To Joke or Not to Joke?

Not all lighthearted article responds to a joking title, People are peculiarly fussy and picky about when they’ll accept humor, and it is very risky and a gamble to use puns in a title. Obviously if the article is a serious piece, a joke should be avoided unless it’s executed in the vein of dark humor. Serious work demands a serious title.

However, an important rule of thumb is to be very careful about industries or groups in jokes. Consider for whom the article is intended. If it is aimed at a wider public audience, such as a newsletter or advertisement intended to bring people into a site for discussion or purchases, then an excellent inside joke would be misplaced. Not everyone understands the jargon, so it should be limited. On the other hand, a letter crafted specifically for professionals of the plumbing craft could easily get away with jokes about piping and other internally-recognized jokes. As with any online venture, the main goal is clearly to keep the audience first and foremost in mind when selecting a title, rather than simply hoping they'll "get" it.