How to turn a Top 10 list into 10 articles and a book

The Top 10 list is one of my favourite ways to generate content. Use these four steps to get more mileage from your list.

1. Create a Top 10 list article about a problem that your customers care about.

2. Expand each of the 10 points into 10 separate articles.

3. Add some "connective tissue" to make the articles flow together, plus some journaling questions, exercises or bonus tips.

4. Put it all together into an e-book and convert it to .PDF using Easy PDF ($14.95) or Neevia (FREE).  Make it downloadable from your website as either a promotional give-away (in exchange for joining your mailing list) or sell it as an information product.

That's the exact process I used to create the Ten Ways to Thrive as a Creative Artist e-book. I also recorded myself reading the book, using Audio Acrobat, and the e-book and audio book are available together as a package.

Quick Writing Prompt: What problem is keeping your customers awake at night? List 10 things that you know about solving it.

And don't forget, if you want to polish or refine your writing, I can help! Visit the Services page for more details.

Note: This article was edited on July 26, 2008 to conform with The Customizable Style Guide for Coaches Who Write.