problems? Diapers, toilet paper, tampons, etc. Really bad headline. Its actually quite funny, though.
The final headline is perfect. Not because of Adwords, but due to the fact that you just gave up on trying to be clever (which is the worst thing you can do on copywriting), and were just honest and straight to the point.
Show HN: ChargeBack.cc – Get your money back
Lets break it down:
Show HN: - Addressing your audience directly.
Chargeback.cc - Mentioning the product in the headline.
Get your money back - Clearly stating what pain it aims to ease.
Using adwords for writing headlines is clever, but not smart. Because you dont know how effective those ads are (probably not very), and which market it aims to sell to. You are better off reading a good copywriting book.
Re: Use Adwords to find the best title for your Hacker News post
#28Re: Use Adwords to find the best title for your Hacker News post
#29You just invented A/B testing. Congratulations.
Re: Use Adwords to find the best title for your Hacker News post
#30If that is a screenshot of the experiment you were running, you just wasted $70. None of those differences is statistically better than the other one. If you got benefit out of being #2 on HN, good for you, just say so.
I think there’s real value in that it lets you think or other candidate titles which I would have originally dismissed as too simplistic or too boring. I'm not always going to pick the top one, but some degree of confidence and guidance about what resonates with people is better than nothing! Also there were a lot of other titles with far lower results than are visible in those screenshots.
I believe he's saying you didn't gather enough data, which was my first impression.
I have also done this for years (not for titles on HN though -- good one), it's just that isn't enough data to really tell.