How to make X top lists that will receive tons of reactions 😈😇 on dev.to
Tags: meta, tutorial, writing
Published: 2022-08-18 14:36:00

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 ?

{% embed https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confirmation_bias %}

## 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

{% embed https://dev.to/t/javascript %}

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

{% embed https://dev.to/t/writing %}

{% embed https://dev.to/maddy/lessons-learned-in-12-months-of-blogging-3m23 %}

{% embed https://dev.to/amrutaranade/how-to-write-a-blog-post-the-four-drafts-method-1k7b %}

{% embed https://dev.to/jmfayard/20-lessons-i-ve-learned-writing-on-dev-for-4-years-4nk3 %}

😈 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: 

{% embed https://dev.to/christopherkade/introducing-a-banner-generator-for-your-articles-on-dev-353a %} such as @christopherkade

😇 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.**

{% spoiler SPOILER %}
Well, that's the catch. It's uneasy.
{% endspoiler %}

😇: 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.

{% embed https://dev.to/ccoveille %}