Anyone knows how to compile but do you actually write compilation articles? Are your bits all around your articles? Think of this solution. What if all the points in 10 of your posts are being compiled together to make a huge list of goodies? Will it be the next great thing?

Let me show you a few examples of a great compilation. 45 Fresh, Clean and Impressive Designs is one great compilation post and another one will be 49 Most downloaded Wordpress themes of all time by our local blogger, Hong Kiat. After a look at these articles and you still don’t get the idea, I don’t know what to say.

Benefits of a Compilation Post

• Pillar article - It is no doubt that it will become a pillar article instantly if your compilation has never been done by others before and it proves to be a great resource. That great masterpiece will become evergreen. People will click it when you boast a link with a title like “100 Tools for Your School Project Needs” or “Top 100 Celebrities Shame Shame Moments” on your sidebar or on other blogs.


Photo by Daniel Morris

• Traffic and incoming links - This don’t need a lot of say. Just look at the two examples that I have given you. Look at all the comments that the articles have generated for the blogs. Since the post is evergreen, it will get traffic and links all the time. Leveraging traffic and all the incoming links can be done easily if you constantly have such articles coming out.
• The WOW factor - When you post something really long (with good readability) and stuffed with a lot of screenshots or images, people tend to look at it after a “WOW”! You just won the first impression from your visitors!
• Little or lesser writings - The process that you have gone through during the compilation work before you post it will make the work needed when writing out the actual post much lesser. Since most of the resources will be described, you will only need some refurbishment to do.
• Social media favorite - Compilation posts are always the favorite of social media users because of the WOW factor mentioned above. Just a peek on Digg has got me this wonderful screenshot of a compilation post topping the social media front page.

I know there are still a lot of benefits that you can see through the two links I have given to you. Do you think the benefits are worthwhile for you to pick a compilation post idea as your next article?

Drafting a compilation will need more work from you compared to all your small bits articles. Follow the few steps that I have outlined below and I am sure that you are on your way to create your next pillar article by using a compilation article.

Steps to Create a Compilation Article

1. Brainstorm for ideas
   With so many ideas are being taken, you really need to sit down and think of what will you compile in your compilation post. A fresh and unique compilation don’t need to be different, a little deviation from what people had done will do you the magic. Try changing a compilation from “50 Resources to Create a Great Blog” to “100 Resources to Create a Great Soccer Blog”. It is a great technique which you can learn from Evil Posting Ideas - Build On Others’ Articles.


Photo by Marco Arment

2. Save and bookmark bits of info
   This should be the most time-consuming part in the creation of your compilation post. You will need to use major search engines to find relevant bits, go through links provided by some of the bits, inquire for similar items from creators of those bits, ask for permission to let their bits being compiled by you. You shall not be lazy in this step as it would be disheartening if someone post this comment in your compilation post, “Isn’t this (an undiscovered bit by you due to laziness) as good as all the 45 tools that you have posted?”
3. Writing Your Compilation Post
   You will require a skill here as well. You must decide whether to post the best in your list first or scatter them all around the list. Also, you will need to compare and ditch out some items to make the number looks good, i.e. 100 instead of 103. If your list is long, short description will be enough as your readers of the post will become text-blind, looking at all the links and screenshots unless they are very interested in one of the bits you have provided.
4. Notifying and pinging
   Tell people about the compilation. Bloggers in your niche must surely be notified. Users of social media such as your fans and friends in Digg or StumbleUpon must be sent a shout so that they can check out your work. A blog must have contents and marketing to be successful. It is nothing if you have produced a great compilation and no one or little know about it.


Photo by Tjeerd

5. Is your host ready?
   The last thing you want from a social media traffic spike or a Digg effect to be precise is having a server crash. It may seemed to be selfless to tell your web host to be prepared for predicted rush but the feeling of sorry will be immense if it really hits the front page of sites like Digg and your site is down.

What to compile?

To get things started off for you, I have a few ideas which are already being compiled or not yet being compiled by others.

• Tools
• Screenshots of useful sites
• Photos
• Solutions

Do You Have Anything to Say About Compilation Article?

Third content posting tips in a row. This shows that I am really focusing on content when evaluating a site. What will you have to say about a compilation post? Do you think that the reward is worthwhile for the efforts put in? Will I see a compilation post on your blog very soon?

Subscribe to Wayne Liew Dot Com RSS Feed for more content writing tips.