There are so many different styles of blogging that it can be hard to choose a style and stick with it for your company’s blog, especially if there are multiple people who update it. One popular method is the numbered list. Here are a few reasons that might explain why:
5. Readers know what they’re getting themselves into. With a small number like five, or even up to ten, readers are more likely to click on an article than a blog that promises hundreds. This is a fast-paced society and our attention span is no longer as easy to lure in. For those who really don’t have the time to read the entire article, the option of scanning the page for the titles of each item on the list is available. Limiting your range of examples to a small and finite number makes the reader feel like committing to reading the whole article is a manageable task.
4. Readers’ knowledge is challenged. Titles like “Five Most Common Cell Phone Problems” spark the readers’ curiosity and lead to more traffic. Many people who read the headline to a numbered list article are naturally going to try to name the five items on the list from memory. This leads to more clicks on the article as people want to check their facts. Just like when you’re watching a trivia game show with a group, there’s always someone who shouts the answers ahead of time or claims they knew the real answer all along.
3. Outlines are easy. Any writer will tell you that having an outline makes writing about any topic easier. Numbered lists are basically highly detailed outlines. Once the writer has come up with the five examples, only a paragraph is needed for each and the article practically writes itself.
2. Readers get hooked. By the time the reader reaches the halfway point in the article, it’s safe to say you’ve got them on the hook. Their curiosity will drive them to read the entire article because if they don’t, they’ll never know what the fifth example is. Then that’s all they will be able to think about for the rest of the day. If you want to test this theory for yourself, just stop reading this article right now. Number five is probably a dumb example anyway, right? Just kidding. Don’t stop reading. In fact, we think you should read the rest of our blog articles too.
1. Writers seem like experts. Sure, there may be way more than five different shapes of swimming pools. However, by writing an article in the numbered list style, you’re saying to your readers, “These are the five shapes that matter. The rest are trivial.” By making this choice, you are asserting your opinion and subtly influencing your readers. Sounding like an expert is key if you want your website to be effective in converting readers to customers.