Comments on: 73 Reasons Lists Earn Traffic and Money http://www.legalandrew.com/2007/09/04/73-reasons-lists-earn-traffic-and-money/ law for the rest of us Sat, 21 Nov 2009 03:57:51 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: GTD Wannabe http://www.legalandrew.com/2007/09/04/73-reasons-lists-earn-traffic-and-money/comment-page-1/#comment-33553 GTD Wannabe Fri, 07 Sep 2007 04:30:05 +0000 http://www.legalandrew.com/2007/09/04/73-reasons-lists-earn-traffic-and-money/#comment-33553 I just find the long lists, like long posts (especially with no images or headings) just too daunting to actually read. I seem to be more of a sipper than a gulper, especially when it comes to "hobby" reading. A short and sweet post, with a snappy title, perhaps a suitable image, will catch my eye every time. Show me a long, unbroken passage of text and I just seem to tune out. I find I'm starting to skim more and more, the more time I spend online. I just find the long lists, like long posts (especially with no images or headings) just too daunting to actually read. I seem to be more of a sipper than a gulper, especially when it comes to “hobby” reading. A short and sweet post, with a snappy title, perhaps a suitable image, will catch my eye every time. Show me a long, unbroken passage of text and I just seem to tune out. I find I’m starting to skim more and more, the more time I spend online.

]]> By: Andrew Flusche http://www.legalandrew.com/2007/09/04/73-reasons-lists-earn-traffic-and-money/comment-page-1/#comment-33545 Andrew Flusche Fri, 07 Sep 2007 01:59:30 +0000 http://www.legalandrew.com/2007/09/04/73-reasons-lists-earn-traffic-and-money/#comment-33545 GTD - It's fascinating that the long lists are what get to you. The conventional wisdom is that massive lists bring lots of traffic and become "pillar posts." From what you're saying, a short list gets your traffic more often than a long one. Thanks for the comment! Andrew GTD – It’s fascinating that the long lists are what get to you. The conventional wisdom is that massive lists bring lots of traffic and become “pillar posts.” From what you’re saying, a short list gets your traffic more often than a long one.

Thanks for the comment! Andrew

]]> By: GTD Wannabe http://www.legalandrew.com/2007/09/04/73-reasons-lists-earn-traffic-and-money/comment-page-1/#comment-33511 GTD Wannabe Fri, 07 Sep 2007 00:13:41 +0000 http://www.legalandrew.com/2007/09/04/73-reasons-lists-earn-traffic-and-money/#comment-33511 Man, I am so tired of lists. I've gotten to the point now where when I see a rss entry in Google Reader that has a number in it, I just just skipping it. Your post caught me because I saw "73" but then there obviously was not 73 things in the post itself. Well-done! Actually, it's not so much the concept of lists, but rather the size of them. I can read 5-10 things on an interesting topic (especially if bold font is used to highlight the points), but these lists are getting excessively long. The one that's killing me right now is that mondo massive list of productivity sites. I'm in it, somewhere near the bottom, but I, for the life of me, cannot summon up enough enthusiasm to even scroll through the rest of the list. Sigh. Man, I am so tired of lists. I’ve gotten to the point now where when I see a rss entry in Google Reader that has a number in it, I just just skipping it. Your post caught me because I saw “73″ but then there obviously was not 73 things in the post itself. Well-done!

Actually, it’s not so much the concept of lists, but rather the size of them. I can read 5-10 things on an interesting topic (especially if bold font is used to highlight the points), but these lists are getting excessively long. The one that’s killing me right now is that mondo massive list of productivity sites. I’m in it, somewhere near the bottom, but I, for the life of me, cannot summon up enough enthusiasm to even scroll through the rest of the list. Sigh.

]]> By: Andrew Flusche http://www.legalandrew.com/2007/09/04/73-reasons-lists-earn-traffic-and-money/comment-page-1/#comment-33447 Andrew Flusche Thu, 06 Sep 2007 00:16:31 +0000 http://www.legalandrew.com/2007/09/04/73-reasons-lists-earn-traffic-and-money/#comment-33447 Juggling - You make a really good point about looking for a fast tidbit of info between deeper work. I really like the way you phrased that! Facing - There's definitely no need to feel bad, but I am glad you stopped by. It's great that your blog is doing well. I noticed that you've been writing a lot lately. Awesome! Stephanie - "Mother Blogger" is a great way to put it. I think it's always hard for us bloggers to come up with something original to say. At least it is for me. :) Thanks for all your great comments! Juggling – You make a really good point about looking for a fast tidbit of info between deeper work. I really like the way you phrased that!

Facing – There’s definitely no need to feel bad, but I am glad you stopped by. It’s great that your blog is doing well. I noticed that you’ve been writing a lot lately. Awesome!

Stephanie – “Mother Blogger” is a great way to put it. I think it’s always hard for us bloggers to come up with something original to say. At least it is for me. :)

Thanks for all your great comments!

]]> By: Stephanie West Allen http://www.legalandrew.com/2007/09/04/73-reasons-lists-earn-traffic-and-money/comment-page-1/#comment-33419 Stephanie West Allen Wed, 05 Sep 2007 13:51:55 +0000 http://www.legalandrew.com/2007/09/04/73-reasons-lists-earn-traffic-and-money/#comment-33419 I tried to do a live link here but it did not work (I must have done something wrong) so I am starting this post over. Hi, again, Andrew. I think that sometimes the lists are annoying because they are in Mother Blogger posts. Lists can make obvious, common sense thoughts <b>look</b> more weighty or substantial. What do you think? Mother Blogger defined at the end of this post: http://westallen.typepad.com/idealawg/2007/05/thinking_of_wri.html I hope the original message disappeared. I tried to do a live link here but it did not work (I must have done something wrong) so I am starting this post over.

Hi, again, Andrew. I think that sometimes the lists are annoying because they are in Mother Blogger posts. Lists can make obvious, common sense thoughts look more weighty or substantial. What do you think?

Mother Blogger defined at the end of this post:
http://westallen.typepad.com/i.....f_wri.html

I hope the original message disappeared.

]]> By: FacingTheSharks http://www.legalandrew.com/2007/09/04/73-reasons-lists-earn-traffic-and-money/comment-page-1/#comment-33416 FacingTheSharks Wed, 05 Sep 2007 12:29:13 +0000 http://www.legalandrew.com/2007/09/04/73-reasons-lists-earn-traffic-and-money/#comment-33416 Okay, now I feel bad. I'm going to confess. I haven't been reading your blog in awhile because my own blog is taking off and I've been so busy with it. I just got the email alert about your new post, and I almost skipped it because I'm working on my blog, but I thought... hey, what's Andrew doing these days? Then I saw the 73 and thought I didn't have time for this. LOL. You fooled me. Good post. I get sick of lists, but I think the reason I read them is because I can't help but wonder if I do the same tasks as everyone else in the world. So I look to see how others get things done, and what they get done. Okay, now I feel bad. I’m going to confess. I haven’t been reading your blog in awhile because my own blog is taking off and I’ve been so busy with it.

I just got the email alert about your new post, and I almost skipped it because I’m working on my blog, but I thought… hey, what’s Andrew doing these days?

Then I saw the 73 and thought I didn’t have time for this. LOL. You fooled me. Good post.

I get sick of lists, but I think the reason I read them is because I can’t help but wonder if I do the same tasks as everyone else in the world. So I look to see how others get things done, and what they get done.

]]> By: Juggling Frogs http://www.legalandrew.com/2007/09/04/73-reasons-lists-earn-traffic-and-money/comment-page-1/#comment-33409 Juggling Frogs Wed, 05 Sep 2007 11:05:22 +0000 http://www.legalandrew.com/2007/09/04/73-reasons-lists-earn-traffic-and-money/#comment-33409 I know it's a gimmick to use lists, but I enjoy them anyway. I tend to think in lists. When reading something not in list form (other than fiction), I tend to summarize in list form. I think the appeal of lists involves the expectation that there will be obvious structure and the promise that the information will be straightforward and concise. I also enjoy well-written prose. In general, I don't expect to find it in a list post. I click on list posts when I'm scanning quickly, looking for a fast tidbit to fit between other tasks. I save what looks like "a good read" for when there's more time. Maybe lists are so popular because we are all doing our blog reading between bursts of 'real work', and thus looking for something that won't require an easy chair and a cup of tea. (When I have that kind of time, I tend to look to printed material, not blog posts.) I know it’s a gimmick to use lists, but I enjoy them anyway. I tend to think in lists. When reading something not in list form (other than fiction), I tend to summarize in list form.

I think the appeal of lists involves the expectation that there will be obvious structure and the promise that the information will be straightforward and concise.

I also enjoy well-written prose. In general, I don’t expect to find it in a list post.

I click on list posts when I’m scanning quickly, looking for a fast tidbit to fit between other tasks. I save what looks like “a good read” for when there’s more time.

Maybe lists are so popular because we are all doing our blog reading between bursts of ‘real work’, and thus looking for something that won’t require an easy chair and a cup of tea. (When I have that kind of time, I tend to look to printed material, not blog posts.)

]]> By: Andrew Flusche http://www.legalandrew.com/2007/09/04/73-reasons-lists-earn-traffic-and-money/comment-page-1/#comment-33387 Andrew Flusche Wed, 05 Sep 2007 02:17:24 +0000 http://www.legalandrew.com/2007/09/04/73-reasons-lists-earn-traffic-and-money/#comment-33387 Jake - Lists definitely have some value, but I do find it a bit funny that you have a separate tag for them. I guess that illustrates their dominance. Stephanie - Great minds... :) Jake – Lists definitely have some value, but I do find it a bit funny that you have a separate tag for them. I guess that illustrates their dominance.

Stephanie – Great minds… :)

]]> By: Stephanie West Allen http://www.legalandrew.com/2007/09/04/73-reasons-lists-earn-traffic-and-money/comment-page-1/#comment-33385 Stephanie West Allen Wed, 05 Sep 2007 02:10:21 +0000 http://www.legalandrew.com/2007/09/04/73-reasons-lists-earn-traffic-and-money/#comment-33385 This is such a coincidence, Andrew. Just yesterday I was talking with another blogger about how tired we are of lists. I wonder about their popularity. Nice post. Now let me list the reasons why I like it . . . This is such a coincidence, Andrew. Just yesterday I was talking with another blogger about how tired we are of lists. I wonder about their popularity. Nice post. Now let me list the reasons why I like it . . .

]]> By: Jake http://www.legalandrew.com/2007/09/04/73-reasons-lists-earn-traffic-and-money/comment-page-1/#comment-33384 Jake Wed, 05 Sep 2007 01:41:10 +0000 http://www.legalandrew.com/2007/09/04/73-reasons-lists-earn-traffic-and-money/#comment-33384 I'm a sucker for lists. <a href="http://del.icio.us/jawee?settagview=list" rel="nofollow">On my del.icio.us account</a>, my third most popular tag is <strong>top-lists</strong>, which I throw on any type of list. I’m a sucker for lists. On my del.icio.us account, my third most popular tag is top-lists, which I throw on any type of list.

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