Listly – Use Lists to Boost Reader Engagement

Readers love lists. Whether they’re browsing through a list of the “Top 10 TV shows,” the “5 Best Productivity Apps,” or the “10 Most Inspirational Quotes,” blog visitors will routinely spend more time on lists than virtually any other type of online content. Listly is a platform that publishers can use to create lists that are fun, interactive, and easy for readers to digest.

Login to Listly with your Twitter, Facebook, Google+, or LinkedIn account, and then give your first list a title, description, and relevant tags. Quickly add items to your list, one line at a time. Items can be added as plain text, URLs, or Twitter handles. Import the items you’ve added, and Listly will quickly format them into an interactive list. Embed the list you’ve created on your blog or website, and visitors will be able to interact with your storytelling product right away.

The lists you make with Listly go beyond anything you could do with a traditional blogging platform. Listly lists are live creatures, which means they help cultivate traffic and engage readers who are already on your site. Blog visitors can comment on lists, vote individual items up or down, and share their favorite lists with friends through social media channels. Listly keeps track of the number of views each list has received, and provides incalculable SEO and social value to any blog or publishing website.

Practical Uses:

• Create a list of your favorite TV shows
• Engage with blog readers by publishing a list of their favorite posts
• Learn about pop culture by checking out the lists other users have created
• Build a community around a particular topic on your website

Insider Tips:

• Users can add a maximum of 25 items at a time
• Lists can be embedded in many blogging platforms, including WordPress, Joomla, Blogger, and Typepad
• WordPress users can use the Listly plugin for additional customization options
• Use the bookmarklet tool to quickly add items to any list

What we liked:

• Lists are a great way to boost engagement on any blog
• Listly’s lists are useful for social sharing and SEO purposes
• Readers can sort lists by tags and other filters
• Publishers can encourage readers to get involved by voting on their lists and sharing them via social media

What we didn’t like:

• People who use Listly’s free service may see ads on their lists

Alternatives:

• Bundlr –http://bundlr.com
• Itumz – http://www.itumz.com
• Storify – https://storify.com

Company Info:

• Launched: 2011
• Privately Held
• Founded by: Boomy Labs
• Web site: http://list.ly

Costs:

• Free plan
• Premium plan is $99 per year
• Team plan is $299 per year (coming soon)