4 reasons why lists are so useful in web content
When writing web content, it can be helpful to use lists, whether those are numbered lists or bulleted lists. The University of Maryland lists this among its best practices for online writing. This does not mean that every blog post or every webpage must contain a list, but simply that it can be a very effective tool that is helpful to use when crafting your content.
But why are lists so useful? There are many different benefits to consider, a few of which we will discuss below.
They can replace paragraphs
Often, a long paragraph of dense content will feel overwhelming to a potential reader. They may skip over it entirely or seek another source. But putting the same information in a list makes them far more likely to read it and stay on your page.
For example, you could write an entire paragraph outlining the specifications of a guitar that your company makes and sells. But you could also put those key points into a list, such as:
- Number of strings: Six
- Bridge pickup: Humbucker
- Neck pickup: Single coil
- Volume pot: 500 K
- Control knobs: Volume and tone
- Selector switch: Three-way
- Scale length: 25.5
This also makes your content more efficient. Using an entire sentence to list out each of the details noted above takes far more space on the page than simply putting everything into a list.
They promote scanning
A related benefit here is that a list makes it easy for someone to scan your content. Finding the one detail that they need can be difficult when it is buried in the middle of a paragraph, but it is far easier when it is in a list.
To stay with the example from above, a potential buyer may be most interested in what type of bridge pickup was used. This allows them to know exactly what to expect in just a second, so they can know if it is even worth their time to read more deeply into the other specifications of the guitar.
They break up the web content
From an aesthetic perspective, lists are also helpful because they break up your content. The same is true for subheaders, as we are using in this article. White space, lists, subheaders and paragraph breaks can all be useful ways to separate the content. This makes it look better on the page and makes it easier to read.
They have a variety of uses
Finally, lists can be helpful for all different types of web content. Above, we noted product specifications. But you could also list navigational links on your website. You could list potential benefits of products or services that you offer. You could list different ways that potential customers can contact your company, such as your phone number, email address and social media profiles.
Lists are versatile and helpful, and readers are more likely to engage with them. In all of these areas, they can enhance your content and ensure that you get the most out of it.
Refining your web content
Here at Content Customs, we have decades of experience creating web content that works and that gets results. Whether you want to build a page from the ground up or refine the content that you already have, our experienced team is here to help. Do not hesitate to get in touch with us today to find out more about the services we offer.
