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Blogger - Creating a "List" Post - 5 Favorite Taco Stands in Mexicali? 2 Truths and 1 LIe? 3 Things You Probably Don't Know about Me?

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Write a List Post – 300 Words

What is it?

A List Post is just what it sounds like.  It’s a list of ideas for you to share with your readers.

Why do it?

A List post will strengthen the connection you have with your readers and other bloggers.  They see your thinking and organizations skills.  You are a blogger with special insight.  Show your readers what you know?  What are you into?  What are you about?  Promote yourself.

How to do it?

  • Choose a title that will get noticed
  • Start each step or idea with a number
  • Keep each item on list close to the same size – 50-100 words
  • Be professional – stay clear, concise, and balanced

Here are some examples off the top of Jay’s Head:

  • My Favorite Things to Do in the Heat: What to Do in the Valley When the Temperatures Rise above 110 degrees
  • Five Movies You Must See Before You Die
  • How to Make the Hottest, Most Perfect Salsa in Four Easy Steps
  • Five Things Your Counselors Never Tell You about Your College Classes
  • Five Rappers Who Write with Deep, Deep Meaning – I’m Saying “Move Over Shakespeare” -- These Artists Know How to Rhyme!

( If you are writing a research paper in one of my classes, you just might have the "Top Five Things You Should Know" about your topic saved somewhere.  That would be a cool list...)

Jay’s Tip:  Go to Discussion Board – You Just might find something you have already written that you can share.

I went to Movie Review ( Plus Two):

  • Take your three paragraphs: Movie, Book, Famous Person.
  • Introduce each paragraph with 2-3 interesting sentences
  • Conclude each paragraph with 2-3 sentences.

For example (here I provide my title and first item on the list):

Three Things You Probably Didn’t Know about Me:

  1. A Movie I Love:

Everyone knows Spiderman, but few people know the Spider Woman.  I love the movie Kiss of the Spider Woman. When two men are thrown together in an Argentine prison cell, it doesn’t look good.  Complete opposites, one is a flaming homosexual while the other is a rebel intellectual.  Although they seem have little respect for one other, over time they learn they have a need for each other.  After all, they have no freedom, comfort, or hope – all they have is each other.  These two guys are trapped in their prison cell.  They exchange stories to make the time pass.  You never know what is real and what is a dream. The first time I saw it, I didn’t understand it.  The second time, it was even more confusing.  It’s sad.  It’s weird.  It’s great!

* I posted "A Movie I Love" with two other ideas on Hissie Chrynde's Stop Your Sobbing Blog. You can read it by clicking on the link provided below. 

Jay’s Links for Samples:

  Jay’s Final Word:

  • Develop Your Professional Skills: Organization, Communication, Promotion, Publication -Every website I went to for help was designed for people to succeed in the business world.
  • Show your commitment – review your work with a tutor before publishing your posts
  • Invite people to participate in your discussion – this is what I put at the end of my post: “So – what do you think? Ask them to leave a comment!

This is going to be great for your writing.  This is going to be great for your career skills.  This is going to be fun.  You will see.

Paz,

JL