Laura’s Blog

This is Part 5 in a 12-part e-course about the types of blog articles.

ROUNDUP ARTICLE

If you’re active on Facebook or Twitter, you can quickly collect input for a Roundup Article. Just pose a question and watch the comments fly in.

A roundup article includes direct quotes from several people. Some roundups feature celebrities or industry influencers, but they certainly don’t have to. Normal, everyday folks will get a kick out of their 15 seconds of fame on your blog, and they’ll urge their friends to visit your blog.

AS EASY AS ONE-TWO

A roundup contains only two components:

1. A short introduction that explains how the roundup is “packaged.”
2. Soundbites from the people you interviewed. These direct quotes should be short, pithy, and entertaining. It’s ok to lightly edit soundbites for wordiness, but make sure you stay true to the interviewee’s personality, tone, and message. Each person you feature will receive his or her own paragraph.

SAMPLE ROUNDUP TOPICS

• Why I homeschool my kids – Ask this question to five parents
• 3 best children’s museums in the U.S. – You can do this review style, stating your own opinion about three different museums, or you can solicit others’ opinions
• My first date – Everyone remembers their first date, for better or for worse
• My most memorable Christmas – This post combines the Calendar Article and the Roundup style.
• The most unusual item I’ve cooked in a crockpot – Crockpots have taken on new life and are again the “in” appliance. Your readers might be surprised at the strange concoctions people brew up in theirs.
• The best uses for coffee filters (other than for brewing coffee) – Let your readers get creative!

YOUR ASSIGNMENT

1. Think about your blog’s ideal reader. List 5 roundup topics that would appeal to your reader. At least one of your topics should be purely for entertainment value.
2. Share the question for one of your roundup articles in the Comments area so we can respond to it. Let’s help each other!

Coming next:

How to write a List Article

Previously in this Series:

• How to Write a Calendar Article (E-Course Part 1)
• How To Write a How-To Article (E-Course Part 2)
• How to Write Case Studies (E-Course Part 3)
• How to Write a Review (E-Course Part 4)