Thoughts on List Posts
May 15th, 2010
A couple of places around the web have been going on a bit about how many design blogs are pumping out tons of list post just to drive traffic to their site. The argument is that these types of posts are short-sighted and don’t offer the readers anything to be really loyal to.
I agree. But I also think that they have their place, and I like them.
There not that bad…
A list post with “25 Beautiful Minimalistic Website Designs”, or whatever, may not give deep insights into design theory, practice, or business, but it does serve a purpose. Obviosly there is a need or desire for these kinds of posts since they draw so much traffic to the blogs that post them. However, these blogs still have the same problem as any other blog. They must deliver content that connects with their audience or they will loose readership and go by the wayside.
Not everyone wants to read the Wall Street Journal everyday. Sometimes you just want to look at some pretty pictures, get inspired, or read the funny pages. My point is, there are times when these list posts are all I am looking for. Sometimes I need to find a certain plugin to solve a problem. Other times I want to check out how designers are creating sites for a certain industry. These lists come in handy—saving me a lot of time searching for whatever it is I am looking for.
That said, when I have the time, I do like to read the more in-depth blog posts on design, marketing, and business. These articles are just as valuable. They are also, admittedly, better at creating a loyal readership.
What’s my point? I like lists. I think that they serve a need that people have, and they will continue to do so until that need goes away. I think it’s interesting to discuss their legitimacy, but it’s ultimately pointless to do so. Better to just produce the kind of content that will best serve you audience and build your readership.
What do you think?
Are list posts dumbing down the design community?
Show Some Love
This entry was posted on Saturday, May 15th, 2010 at 7:24 am and is filed under Graphic Design, Web Design. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
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