Today, I found out that Times Of India uses URL tagging in their news stories. In plain-speak, it means they add keywords in the news URLs to bait readers. Consider this URL:
This is Chetan Bhagat’s article explaining his comments praising Narendra Modi. The words after 29468641_1_ in the URL are keywords to bait readers: Modi, Sanjiv Bhatt. Anything typed after 29468641_1_ points to the same article. Try pasting this URL in your browser:
Going forward, when you share links to ToI news stories, use this feature well. Another example: This link
can be shared as:
and so on. Have fun!
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8 comments
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April 25, 2011 at 10:39 pm
abhijeet
It is not baiting.
THis is a part of SEO techniques.
Learn SEO here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SEO
April 25, 2011 at 10:42 pm
iyerdeepak
I know what SEO is. But giving it a fancy acronym does not take away what it really is
April 26, 2011 at 5:38 pm
i_r_squared
Just curious – were you inspired by this recent tale to check if this worked on the ToI website too? Or did you just happen to invent the wheel at the same time?
April 26, 2011 at 5:41 pm
iyerdeepak
I definitely noticed it because I read a recent Techcrunch post on the Daily Mail incident:
http://techcrunch.com/2011/04/19/libellous-urls-are-hilarious-except-that-one-time-i-nearly-went-to-jail/
No wheel invention here
April 27, 2011 at 7:35 pm
Gulagulaananda
hahaha good one
July 18, 2011 at 1:51 am
vidya
if one wants to write to Mr.Chetan Bhagat or comments on his writings in TOI what is the way to do it?
Vidya,Pune.
July 18, 2011 at 1:52 am
Deepak
Write to him on Twitter and hope he replies back.
July 18, 2011 at 2:00 am
vidya
Mr.Chetan Bhagat,
Till now i have gone through many writings,but your article on last saturday contributing to transform me a bit since it comes from a well-read person,i have been facing this emotional crisis in my life over the years and i couldn’t understand the reasons why i can’t be happy or stress free or live with relax frame of mind like the male family members of the family or counterparts from other countries.your writing made me to know and realize it,and i felt once i know the reasons i can do better.if i can also change someone’s life by making them realize such aspect or it should be will be truly spiritually and satisfying experience.i express my gratitude to you and to your parents who gave you this education or values.