Tweet

Add structure to your blog posts with lists

Guest post by: Bonnie Harris

Article Overview: Tips on incorporating lists into your next blog post.

Add structure to your blog posts with lists

If you look at many of the top business blogs, you’ll find that use of lists within blog posts is a very common format. I’m a big advocate of this format as well, and there are a number of reasons why it works.

1. People are inherently lazy – people don’t read in full until something really catches their eye; they skim. If you have interesting information lumped into long paragraphs, trying to skim it is just too much work. Lay it out in a way that the eye is drawn to each point and you’ll capture interest and convince them to actually read.
2. You look like an expert – whether or not it’s actually the case, a list-style article naturally reads like a kind of ‘How To Guide’. If you’re dishing out advice, you’ve obviously got something intelligent to say.
3. Social media likes them – drawing off of #2, blog posts that give readers a take away are the kind of things that people like to share on social media. This, my friends, is always good!

You may not think that a simple thing like the format of your blog posts can add much value to how well they perform. But a simple change that really doesn’t alter the way you write, can make all the difference!

Related Articles
  Blogging, Articles and Twitter - A Powerful Marketing Combination
  Blog Statistics Can Help You Improve Your Traffic
  Business Blog Step 5 - Look and Feel Right
  How to Guest Blog
  Blogging The Easy Way Is More Than A Trend
  Business Blog Step 15 - Getting Readers to Your Blog
  Blogs should have some basic essentials
  Legal Marketing: How To Get Your Blog Read
  Business Blog Step 22 - General Advice
  WordPress Blogging Tip - Get Known in a Huge Way Using Social Networks
  WARNING: If You Have A Blog, Beware Of The Comment Spammers
  What to Put in Your Blog
  Analyzing your blog statistics
  Three Tips To Get You Started Blogging for Business
  Five Ways to Get More Attention to Your Blog Posts
  Blog Design Tips For Maximum Blog Benefits!
  Web Site Traffic – Driving Visitors to your Blog
  Business Blog Step 18 - Getting People to Recommend Your Blog
  21 Ways to Promote Your Blog
  Legal Marketing: Commenting on blog posts

Article Tags: Blogging, blogging for business, promoting small business with a blog



Related Forum Posts
Autoresponder v Blog Feed Subscriptions... - Hi folks, Autoresponders are a vital online tool for building and communicating with your list. But they are not the only tool for getting subscribers... Another tool is your blog feed, and just as with an autoresponder, you can post a sign up box on your site to get people to subscribe to your blog feed. If everything else is equal, I have a feeling that people might be more willing to sign up to a blog than to join a list. For one thing, most autoresponder forms are set up to require both name and email address whereas a blog feed only requires an email address. Also, inviting someone to join a blog feed seems "self explanatory" whereas some kind of inducement or justification is needed when asking someone to join a mailing list. The only problem with blog feeds is that (as far as I know) you don't get a list of subscribers' email addresses. However, using a blog feed to get subscribers could be a good first step to building a relationship with your website visitors... You can then post various list building offers as blog posts to get your blog subscribers to further commit and opt in to one or another of your lists. That might also make your respective lists more responsive (because more closely targeted and qualified). What do you think? And what do you do? Thanks, DH
Re: What I'm reading this weekend - Sept 24, 2010 - Glad you enjoy the lists guys! It does take some time to prepare and I can't vouch 100% for the content - these were just blog posts / articles that caught my attention - I usually skim the text for points that stick out for me and then bookmark the ones I like to read "later" I had to assign a time to "later" so that it actually happened and weekend reading at a local coffee shop became a perfect fit. I used to read the entire local newspaper but found that it didn't really add much value to my life. Now I just read the Sports and Business sections and then on to my saved blog posts! David - Zen Habits is a great blog - I haven't read Leo's book so I can't say how good a product he has but his blog is top notch if that's any indication. I might look into his program myself!
Re: Tactics for Blog Traffic - One really easy way to get yourself blogging more often is to repurpose your blog posts...republish them on article sites (or put a couple of short blog posts together into one article), put them in your newsletters, put a quantity of blog posts together into an ebook or even a full-fledged book. Also turn your blog posts into audios, for blog "readers" to listen to rather than read; or a video, for "readers" to watch. Again, group several into a teleclass, etc. And vice versa. Look at your existing articles, ebooks, teleclasses -- can you break them down into several or a dozen blog posts? This also has the advantage of having an ongoing theme for a period of time on your blog, which brings readers back to read the next installment. Plus the added bonus that you can sit down with one article and write 3 blog posts in one sitting, then schedule them out...and go on vacation! Lots more that can be done in this manner, let your creativity be your guide!
Re: Twitter List and Hash Tags? - Yes, GT. Now, I have two lists and am following 30 people with similar interest. But, they are not following me. As you said, they will follow you. I am finding a way to post something on these two lists. Both the lists are public and how do one post interesting content on these two lists? It seems to be funny thing. Has anyone done this? Thanks, Robert
Q&A: What are your tips for creating a successful blog? - Q: What are your tips for creating and maintaining a successful blog? Hi Ayaan - here are 7 suggestions for you: 1) Focus on a niche - pick an area that you're an expert in and are interested in and stick to that niche. 2) Create pillar content - write a number of posts that are evergreen and interesting. If a new visitor checks out your blog it should be easy to quickly find your pillar content and get them interested in reading more. 3) Create a list - give an incentive to readers to subscribe to your blog by entering their email address. This way you can turn one time visitors into lifetime readers. 4) Have a regular posting schedule - bloggers often post like crazy when they first start a blog and then their schedule fades. Don't start with too many posts and create a schedule that you can't stick with. 5) Build linkbait posts - timely posts that use infographics, top 7/10/50 lists, newsworthy topics, etc can generate a lot of attention and links to your blog. 6) Tweet it out - whenever you post, tweet about it so your followers know to check out your new entry. 7) Engage other bloggers - comment on other blogs that are in your niche. If you focus on adding value then the bloggers will notice you and their readers will also click through to your site. Good luck!


Share this article with your friends. Fund someone's dream.

Leave a comment below or share on the left and you'll help support entrepreneurs in Africa through our partnership with Kiva. Over $50,000 raised and counting - Please keep sharing! Learn more.

Newsletter

Get advice & tips from famous business
owners, new articles by entrepreneur
experts, my latest website updates, &
special sneak peaks at what's to come!

Name:
Email:

Popular Articles

How do you keep it together on a daily basis?

Is the iPad useful? One CEO tells all ....

Leadership-A Daily Gift

Suggestions

Email us your ideas on how to make our
website more valuable! Thank you Sharon
from Toronto Salsa Lessons / Classes for
your suggestions to make the newsletter
look like the website and profile younger
entrepreneurs like Jennifer Lopez.