This post was written by Deb
5 Reasons You Should Write a List Post
I love lists. I love planning them, I love writing them and I especially love reading them. A lot of bloggers feel it’s too much work to come up with list posts from time to time, but I’m here to tell you it’s well worth the effort. Why should you use lists?
- Lists encourage conversation - Visit any list post, what do you see? Readers discussing and debating many of the points in each list. Lists are a great way to stimulate conversation. In fact, readers like to tell you what you left off your list and what items shouldn’t even be there. I also found that if I use an uneven number, say 17, over a more round number, my readers will want to keep adding to the list.
- List are great for traffic - A good list can go viral. Bloggers like to link to lists, Diggers and Stumblers like to vote on lists and people in general enjoy passing them on.
- Lists are fun to write - Researching points for a list is half the fun.
- Lists can cover a variety of topics in one fell swoop - One thing I like about lists is each point can be a micro blog on a topic. This comes in very handy when you want to touch on a certain point but can’t stretch it out enough for a longer post.
- Lists are scannable - People who read stuff on the web like to scan. They like content that is broken up using titles and subtitles and numbers and bullet points. Many prefer to only read the points they find interesting.
Why do you like writing or reading lists? Tell us in the comments.
Oh and speaking of lists, our first Network Blogging Tips group writing challenge will entail writing a list post. And yes. There will be a prize.
April 10, 2008 | Filed Under Blog Tips
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10 Responses to “5 Reasons You Should Write a List Post”
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Point 1 is true, you should have done a list of 10 things. Not 5! (the uneven number is a clever way of encouraging conversation).
I recently wrote about the same subject - and three days ago sold an article set up as a list. Funny.
http://backspace.blog.me.uk/top-ten
I tend to be a little skeptical of lists (even though I HAVE written one…), but number 5 is so right on! Considering that, I think that a list post is a good idea when used wisely.
For me, a list would be best used if I’m trying to instruct my readers. For example, if they want to know how to train more efficiently, I would compile a list.
This is just personal preference, but I would rather concentrate on writing content that forces people to read the whole thing - I think that’s just me wanting to improve myself, more than anything
I love lists. I always worry about others adding to my list, I feel maybe my list was not good enough to begin with. I never thought of looking at it from a positive, but now I’ll not worry about it so much:)
I love writing lists, mostly because of reason number four.
@Linette quit being so silly - you are a great blogger (better than great) no one would ever needs to add anything to your posts. Geez.
@Deb you should have linked to your amazing list post. Also, good post, you’re right about lists that spread. I will never in all my life forget Marye’s cookie post - ah, the good old days
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