This is Day 2 of 31 Days to Build a Better Blog, a group project 50+ other bloggers are doing together in an effort to help each other become better bloggers. You can read more about it and still sign-up to participate here.
What an awesome first day we had in this series yesterday. I am blown away! To see my observations from yesterday check out 6 Things I Learned from Day 1 of #31DBBB.
Today’s lesson is about the list posts. If you’ve been reading blogs for any length of time, you know list posts are very popular. In fact, we have done our fair share of list posts here at Christian Web Trends. Here are some examples…
Top 5 List Posts on Christian Web Trends
- 20 Ways to Share Your Faith Online
- Top 10 Signs Your Church Website Needs a Redesign –
- The 10 Commandments of Social Networking
- 12 Ways to Ensure Easter Attendees Don’t Come Back to Your Church Next Week
- 10 Things I Learned from the Online Church Blog Series
The lesson gives several reasons list posts are so popular. They are easy to write. They’re easy to read. They break the main point up into clearly identifiable bite-size nuggets. In fact, you could make the case that list posts are the Chicken Nuggets of blogging. (Would you like some dipping sauce with that?)
Personally, I have my own theory for why list posts are so popular…
Geeks like numbers.
But that’s just one number-loving geek’s theory. (Full discloser: I was on the math team in high school)
Assignment
The assignment for today is to write a list post for your blog. If you’d like some more advice about writing list posts, check out 10 Steps to the Perfect List Post
Discussion
- Do you agree that list posts are both easier to write and easier to read? Why or why not?
- Of all the tips you’ve read about list posts, which do you think are the most important?
- If you did the assignment and wrote a list post, include a link your comment.
The Extra Mile
A few other things you can do to take your blog, other bloggers, and this project even further today…
- Reply & give other bloggers feedback on their list post
- Go back to 31DBBB – Day 1: The Elevator Pitch & check out the elevator pitches.
- Tweet, share, & bookmark this post. (You could win a $25 gift card!)
- Ask & answer questions about blogging but unrelated to elevator pitches in the forums.
303 Comments
I agree that list posts are easier to write and read. They are short and to the point. There are also lots of fun things you can do with lists, beyond giving information and instructions.
I think one of the best tips for writing list posts is to get focused, brainstorm, and then pick only the BEST items for your list.
I wrote a list post. It's going up on my blog on Thursday, May 6, 2010. Here's the link:http://wp.me/pG2Wu-cX
~Jennifer
Hmmm… your link seems to be broken. Can you try to re-post?
It's scheduled to post on Thursday at midnight CDT. The link should work then. If not, please let me know!
Thanks,
Jennifer
Okay, my list post is now LIVE! (And it's already gotten a RT on Twitter! So exciting.)
Jennifer
I agree that list posts are easier to write and read. They are short and to the point. There are also lots of fun things you can do with lists, beyond giving information and instructions.
I think one of the best tips for writing list posts is to get focused, brainstorm, and then pick only the BEST items for your list.
I wrote a list post. It's going up on my blog on Thursday, May 6, 2010. Here's the link:http://wp.me/pG2Wu-cX
~Jennifer
Sorry I am late to the party today, my job is once again getting in the way of effective blogging…here is my list post: 6 Lessons from the "Real World" Pastor--http://bit.ly/apuBKN
I dropped in and read your post. That's a great list – succinct, informative, well written, engaging, and (unfortunately) so true.
Interesting post and perspective.
I've long been a world worker and unless God asks it of me being a full time church worker is not on my cards thankfully. However, one of my pet ideas is to somehow get my pastor back into the real world once every 5yrs for 6mths or a year. Make them realise (again) that the world doesn't revolve around church.
Interesting post and perspective.
I've long been a world worker and unless God asks it of me being a full time church worker is not on my cards thankfully. However, one of my pet ideas is to somehow get my pastor back into the real world once every 5yrs for 6mths or a year. Make them realise (again) that the world doesn't revolve around church.
would love to see that…I work at Starbucks and unfortunately I see my fair share of pastors who think they are being "in the world" just because they bring their laptop and Bible into the store to work on their message for Sunday. They are often rude, non-engaging from a conversation standpoint, and appear to be clueless to the needs/hurts of the person sitting right next to them…the really sad thing is I can spot him because I used to be him!
Read the list. Good idea. I would've liked to see you try to turn the "negatives" into "positive" suggestions for "real" Christians. The tone seemed a little harsh (maybe you meant to come across that way?).
oops…the link is not working...www.nolanbobbitt.com
I got an error on both of the above links so I cut and pasted this from my visit so others could go straight to the post. http://www.nolanbobbitt.com/welcome_to_nolans_wor…
Great insight and a great list post.
I got an error on both of the above links so I cut and pasted this from my visit so others could go straight to the post. http://www.nolanbobbitt.com/welcome_to_nolans_wor…
Great insight and a great list post.
hahaha. Get your priorities straight! Agreed to all points on your list. Blessings
Great word man! Been 3 years since I got fired from my church job.. I've missed it some, but working back in the "real world" has taught me many of the same lessons as you have learned..
Wasn't as hard as I thought it would be. Today I wrote about why your 20s are the most foundational years in your life..
http://tinyurl.com/2679jx5
Okay, my list post is up athttp://cindyinsd.wordpress.com/2010/05/04/think-o… . Based on Php 4: 4-9. Now I'm going to go spend some time with my sweetie, but I'll be back later and check out some of the other posts up here.
It was easier to do this than I expected, and I'll be interested to see whether you think it clarifies the scripture I used or takes away from it.
Blessings, Cindy
I really like your list post Cindy
I like the way you did this list post. It is an excellent way of sharing scripture. It think it does help clarify.
Thanks, Rob! 🙂
Like the others I loved it too.
Comes out as a mini-Bible study in list format. Good stuff.
The first time I went through 31DBBB, my list post became far and away my most successful (and controversial) post. It is "14 Reasons to Stop Evangelizing Your Friends," and I was surprised at the response. Radio shows criticized it! I was amazed to see how a short post, with almost no explanations, could take off.
This is my second time through 31DBBB, and I am cheating a bit because I actually spent weeks wracking my brains to come up with another list. I ended up with a piece of satire. After writing it, I wasn't sure if I wanted to go ahead with it, wondering if it's too strident, and whether responses will just tire me out. When I posed this question on Facebook, my friends (without having read it) said to go for it. So here goes nothing.
http://www.blogoneanother.com/2010/05/the-six-dea…
"Things to Decide Before Starting A Blog"http://tijuanabecky.wordpress.com/2010/05/04/thin…
For me list posts are easier to read. Especially if the post is about things that could be bullet points or numbered.
The lists I think are most important are – scannable, neat, and breaks down what's complicated.
Becky,
Thank you for your visit and comment at my blog on thankfulness. I noticed you also devoted a whole day and a special list of people you wanted to thank. Very nicely done. Hope we all grow through this process of learning how to build a better blog. It will be great to see how our blogs progress through the exercise.
Blessings,
Janis
Great list there Becky and one that can so easily be used to launch into a series of posts expanding on the topics.
It may just be the theme you use but it all seemed rather cramped to my eye. Still, that didn't detract from the content.
"Things to Decide Before Starting A Blog"http://tijuanabecky.wordpress.com/2010/05/04/thin…
For me list posts are easier to read. Especially if the post is about things that could be bullet points or numbered.
The lists I think are most important are – scannable, neat, and breaks down what's complicated.
My blog – Is There An App For That? – deals with Tech's Role In Christian Formation. I have recently been advising churches about ChMS (Church Management Systems)
My post ended up containing 2 lists: one list for selection criteria and the other a list for recommendations. http://jerryfultz.wordpress.com/2010/05/04/buildi…
This was the easiest post I have ever written. I've never thought about writing a list post before. Looks like a great way to overcome writer's block while still adding value to readers.
My blog – Is There An App For That? – deals with Tech's Role In Christian Formation. I have recently been advising churches about ChMS (Church Management Systems)
My post ended up containing 2 lists: one list for selection criteria and the other a list for recommendations. http://jerryfultz.wordpress.com/2010/05/04/buildi…
This was the easiest post I have ever written. I've never thought about writing a list post before. Looks like a great way to overcome writer's block while still adding value to readers.