How to make X top lists that will receive tons of reactions 😈😇 on dev.to

Preliminary note:

I have respect for people who build "X top Y you need for Z"

I find them useful, I often learn things, but I see a common pattern. So I thought about making an article.

SPOILER

This post is absolutely not serious and should be considered as it is, almost a joke. I'm sometimes using sarcastic tone in this article.

use long list

your list must be long enough for people not to be able to read it fully in one shot, so they have to bookmark it with 🔖 icons.

=> so here you are gaining reactions

but not too long

People would be bored otherwise

your list must be interesting and talk about things people love

😇: So you have a better chance to get ❤️ reaction

stay mainstream

Your list must mention at least 1-2 commonly accepted projects.

😈: people will react with ❤️ and 🦄 because of you will confirm what they know and love.

Did you ever hear about confirmation bias ?

Confirmation bias

Confirmation bias is the tendency to search for, interpret, favor, and recall information in a way that confirms or supports one's prior beliefs or values. People display this bias when they select information that supports their views, ignoring contrary information, or when they interpret ambiguous evidence as supporting their existing attitudes. The effect is strongest for desired outcomes, for emotionally charged issues, and for deeply entrenched beliefs. Confirmation bias is insuperable for most people, but they can manage it, for example, by education and training in critical thinking skills.

View on Wikipedia

include unknown resources

people MUST discover things they don't know by reading your list. Even a very small project/tips you care about.

read other top X lists

For inspiration purpose, and if possible to avoid duplication.

use emojis

😇: did you notice I used emojis ? 😅

use links

😈: When using links people will have to dig into, it requires time, so they bookmark 🔖

use embed links when possible

It allows you to import images to your article by doing almost nothing

Here is the syntax

{% embed https://whatever... %}

Something like this

versus

https://dev.to/t/javascript

Do you see the difference with a single link ?

😇 See ? Here people might learn something

read existing articles about writing

read existing articles about writing
Explore the tag #writing and find the most interesting ones

Lessons Learned In 12 Months Of Blogging

Maddy ・ Aug 15 '22

#writing

How to write a blog post: The four-drafts method

Amruta Ranade ・ Jan 5 '20

#writing #devrel #showdev

20+ Lessons I've Learned Writing on DEV for 4 Years

Jean-Michel 🕵🏻‍♂️ Fayard ・ Jun 29 '21

#writing #beginners #career #meta

😈 See ? Here I'm quoting commonly accepted resources.

use tags

Due to the way dev.to works, some people will see your content only if it matches your point of interest. I'm not talking about squatting the popular ones, but simply to use them.

Use a banner

Using a banner make you serious

If not inspired use:

Introducing a banner generator for your articles on DEV

Christopher Kade ・ May 31 '19

#webdev #meta

😇 See ? Here I use links, embed and quote dev.to user.

oh I almost forgot !

Be interesting, and try to be unique in your style.

😇: here I used spoiler tag available on dev.to, open documentation to see how to use it.

stay humble

Do not put in your title things letting people think you know things better than them. 😅

Wait ... Oh my god my post title ! 🤦‍♂️

say good bye

Bye, I hope you like my post, and maybe it would become popular, if not it means my "how to" is not interesting 🤣

And tell you hope you have liked this list, it's the first time I'm doing so.

I'm @ccoveille, follow me if you are interested in git, golang, fish and dotfiles organization.

Christophe ColombierFollow

Smiling person, father of two, Husband, Senior Developer/Architect (in that exact order, it's important) Experience in development since 2004 Linux user and advocate since 2001