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10 reasons why 'Top List' posts are great to read and write
There are a lot of opinions whether ‘top list’ post are good or evil and even a top list with tips how to write good ‘top lists’ and other posts are claiming that this trend is dying.
Whatever the case, I love to write and read in this style. And here are my reasons why.
1.Easy to write
If you have already the list completed in your head, you can finish the whole post rather quickly. And if necessary ‘pimp’ it up with images and links afterwards.
Examples:
- This post
2.Fast to read
I visit and stumble upon a lot of different blogs. Or read via my reader. I found out that I only ‘really’ read the fast paced posts. Most of the time these are ‘top list’ post. And I hop on to the other blogs or posts: Too much to read, too little time!
Examples:
3.Twisted
When you’re about to run out of imagination or you find out that the list you were preparing already has been posted on another blog, why not use a twisted version of your original list!
Examples:
4.Catchy
These list tend to be more catchy than regular headlines anyway, but you can easily exaggerate and use superlatives to make it even more catchy. Or even intriguing. Although the actual content of the post may very well be very disappointing after all.
Examples:
- 10 Great Website Designs Using WordPress As CMS vs Using WordPress as CMS
- 10 WTF Sites That Will Warp Your Mind
- 13 Stupid Ideas That Made Millions of Dollars!
5.Provoking
Some stuff is simply ‘holy’ to some people or communities. Sometimes a controversial look on a subject can be very provoking, but could also lead to a great posts or a lot of comments.
Examples:
- Top 10 ‘Apple Suck’ images
- Top 5 Reasons WordPress.Com Blogs Suck
- Ten reasons why CSS sucks
- UPDATE: 10 reasons why ‘Batman: The Dark Knight’ is the most overrated movie of 2008!
6.Commentable
Unlike some regular post these ‘top list’ post are very inviting to leave a comment; you can (dis)agree with some point of the list, suggest more additions or even thank the author for adding your site/post to the list!
Examples:
- The 100 most funny and unusual 404 error pages
- 49 Most downloaded WordPress themes of all time
- 30 Questions My Girlfriend Asked Me About Star Wars
7.Extendable
A simple and ‘cheap’ Hollywood trick: Why not continue with more of the same, when a post was a success? Why not write sequel? Prequel? Or a even a reboot?
Example:
- 130 WordPress Plugins You Could Ever Need: The Best Of : Part 1
- 130 WordPress Plugins You Could Ever Need: The Best Of : Part 2
8.Relatable
If you can make op a ‘top list’ about one subject, nothing stops you doing that for another related subject. And another. And yet another.
Examples:
9.Gimmickable
The best thing maybe just that these lists don’t have to be serious at all. You can make the whole list or points on the list as gimmicky and funny as desired. Who’s stopping you from being funny, sarcastic or a plain idiot? No one!
Examples:
10.Imaginable
In fact the only restriction to these list is your imagination: You can think of as many list as you wish and even as many tips within these lists as you can think of. You could even make these ‘top list’ post the whole concept of your blog.
Examples:
PS: Follow up post coming soon: 10 reasons why ‘Top List posts’ suck to read and write
UPDATE: A great post related to this topic can be found at Skelliewag: How Not to Sell-Out