One of the most engaging blog posts is by creating a best of list. Depending on the topic, everyone enjoys reading them since they’re concise and they know exactly what they’re getting into. A “list” of the most beautiful or wealthiest people, or listing the benefits of a new product, is a proven format of content.
The reason why they generate readership is because they can quickly skim and just read whatever section they’re interested in. Complicated issues can be broken down, to make the topic easier to understand.
The format is also flexible, this regardless of the subject of your niche. The lists can be short, long, images, videos, or just text. You can use them to accurately inform, entertain, or educate your readers.
So because of this, there are a growing number of content publishers, businesses, marketers, and bloggers who are exclusively creating “Top 10” or “The Best Of” lists.
There are a variety of ways to create them, and based on the level and topic of interest, most get high click rates. There are steps to follow, however, to make your lists be shared and be in demand.
Start With A Great Headline
Once you’ve decided on the topic, what you need is an emotion sucking descriptive yet capsulized headline which grabs the readers gonads. If your headline fails to describe the content, then your entire list fails, this regardless of how great it may be. So a strong award winning click worthy headline becomes vital.
Writing gag reflex headlines are extremely challenging. The best headlines are optimized for keyword search, yet appealing enough for social media. A great list can attract valuable links along with viral sharing, but is capsulized by the daring descriptive headline.
The subheadings, although not as critical, should quickly and precisely tell what the reader is getting into, what subject they should be expecting.
Choosing The Right Topic
The biggest struggle becomes coming up with the perfect topical trendy subject for your list post, which will stand out among the others. Some of the most successful begins with: The Top 10 Ways To” “Top 10 Tools For” or “10 Ways to Solve…” What you’re doing is offering a concise solution.
The best type of content instantly answers or solves a question or an issue. So what are the questions or queries that your customers or readers are asking, and then begin from there.
Make sure that you keep the tone of the posts light if at all possible. With a top 10 list post, you can usually inject humor since most usually aren’t looking for a serious detailed article. They’re usually just looking for a quick easy solution.
Organizing Your List
If you don’t need to write down steps in sequence from 1 to 10, which needs to be described and learned in order, then you have the freedom of deciding which points goes first, mid, and last.
Always place your strongest or most daring points first. The reason being that most will skim when reading lists, so what you want is to catch their attention immediately, and keep them glued on your page for as long as possible.
Also avoid creating a sub-list that’s built into the original list, especially if they’re numbered. The reason being that your readers could easily read and then think, “Why am I reading number 4 again?” Doing so can get confusing and make your post look unorganized.
Proper Formatting
Make sure that you make your subheadings relevant, which increases readability. If possible, the sub-headline should have its own line and in bold format. The font should be slightly larger than the article body. This gives more emphasis on your points, while guiding the reader through sections that they’re interested in.
The List Is Your Article
What you need to do is begin your list immediately, right after your descriptive title, making it the highlight of your content. Avoid burying your list under a long winded introduction.
Or keep your introduction short so that the reader begins reading the list, this provided that the list is the main focus of the article. Realize that everyone online has a short attention span, so you need to capture and grasp them immediately.
The Use Of Images
To quickly engage your reader, what’s recommended is using images along with a video or two, as they’re the easiest to comprehend. The most successful “list” blogs will use large engaging relevant photos with less text.
Your images should by directly tied in tight with the topic, even if it’s a metaphor. Avoid using random images which doesn’t or won’t illustrate the subject or theme of your list.
Be Consistent And Opinionated
The more consistent that you are, the easier the posts are to follow. So keeping it flowing becomes a necessity. This will also make it easier for your readers to know exactly what to expect.
Every successful Top 10 list should offer an opinion, since everyone seems to have one. The list should create a bit of controversy and then provide conversation in your comments, especially once the readers begin disagreeing with the rankings, or if the topic hits a nerve.
Make Sure That You Edit
Once you’re finished with the “Top 10” post, make sure that you edit for grammar and spelling mistakes. Check to make sure that there are no factual errors, and make sure that the post adheres to the style guidelines.
If you don’t have an editor, ask someone to reread and review your post before publishing the content live. What just one mistake can do is hurt your reputation, and can be an immediate turnoff for your readers or customers.
Creating The “List” Post
Compiling lists are usually easier than writing a long winded article, while being a lot more easier to comprehend. The list becomes your article. Just make sure that you have a great topic which is relevant and concerning, and then the clicks and sharing will come.