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
It'll be interesting to see what that list does to your traffic. It was a good read!
But no mention of floods or oil spills or volcanoes? 😛
Good list! I like the way you used a "catch phrase" in bold font and then explained it in a sentence or two. Good format. And helpful content as well. I may need to add you to my (almost) daily reads.
Wow – a lot of really great information!
My suggestion is that the actual list of 5 simple tools occupies only a very small portion of the overall post. Do you think it would be better if you broke this post up into several smaller posts? Or maybe find a way to visually set the actual list of 5 simple tools apart from the rest of the post. That way, scanners like myself can quickly find it.
But again, there's great information in this post. Thank you.
I have to agree. As I read through your list, 1 and 2 resonated with me, but I wondered what you meant by 3. I have several guesses, but I'd love to know more about what you're thinking when you say "structure." Also, you mention that you might follow through with a future post elaborating on these list items, and I think that's a good idea. Your list made me want to read more about what you're thinking.
Hey List post! I think my lists are bit wordier than the book recommended but… http://justapen.wordpress.com/2010/05/04/three-ob…
39 Times When I am Prone to Fall to My Flesh
http://preparation4eternity.blogspot.com/2010/05/…
6 comments in light of today's assignment:
1. I wrote my list post.
2. Though it isn't my favorite "style" of writing, I do think it is somewhat easier to develop.
3. In light of my elevator pitch, it helped me hone in on my purpose.
4. I do think this technological, fast-paced world connects with this style of blogging.
5. I will remember to incorporate lists in my posts.
6. I would love your feedback on my post http://unrehearsedadventure.blogspot.com/2010/05/…
Happy listing.
6 comments in light of today's assignment:
1. I wrote my list post.
2. Though it isn't my favorite "style" of writing, I do think it is somewhat easier to develop.
3. In light of my elevator pitch, it helped me hone in on my purpose.
4. I do think this technological, fast-paced world connects with this style of blogging.
5. I will remember to incorporate lists in my posts.
6. I would love your feedback on my post http://unrehearsedadventure.blogspot.com/2010/05/…
Happy listing.
I did a list post as my comment on today's assignment. Do I get extra credit too???
Yeah I agree with the crispone on this one. It's a great list, and I think it's awesome to make a summary post of your other work as a sort of "table of contents" page, but it would be even better if you added a quick blurb or intro on every link, so that someone who was new to your site would have a bit more information going in.