I have a lot of respect for sites like Smashing Magazine, they’re doing a great job serving the best of the design web, and their posts are always worth a glance. They always attract a lot of links, which is warranted.
Problem is, a lot of blogs are doing the same thing, listing stuff. It can be the best WordPress plugins, or designers to follow on Twitter, some Firefox 3 themes, or… Well, you get the picture.
Lists are easy content, and if you’ve got a good compilation you’ll get links. Linkbait comes to mind.
I’m sorry, but list posts aren’t only easy content, almost all of them are also boring! A good list is a good list, but when I’m getting the fifth link to the same place in yet another list post, I just close it and move on.
I’m not saying that list posts should be banned, although most of them are simple linkbaits without any real value, but I do think that original content is preferable in almost every case.
That being said, Smashing Magazine proves that it can be done right as well.
I agree that original content is preferable, but lists posts often get results. I would post fewer of them, but that’s what people say that they like. There’s definitely pros and cons, but if I’m trying to give readers what they want, list posts are included in that. To me there is a big difference between an original, helpful list post and one that is just done quickly and on a topic that’s been beaten to death (I’d say I’ve done both in the past, but I try to keep them original). It really comes down to personal preference.
So far I’m trying not to fall into the listmania (no list on my blog) but I think having a few (just a few.. say less than five) good lists could be a nice way to please readers too. Furthermore, a list can be truly original if you don’t just add some 2nd-level design blogs’ lists on top of a smashingmagazine hit.
You certainly got a good point, Steven, and for the record, I think you’re doing a great job with your blog. Good comments from the both of you, to keep a sober mind when it comes to easy content as lists is the key.
TDH,
I think if a blogger sees list posts as an easy way out, the quality of the post will probably be pretty low. A good list requires a lot of time and research (although it’s true that it may not require the knowledge). Every week Smashing Magazine posts something that I just keep scrolling and scrolling and wondering how many hours went into the research.
Oh, a list post can absolutely require a lot of work, you know that. The key here is that anyone can assemble a decent (if not great and/or interesting) list post by surfing the web. You don’t need any real knowledge of the subject to collect information that at least appears interesting and valuable at a glance. I completely agree with you on Smashing Magazine’s mammoth list posts, they must’ve taken quite some time to put together. Still, a lot of those “great WordPress themes” list posts out there could be made by browsing the theme directories for 30 minutes, and then just link the best ones.
I’m not sure if bloggers see list posts as an easy way out, as much as a good solution when the inspiration for original posts are low. In that light, they are taking the easy way out, without perhaps doing it consciously.
Agreed.
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