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In blogging, as we’re all aware, there are many types of posts. Some are certainly more effective than others when it comes to getting a point across or sharing a fabulous recipe.

Some posts may require more pictures and some posts may be more word heavy.

Then there are the heart tugging posts or the emotionally laden posts that touch us to the very core. Or rile up our anger and desk chair protester.

Writing is at the heart of blogging, there’s really no way of getting around that. In order to do what we do as bloggers, we must write. What we write about depends on our niche and our interests, of course. And that may even affect how we write.

One of the most effective types of posts for me is a list post. I’m sure you’ve seen them around to and they tend to stick with you. But why is that? What is it about list posts that make them so useful? And just how do you go about writing a killer list post that people will want to read and share?

List posts are one of the most effective types of posts that a blogger has in their arsenal. Here are some tips for how to write a killer list post for your blog.

They are called listicles. Some call them list posts. They are so popular, and good at drawing traffic, because they appeal to the human affinity for numbers. Their headlines look like this …

  • 21 Ways to Get More Traffic … For Free
  • The 7 Scariest Horror Movie Villains
  • 5 Little-Known Benefits of Daily Exercise

Put a number in your title and you grab attention. People see numbers as facts, so when you combine a number with a topic your audience cares about, you improve the odds that someone will click on your headline and read your post.

As far as writing the body of the post, the list format makes it easy. You start with a summary, list your points, number them, then wrap up with a recap. When you can’t come up with a blog post idea, lean on the simple list post for an easy-to-write, easy-to-read format that practically writes itself. Keep the following points in mind and you will write the perfect list post every time.

7 Keys for Writing a Killer List Post

1 – Decide On a Number

21, 7, 5 … you are going to have to figure out how many items you want on your list.

Think about the topic you are writing about. Consider the reason why you are writing this blog post, and what problem you are trying to solve for your audience. If you’re creating a massive resource, 101 is a popular number that has proven to work well in the past.

For shorter lists, choosing a number between 5 and 25 usually works well, according to blogging instructional site ProBlogger.net.

Round numbers like 10, 20 and 100 seem to lend a greater sense of authority. In most cases, odd numbers have been proven to draw more traffic than even numbers. Try to use a number equal to or greater than 5, or your list may appear to provide little value.

2 – Keep Your List Items Similar

Try to keep from mixing up the types of items on your list. If you want to write a list post about motivation for weight loss, stick to one type of motivational tool. You wouldn’t want to mix quotes, websites, instructions, books and MP3s in your list. This confuses your reader. However, a top 10 list of motivational quotes, with no websites, books or instructions listed, appeals to the natural inclination of the human brain to crave order.

3 – Think About the Sequence

When writing lists, you want to follow a sensible order. If you write a list post about how to publish a book, there is an obvious process that needs to be followed. Certain steps need to be taken before subsequent actions can follow.

This is also true with recipes, crafts, DIY projects, and processes, but can also work with other types of lists. Think most to least popular, biggest to smallest, fastest to slowest, or whatever sequential order makes the most sense for your list.

4 – Come Up With Plenty More List Items Than You Need

If you are creating a list post with 21 items, brainstorm 25 or 30. Always shoot for 10% to 20% more items than you were planning on using. Then you can pull out those that don’t fit with the rest. Many times you may also find yourself listing 2 similar items that are virtually the same. Coming up with more items than your list requires gives you a lot of wiggle room, and helps you give your reader the highest quality list.

5 – Always Number Your List Post Items!

You improve readership and make your readers’ brains happy when you number your list. When someone sees “Top 11 Ways to Eat an Elephant” as your list post title, their brain is already preparing them to see numbers 1 through 11 listed in order. Always, always, always number your list post items.

6 – Always Use the Number in Your Title, Instead of Spelling the Number Out

For whatever reason, web surfers across all demographics are more likely to click on a headline with a number, as opposed to that same headline with the number spelled out. “17 Blogging Traffic Secrets” will draw more traffic than “Seventeen Blogging Traffic Secrets” every time. Use the numerical version of the number rather than spelling it out in your title.

7 – No Fluff

Don’t include a list item just for the sake of stretching your list to a particular number. Your list post should deliver high quality, valuable information. Take out the fluff, including any list items which aren’t pulling their own weight quality-wise.

Remember, write a number-driven headline on a topic that interests the people in your niche. Begin with a short introduction and then list your points, numbering them as you go.

Close with a summary.

Be sure to include the points listed above, and your list posts will be high-quality traffic magnets that provide your audience with value, and help you meet your blogging goals.

how to write a killer list post

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Kori

Digital Product Creator at Kori at Home
Kori is a late diagnosed autistic/ADHD mom. She is currently located in Albany, NY where she is raising a neurodiverse family. Her older daughter is non-speaking autistic (and also has ADHD and Anxiety) and her youngest daughter is HSP/Gifted. A blogger, podcaster, writer, product creator, and coach; Kori shares autism family life- the highs, lows, messy, and real. Kori brings her own life experiences as an autistic woman combined with her adventures in momming to bring you the day-to-day of her life at home. Kori is on a mission to empower moms of autistic children to make informed parenting decisions with confidence and conviction.

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