Are Readers Really Reading Your Posts?
I love list posts. I snap up each item beside each bullet like a potato chip, and move on to the next. The reason: I can easily skip down the left margin and decide whether to comment or share. I’m essentially reading without actually reading.
Is that a good or a bad thing?
Good because:
- if people like what they skim they may save it to “really” read later, and share right now.
- the format makes it easier for people to “choose” something to respond to in comments.
- it lets each of your points stand out–especially if you bold the first few words.
- well… because people like list posts. Highly, highly scientific research shows!
Bad because:
- If your list items are boring, you make it that much easier for readers to not even pretend to read.
So what’s a boring list item? An item that
- has a “teaser” that don’t tease.
- is repetitive–within the same bullet.
- is redundant.
- is part of a list of items that are all depressingly uniform (depressingly being the operative word).
- states the obvious.
- is part of a list of items that state the obvious.
Lists are meant to encourage your reader’s eyes down the page, and that’s what they often do–but without doing you any real good.
Conclusion: list posts are only as good for readers as you make them.
But don’t worry, I won’t leave you hanging. Friday’s post will be about how to make sure your bullets read well, with gems like:
- the difference between “perfect” and “imperfect” list items (and how to use them, of course)
- how to ask a question you’re going to answer in the next sentence
- my confession about using bullets
- grammar confusion in bullets
- how to write what I call a “reverse” list post, and why it works.
How do your lists make your readers really read?
Photo credit: Jason Eppink, courtesy of Flickr, CC 2.0.
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Great points. I like to read and write list posts - maybe my brain is just wired that way. I assume that if a blogger has gone to the trouble of building a list, he/she has organized the information to be easily digested. This is not always the case in practice, though.
Intrigued to learn what a reverse list post is.
BradShorr Sometimes the sheer size of the list is indication of lack of foresight. Like those "101 Things..." that just go straight down and down and down. They make me wonder whether there wasn't a way to categorize or something.
I have always felt that the answer to your first question is no, I certainly have got into a bad habit, which I am trying to overcome of skimming. I'm really in no position to criticise anyone using lists as that's what my blog has been largely based on however I do think they need to be used properly and not just as a lazy way to make your content appear more accessible.
At the end of the day it's well written content that grabs the attention and makes you want to read more. A good title and intro helps though and yours certainly attracted me :-)
Thanks for a thoughtful article Shakirah.
TonyH Glad you appreciated it, Tony. I love both reading and writing list posts too much to say they're awful. But a lot are, and turn a great format into a mediocre post.
I try to limit writing list posts. Too easy for people to stop paying attention.
TheJackB I agree, but I use them when I want to make several distinct points quickly. I definitely think it depends on your blog's content and the audience, though.
I rarely use bulleted lists on my own blog. I suppose I have a personal vendetta against them, although I'm willing to use them when writing for others. Weird, right?
Erin F. I have a personal vendetta, too, but that's mostly because I've read a couple of rants against them that stuck with me, lol. I do use them here, though. It's a good format, used right.
ShakirahDawud The bullet does have its uses. I just try to find ways not to use them. If I know I can write the post with or without bullets, I know I have the content I need. I only need to decide on the form. In some cases, the bullet is the best.
Great look at those 'list' posts. I admit, I use them and find them to be helpful in breaking up my often lengthy posts. Perhaps it's because my frequency has gone down lately (once/week is my top speed now), but I can't seem to write less than 900 words lately! Lists and bulleted items save my readers' eyes from crossing. ;)
EricaAllison Yeah, there's no denying their appeal, especially if you end up writing long. I'm naturally a short writer, so I find bullets shorten my posts more than I feel comfortable with--which leads to my making some of the mistakes I list above! But there are tricks to make a post more engaging--especially those that are entirely a list, and not a post with a list inside for reader's relief.
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