MediaVision Blog : Search Engine Marketing

During my daily trawl for interesting SEO/blogging news I came across a post by Deb at Network Blogging Tips that lauded the list. She proceeded to list five (because odd numbers tend to prompt readers to add to lists and encourage more interaction) reasons why she thought list posts were the bees knees.

Now, I have issues with list posts. I tend to skip lists when I come across them, usually with much rolling of eyes and questioning of the heavens (e.g. “Why, oh why, in the name of all that is holy, has someone written yet another list post?”) The only reason I read Deb’s post was because the views expressed so directly contradicted my own.

There is no doubt that lists are popular: new ones crop up every day (see above for appropriate reaction), but I find that very seldom do they have anything to add to existing topics. Information is simply recycled with little to distinguish one list from another.

I have, admittedly, written the odd list post - when I first started blogging and didn’t know any better. But I quickly discovered that I don’t like writing them. It feels like cheating, like I’m doing myself and my prospective readers an injustice. Basically it feels like a cop out, as if I’m too lazy to pen a proper post.

One of the most persuasive arguments (and one that Deb uses) in favour of lists is that they go viral. People apparently like to pass them on and inflict them on others. When a list is entertaining, such as when it covers the top 10 gore scenes from all horror movies ever made, I’m inclined to agree with this line of thinking. But when a list pretends to be serious, such as 10 reasons you need to blog or your business will die, I don’t think so.

If you’re trying to convey serious information, then I think that you probably need to spend the time and energy writing a proper post. Cramming compelling facts into a list just won’t do.

Another one of Deb’s reasons for liking lists is that they stimulate conversation. But if your post is topical and raises pertinent issues, it should naturally inspire your readers to comment and interact with one another. In my opinion, lists are no more likely to solicit communication than any other well written post.

I’m not averse to using bullet points for emphasis. If there are certain points that need emphasis or if there are sub-points that need to be made, I embrace bullets, or bite them, if you will. But I try not to make them the point of my whole post.

Having said all that, I’ll say this: maybe all my arguments against list posts are merely an elaborate cover for reasons far more base and questionable. Maybe my mind is just too disorganised to see the value of writing any lists at all. I seldom write shopping lists for example, and when I do, I usually forget them at home. On the rare occasions when I do remember them, I completely fail to stick to them. I prefer to live life on the wing, and writing lists seems uncomfortably A-type personality to me.

So write your lists if you must (insert appropriate reaction here, with an additional exasperated sigh). I, however, shall continue to not write them, and probably not read them either, to my detriment or not.