What To Look For In List Posts
Group Writing Projects are always fun to participate in that they not only make for a nice linkbait, they also spark new discussions with new bloggers. Building Lists as part of the group project becomes even more enjoyable and useful because they offer how-to’s and best-of’s.
But if you were to pick top 3 from a huge list of participants, what are the things you look for? 
That’s the dilemma going on this week at Luciano’s Lists Group Writing Project that I also participated in with my Best 101 Lists. The task is humongous for Luciano and I have no idea how he is going to handle it.
So, first, here are some of the things that come to my mind when picking the best: (although I may not be able to apply these for my selection)
- List should be fun for all readers. Many times lists are made with each point not clearly different than the one before, which can easily become boring;
- To avoid the above, Inject a little humor;
- Leaving a list incomplete can sometimes be a good idea so others can suggest and add to it, a way of encouraging participation;
- Inject controversy, as it more often than not sparks discussions, which always helps to build community
So, there, with some of these pointers, I hope the task to pick the top three would become a bit easier for you all.
Although I am still finding it very difficult to do but nevertheless, I will list some of my favorites, in no particular order.
After all, its Luciano who gets to decide, right? :)
UPDATE 1: I stand corrected! No Luciano will not be ‘voting’ for any lists as he reiterated in the comments here…
- 5 surefire ways of increasing comments on your blog
- 12 WordPress Editors You Can Choose
- 35 Guaranteed Ways to Increase Your RSS Subscribers
- 7 Tricks You Need To Fight Procrastination
- 26 Ways to Change the World
- 10 Life lessons Learned While Camping
- Six Savvy Reasons Why You Should Travel Light
- Escape The Rut
- 5 Blogging Ups, 5 Blogging Downs and 10 Blogging Tips
- No Cost Business Tools: 37 Free Applications that Make Your Life Easier
Okay I am done for the moment because there a too many of great lists submitted in that project…67 to be exact. Do check them out, there is something for everyone to enjoy!
UPDATE 2: Sunday, Dec. 2nd, 2007!
Seems like blogging is all I do these days! Here is another group of lists that I enjoyed
100 Ways To Promote A Startup by Jason Drohn
17 POWER Tips For StumbleUpon Beginners by Dr. Mani
18 Tips to Become a Productive Blogger by Monika Mundell
21 Punching Tips On Social Media Marketing and Social Media Optimization by Etienne Teo
8 Habits of Highly Successful Salespeople by Daniel Sitter
7 Powerful Tips to Overcome Failure by Donald Latumahina
10 Ways To Work Through Your Workout by Gal Josefsberg
ten things i didn’t know until last week by Blaiq
100 Resources To Improve Your Career, Relationships And Money by Lawrence Cheok
3 Things I Wish I Knew Then What I Know Now by Stephen Hopson
5 reasons (not) to drink coffee by Lodewijkvdb
Rest of the lists that I just couldn’t leave out and I am sure I will be coming back to:
5 Ways To Win A Blog Contest by Erz
5 Reasons Why I Bought a Domain by WishBoNe
5 Ways to Become the Perfect Idiot by Lori
15 Tips to Prevent Repetitive Strain Injury and Carpal Tunnel Syndrome by CSS
100 Motivators for Informal Learning by Marcel Ackermann
10 Ways to Survive the Writers’ Strike by Cynthia Boris
100List – 100 Things I can do to make more money. by Dj Wright
Your Top 10 Inspirational Quotes by Sparky
My Top-10 Personal Development Blogs by Marco
The Quitter’s Checklist by Em Dy
Thirteen Reasons Why WordPress is Superior To Blogger by JHS
Get out of debt Quick: 7 Tips by Tejvan
Six Simple Steps to Remembering and Living the Abundant Life You are Meant to Live by Anita Pathik Law
To Do To Make Tomorrow Better by Bob
Top 7 Paid Review Writing Mistakes You Can Avoid by Prince John
9 Ways To Achieve Success in Life by Adebola Oni
40 ways to make your mind your playground by Fier
5 Crash Course Tips in Viral Marketing by John Murch
100 Sites I Seek Inspiration From by Iain Hamp
5 Things That I Believe To Be Lies by Krizza
List of Classes by Priscilla Palmer
Top 23 Motivation Tips, Tricks and Tactics from the Blogosphere by Mike Ambrose
Twelve Days of Classic Country Christmas by Scott
5 ways to crack or reset a forgotten Windows XP administrator password by Aseem Kishore
10 Things To Consider Before Acting As Your Own Contractor by Shawn Van Dyke
A Tester’s Dream – 5 steps to revive a Rejected Bug! by Debasis Pradhan
My Five Wish-list Classes I Would Enroll In by Al
10 Ways To Improve Your Personality by Z Hereford
The Top Ten Internet Business Ideas by John
3 Ways to Bring Back the Joy to the Holidays by Karen Lynch
Best 101 Lists by Pearl
13 encouraging questions by Isabella Mori
100 Things To Write A List Of 100 About by Kotsengkuba
Lovecraft & Cthulhu Christmas List by Cullen Bunn
List Of Why Blogs Are A Female Gender by Domtan
100 Things to do Before I Die by Joseph Gibbs
150 Funniest Resume Mistakes, Bloopers and Blunders Ever by Jacob Share
10 Productive Ways for Moms to “Relax” by Neena
10 Tips on How to Watch a Horror Movie When You are a Scaredy Cat by Migraine Chick
100 Ways to Personally Conquer Chaos at Work by Judy Martin
50 Ways to Start a Conversation by Dee
How to prepare for Christmas by Ajay
7 Seven tips for students to success by Xoel Cardigan
6 Steps to Take Writing Ideas From WordPress Themes by Karen Zara
What you think is what you see: 4 Ways to stop negativity by Holli Jo
Phew!!! Make sure to read ALL of the lists at your leisure! there is wealth of information in them!
Thank you for the link!! I am glad that you liked my article on 35 Guaranteed Ways to Increase Your RSS Subscribers.
You have a cool site here.
Hi Pearl,
Actually, I won’t be the one deciding for the best posts: I’ll just browse around the participants’ sites collecting the votes (a href=”http://litemind.com/lists-group-writing-project/”>check rules). Make sure your complete list of votes is up by the deadline!
BTW, congratulations for the huge traffic of your list from Digg and Delicious popular!
Adorable! Link love and link bait – what can be better? I’ll run over to my blog and make a list right now. Like 10 reasons why I love Pearl? ;) He he.
you are welcome Fred…. I actually need to follow your list :) last week I had 140+ subscribers and didnt post for 4 straight days, and today the number is down to 88 :(
thanks, glad you liked it, hope to see you here more often!
Hahaha Mig :) you are something… I dare you do that ;) LOL
I enjoyed a lot of your favorites as well. Thanks for sharing!
hi teeni… did you participate? I haven’t been able to go through all of the posts yet, it is tiring! glad you liked it :)
Hi Pearl,
I thought I would pop out from behind the screen :)
Now I know from what I have learnt that there is a lot of good reading to be had there.
I still haven’t found the one about 36 hours in the day and 4 pairs of hands though….maybe you’ll cover that another time hahaha
Great post,
tc
Colin
Hi Pearl – I’m very honored that you listed my article as one of your favorites!
You must be super efficient to have gotten through the list already. Mucho kudos to you for that!
Many Thanks,
Sheila
I didn’t know about this group writing project or I would have participated. Oh well. I think you’ve got as good a chance as anybody. Getting all that traffic has to count for something.
well you inspired me to write a 101 list Pearl !!!!!
I have been compiling it on my break from blogging haha…
I will post on the 1st December :D
I’m with Colin on the 36 hour day too :D
Thanks for picking my post, Pearl! There seems to be a definite increase in the no. of group writing projects these days!.
But well, it can only do good to all the blogs!
Hey Sheila : you are most welcome! But NO I couldn’t go through ALL the articles! I was planning on doing that and took a break for a few minutes, came back and lost my dsl connection so this is the first time I am accessing even my site in the last 24 hours :) good to have to you here!
hi Colin…haha may be I should think of doing that now :) good to have you back
Hi Steven…. I didn’t know you were interested in participating, or I would have mentioned…sorry :) next time I found something, i’ll let you know… actually i do know some coming up… will email you
hey Kim… thats something, when you take breaks you write 101 posts LOL are we slaves of blogging now? :) cant wait to see it… good to have to back :)
you are welcome Vijay… sure.. I think the group writing projects have a way of motivating everyone in doing something together…. definitely better than churning out articles alone, I do better this way :) tc and kit
Hey Luciano… I thought of that after I hit publish! I still need to go through all the posts and will complete it by the deadline …. I haven’t had the net connection all day yesterday ….
thanks :) it was fun to see the post highlighted all over :)
Pearl ~ very nice writeup! Had I seen it sooner…I would have included it in my latest (and LAST) list.
Oh NOOO ….. can’t you still log into your blog and include me? :)
Im kidding of course! thanks Mark :) hope to see you back again!
Hey Pearl,
thanks for choosing my procrastination post amonst your favourites. I am at once honoured and pressured!
While I consider myself a reasonably creative writer, even I have my reservations about taking on a 101 reasons why I love Pearl post to provide all the other appreciative commenters here with healthy competition. And that too so soon after discovering this wonderful blog. Mig sets the bar very high. ;)
Oh well, might as well get a head start:
Reason #1: She has impecable taste … *cough*
There, only 100 to go …
Hi Pearl,
Thank you for including my article in your list of favorites. I am both flattered and humbled.
This is my first time to your blog. I like it and I’ll be back.
Thanks a lot for the vote!
Hey Samir….. those are some kind words….. I am glad you stopped by.. thanks! hope to see you back more often!
[Oh, and that was just 10 reasons, not 101 ;)]
You are welcome Karthik! tc and kit
@Chris: glad you like it, would be looking forward to hearing more from you here!
OK! You’ll get a new comment soon! :D
haha THANKS :)
For Pearl with all my love. :)
Mig
My Gosh!! Mig, I am gonna get you for this :)
Thanks for putting up the entire list, Pearl
Jacob
[...] Check out the What to Look for In List Posts for an update! Popularity: unranked [...]
you are welcome Jacob!! stay in touch! tc
Hi! Would you please confirm that your votes for the contest are the ones in the groups Update 1 plus the ones in Update 2?
I think its safe to say that Luciano :) the ones above “rest of the lists I couldn’t leave out” .. so the first 21….
Hi Pearl,
Thanks for including me in your list of favorites. I am sorry that it has taken me so long to drop by, but I just found out about it. I’ll be back for more.
Chris Melton
http://www.soupornuts.com