Studio Blog

Eight Tips for Writing Good Lists

1.       Consider your own expertise before claiming titles. If you have no knowledge about Austin, Texas you will want to leave a title like “10 Best Barbecue Spots in Austin” to someone who does. See: “10 Best Things to Do in San Francisco”

2.       Call experts in the geographical area that your title deals with for best information. This is not required, but it will save you from searching numerous websites for the same information. An article like “Best Family Restaurants in Portland” could be efficiently researched by calling up a concierge at an established hotel in that city and asking where they usually recommend people to go. Make your article even better, and directly quote that person.

3.       If you are relying on your own expertise, or that of another person, keep in mind that an ideal expert should have 10+ years expertise in his or her field. See: “10 Reasons Why Smoking Is Bad”

4.       If you do not have expertise that is clearly reflected in your bio, you must use multiple sources or an expert on the topic as references for your List articles. Use multiple sources, including magazines, newspapers or credible websites to generate a “best of” list. Cross-check names that pop up frequently with good reviews, make sure the positive marks are coming from a credible source, not an advertorial trade magazine or industry newsletter. See: “Alternatives to Birth Control”

5.       Never use one source for your list. A list taken from another publication or website (this includes just taking the same subheads) will be considered plagiarism.

6.       Create a clear introduction or overview that sets the parameters of your list. If the title is “Parks in London,” make it clear in your intro what type of parks you will write about, and the criteria you used to include them in your list. See: “10 Human Diseases”

7.       Broad titles, such as the one above, needs to cover several aspects. “Parks in London” should include a variety of parks like dog parks, child friendly parks, parks great for picnics and secluded parks that are great for reading a book in peace. If the title is “Hotels in Phoenix,” include budget hotels, luxury hotels, resort hotels and any other type of hotel that would round out a great list. See: “10 Best Things to Do with Kids in London”

8.       Make sure all items in your list are factually correct and not outdated. Calling the business is the fastest and easiest way to do this. Remember, websites often remain online even after the business is closed. See: “10 Best Las Vegas Swimming Pools”