Why a Top Anything List Is an Excellent Blog Traffic Tactic
I was recently named as one of the Top 50 Most Powerful and Influential Women in Social Media and I believe I’m the only Canadian on the list, so this is a true honour.
The list that Ron Hudson put together generated just over 2000 unique visits and 189 comments in less than a week. The Top 50 list was one of the first posts on his newly launched blog called Immediate Influence.
While the list generated both negative and positive comments, putting together a Top 10, Top 20 or Top Anything list is an excellent way to generate traffic to your blog. I did this 2 years ago when I put together the Top 10 Savviest Women in Podcasting. It is still the most commented on post on my blog.
Putting together a Top Anything list can be intimidating and overwhelming, but the traffic you generate is priceless. Here are some tips on how you can put together your own list:
- Follow your own rules. Ron selected his Top 50 based on traffic rankings in Alexa as well as recommendations from those on Twitter. My list was more subjective and I selected women based on who I liked and who had an influential platform. Whatever criteria you use, make it consistent, transparent, but make it your own.
- Seek advice, if needed. If you’re stumped on who to include on your list, ask others. Again, Ron used nominations from his followers on Twitter to help him put together his list.
- Expect to piss off at least one person. Not everyone will be happy with your list once it’s published. Because you can’t please everyone, put together your list knowing that you’ll anger at least one person. This will give you the freedom to add whomever (or whatever) you like to your list.
- Create a badge that those named can include on their own blog. When I was named by Canada’s Word of Mouth Expert as one of the Top 50 Media and Marketing Bloggerss in Canada, I wore a badge on my blogsite with pride. To continue driving traffic to your blogsite, encourage those named on your list to post a badge in their sidebar.
Image courtesy of honeytech
Update: Ron Hudson has followed up with a Top 50 Most Powerful and Influential Men in Social Media. Dang, Ron stole my idea 
i find that the people you piss off are the ones who generate a lot of the comments and feedback because they want to voice their opinion, and discredit yours. drawing a line in the sand, in this case with a ‘top anything list’, helps in generating debate = traffic.
Great info! I’ll definitely add a Top Anything list to my blog. Thanks for sharing.
Hi Leesa,
I saw Ron’s post when he first put it up and was amazed at how soon he had people coming out of the woodwork to post comments. I can understand someone saying that they would like to include —– because she has helped them…Fine he ask for other names. I did think it was a bit obnoxious when people listed themselves. I figure if you are so special that you believe your name was wrongly looked over then you are surely on every other list on the web.;)
Ron did his list right by asking for votes. This way no one can be mad at him. They can be mad at the voters and who knows who they are.
There were some of the ladies on the list that I did not know so, I have been making my way through and visiting their sites. That is how I found you. I have also been visiting the sites of some of the commentors. I think he did me a favor by putting up such a great list and drawing a great crowd.
I love that you warned - #3 Expect to piss off at least one person. I do this on a daily basis and do not even make a list. LOL!
Congratulations on being on the ‘50 of the Most Powerful and Influential Women in Social Media’ List!!
Congrats on making the Top 50 List. You definitely have me thinking about what “top list” I can create to drive traffic.
Hi - The Cluetrain guy here…
Just don’t forget - “It ain’t about gettin known. It is about gettin known for being knowledgeable.”
We have to remember that this Net thing is about conversations - not lectures nor preaching. Full stop.
Great Blogs and sites and any social media for that matter tend to work better when they are from the heart and are more about “them” (the reader & audience) than about us.
Oh … I just noticed - “My comment is awaiting moderation!”
Moderation and moi in the same sentence! Never happen!
I like the top anything idea - its a simple but powerful strategy. Congratulations on the Top 50 Media and Marketing Bloggerss in Canada. Its a great honor.
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