Ultimate Blog Challenge for July!

Day 20 :  Pick one (or come up with your own) and then write the blog post!

Blog Post: The Power of Lists: Why Your Audience Craves Them (And How to Create Them)

By:  Carolyn Wright

We see them everywhere. "10 Ways to Boost Your Productivity." "5 Foods to Avoid for Better Sleep." "The 3 Secret Tools to Scale Your Business."

It is no secret: people love lists of things they can do (or shouldn't do).

But why are list-based articles—or "listicles"—so incredibly popular, and how can you use them to share your expertise? Let’s dive into why lists work and look at two completely different examples of how you can use them to hook your audience.

Why Lists Capture Our Attention

Our brains love order, and lists provide exactly that. Here is why they work:

• High Scannability: Readers can skim the page and grab the main points in seconds.
• Quantifiable Value: A number tells the reader exactly how much value they will get before they even click.
• Curiosity and Fear of Missing Out (FOMO): Knowing what you should or shouldn't do triggers a strong psychological urge to check if you are doing things right.

Example 1: Teaching a New Skill (The "How-To" List)

If you want to teach someone a skill, breaking it down into a list removes the overwhelm. For example, if you are helping people learn a new instrument, a list provides an easy roadmap.

Instead of saying "Here is how to play music," you can offer a structured list: "5 Simple Songs Every Beginner Can Play on the Piano Today."

By listing specific, actionable steps and notes, you take a massive, intimidating goal (learning the piano) and turn it into a series of quick, achievable wins.

Example 2: Sharing Industry Secrets (The "Do/Don't" List)

Lists are also perfect for helping people improve their business or personal branding. When you frame a list around secrets or mistakes, it instantly creates high value.

Take graphic design and marketing as an example. You could write a list titled: "The Secret to Making Your Brand Stand Out in Canva: 4 Things to Stop Doing Immediately."

By listing the "shouldn'ts"—like using overused template fonts or mixing too many colors—you give your audience a concrete checklist to audit their own work and instantly improve.

My Example: Teaching a New Skill (The "How-To" List)

Here are the chord breakdowns for all three songs using the 1 (C), 4 (F), and 5 (G) chords in the key of C major.

To play these, press the chord letter right when you sing the bolded word.

 3 Simple Songs Every Beginner Can Play on the Piano Today:

🎹 Amazing Grace

(1) Amazing (1) grace, how (4) sweet the (1) sound
That (1) saved a (1) wretch like (5) me!
I (1) once was (1) lost, but (4) now am (1) found,
Was (1) blind, but (5) now I (1) see.

🎺 When the Saints Go Marching In

Oh, when the (1) saints go marching in,
Oh, when the saints go marching (5) in,
Lord, I (1) want to be in that (4) number,
When the (1) saints go (5) marching (1) in!

🙏 What a Friend We Have in Jesus

(1) What a friend we (4) have in Jesus,
(1) All our sins and (5) griefs to bear!
(1) What a privilege (4) to carry
(1) Everything to (5) God in (1) prayer!

Your Turn

Whether you are teaching a musical instrument, sharing business tips, or writing about healthy habits, look at your core topic today. How can you break it down into a list of things your audience can—or shouldn't—do?