How to grow blog traffic with ridiculously long list posts

Executive overview

Most blogs stall because they publish frequently but unremarkably. Publishing less often but with exceptional depth is what drives compounding traffic growth.

The core format is the Ridiculously Long List (RLL) — a single post listing 100+ items on a topic, combining the reach of long-form content with the shareability of list posts. It builds instant credibility and makes your blog stand out in a crowded niche.

Depth and topic selection, not publishing frequency, determine blog growth.

Why RLLs work

• Two million blog posts are published daily; typical lists of 15–25 items are invisible
• RLLs cover more ground on one page than any competitor in your niche
• Longer content earns more social shares; list posts outperform other formats — RLLs combine both
• Curation signals expertise: readers assume the author cracked the topic

How to choose the right RLL topic

A valid topic must pass three checks:

• People care about it — does not need to be controversial, just genuinely searched or asked about
• 100+ items are achievable — if you can't confidently reach 100, pick a narrower angle (e.g. "best iPhone apps" instead of "smartphones")
• No dominant RLL already exists — if a high-quality RLL already owns the topic, move on; competing with an established list rarely works even with a better post

Creating your RLL: the four steps

1. Find a topic that passes all three checks above
2. Outline the post
3. Fill in the items
4. Publish and promote

What good topic selection looks like in practice

• An SEO tools list succeeded because hundreds of tools exist (easy to hit 100+) and existing lists topped out at 20–30
• A water conservation list with 100+ tips earned shares despite being a low-excitement topic — proof that interest level matters more than passion
• A competitor rebuilt the Google ranking factors post with better design and filtering; it still earned 100x fewer backlinks because the original already owned the topic