How to Put Together a List Post That Readers Will Love

Posted: 28 Oct 2013 05:30 AM PDT

Although there are some dangerous myths about list posts out there, and some easily preventable mistakes you should avoid, the list format can work very well for you – and for your readers.

The list format is hugely versatile. It's used a lot by magazines, and by huge sites like BuzzFeed. If you take a look at any major blog's list of popular posts, you'll find that a large number of them are lists (take a look at the "Popular Articles" list in the right-hand sidebar of DailyBlogTips for an example).

Here's how to create a list post that's sure to be a hit with your readers.

Step #1: Choose a Popular Topic

There's no point writing a list on something your readers don't really care about. Select a topic that you know will go down well. Maybe your list could address a question that readers frequently ask in the comments, for instance.

Tip: For some instant ideas, see the Easy Lists You Can Write section later in this post.

Step #2: Gather Ideas for Your List

Don't just rush through a list of the first ideas that come into your head. Take the time to come up with a great idea for every item on your list. A good way to do this is with a mindmap: put your post title or topic in the centre and write all your ideas around the outside.

Tip: If you want ten items on your list, come up with twelve or thirteen – then get rid of the weaker ones.

Step #3: Organise Your List

Some lists posts will have a natural structure, but many won't. Some bloggers simply use their list ideas in whatever order they occurred … but it's better to have a clear structure. For instance, you could order your list from the easiest idea to the hardest.

Tip: Alphabetical order works well if there's no other obvious way to order your items.

Step #4: Write the Post

Once you've come up with your items and put them in order, it's time to write your post. You might find this is the easiest part! Try to keep each segment of your list roughly the same length (e.g. one sentence or one paragraph). Don't forget the introduction and conclusion.

Tip: If you feel your motivation flagging, challenge yourself to write just two more items on the list.

Step #5: Add Formatting

A badly formatted list post will be hard to read, and may lose readers' attention. Make sure your hard work pays off by having a list that looks great. This means using subheadings for your list items, ensuring that your numbering is consistent, and perhaps adding images, bold text, or bullet points.

Tip: Always preview your post to double-check the formatting. You might spot mistakes that you didn't see when you were drafting.

Seven Lists You Can Write (Plus Examples)

Stuck for an idea? Here are seven lists that are very likely to be popular with your readers … just fill in the blanks! You can switch the numbers around to suit you.

Top Ten Blogs for / on [BLANK] – e.g. Top 10 Blogs for Writers 2012 – The Winners
Five Simple Ways to [BLANK] – e.g. Five Simple Ways to Add Value to Your Content
The Seven Biggest Mistakes [BLANK] Make – e.g. The Five Biggest Mistakes That Bloggers Make
Ten [BLANK] Lessons From [BLANK] – e.g. 9 Persuasion Lessons from a 4-Year-Old
Eight [BLANK] Tools – e.g. 13 Handy Content Marketing Tools
Six Reasons You Should [BLANK] – e.g. 4 Reasons You Should Consider Crowdsourced Design for Your Next Big Project
The [BLANK] Checklist – e.g. The Blog post Checklist: Use Before Hitting "Publish"

Good luck with your list posting! If you've got a question about list posts, or if you've got a great tip to share, let us know in the comments.

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Managing Your Blogging Time When Family and Friends Don’t Understand - DailyBlogTips

Managing Your Blogging Time When Family and Friends Don’t Understand

Posted: 25 Oct 2013 07:40 AM PDT

In the DailyBlogTips survey, one reader wrote, "It is difficult to deal with friends and family and to make them understand that I have working hours even though I work from home."

Is this a problem you have too?

It's one that a lot of bloggers face, especially in the early stages of their blogging career.

If you don't tackle this, it can be enough to stop you blogging altogether.

Not Everyone Will "Get" It

Some people in your life simply won't understand why you want to blog – at least, not straight away.

They might not see it as a legitimate way to build and run your own business.

They might think that regular employment is better or easier.

They might even be a bit envious of your ambition and dedication.

Even when people have a vague understanding, they might not realise how much time you'll need to invest in building a successful blog. Perhaps they think your blog is just an online diary where you write about your day – not the foundation of a business.

So one of the best things you can do is…

Treat Your Blog as a Business

If you don't take your blogging seriously, you can't expect other people to. Ideally, you should:

Stick to your working hours. If you say you're going to be busy blogging from 9am til 12 noon, work! Don't stop at 9.30am and watch daytime TV.
Be business-like. For instance, if you intend to make money from your blog, have a clear plan about how you're going to do that.
Track important metrics, such as cashflow. Once your blog starts making money, track how much you're getting month after month. You can show this to family and friends to explain how your blog is growing.

When the people around you see that blogging is more than a passing whim, they'll be much more likely to take it seriously.

Quick Fixes

If you're really struggling to get people to respect your time, try these:

Get out of the house to blog. Your spouse / roomie / mom can't bother you if you're in a coffee shop writing.
Go in a different room. If you can't escape the house, at least find a quiet corner – perhaps working in your bedroom rather than in the living room.
Wear headphones. People are much less likely to interrupt for a chat if you've got headphones on. (You can even crank the music up so loud that you can't hear them if they do!)
Work in short bursts. You don't need to blog all evening, every evening. How about working on a post from 6pm – 7pm then having dinner and watching a bit of TV with your partner, before doing another quick burst of work from 9pm – 9.30pm?

Do you struggle to get people to respect your working hours – or is this a problem you've successfully overcome? Let us know your experiences in the comments!

Wanna learn how to make more money with your website? Check the Online Profits training program!

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USAHA BERSAMA

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