5 steps · Complete guide · 2026

How to write a roundup post: 5 steps to a post that gets shared

How to write a roundup post: choose the right format, curate with genuine editorial judgment, reach out for link-building, structure for scanning, and promote to the people you feature.

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Choose the right roundup format for your goal

Roundup posts come in several distinct formats. The expert roundup: ask multiple experts one question and compile their answers (great for building relationships and earning shares from contributors). The resource roundup: curate the best tools, articles, or resources on a topic (great for SEO — "best X for Y" has high search volume). The weekly or monthly digest: compile the most interesting content in your niche over a time period (great for newsletter conversion and community-building). The year-end roundup: the best content or events of the year (great for social sharing).

Choose the format based on your goal: link building, SEO traffic, or community engagement.

Curate with genuine editorial judgment, not comprehensiveness

The roundup posts that get shared are opinionated, not exhaustive. A list of 5 genuinely excellent resources beats a list of 30 mediocre ones. Your editorial voice is what makes the post worth reading: explain specifically why each item is included, what makes it better than the alternatives, and what type of reader will find it most useful.

A roundup that reads as "I just collected everything I could find" earns no respect; a roundup that reads as "here is what I would personally recommend and why" earns saves and shares.

Reach out to everyone you feature

One of the primary benefits of a roundup post is the relationship and link-building opportunity it creates. Before publishing: email or message every person or organisation you are featuring, let them know they are included and what you said about them, and invite them to share the post with their audience if they find it useful.

Most people appreciate the mention and share it — this single step can drive more traffic than any other promotion tactic. After publishing, send a follow-up with the live link.

Structure the post for scanners and researchers

Roundup readers typically have two behaviours: scanners who skim to find the 1-2 items most relevant to them, and researchers who read every entry to build a comprehensive view. Structure for both: a table of contents for long roundups, consistent entry formatting (name/title, why it is included, who it is best for), and clear visual hierarchy between entries.

A roundup where every entry looks and reads consistently is far easier to navigate than one where each entry is formatted differently.

Update roundups regularly to maintain their value

Roundup posts become stale: links break, resources shut down, new better options emerge. A "best tools for X" post that lists discontinued products destroys your credibility. Update roundup posts at least annually — replace dead links, add new entries that have emerged since original publication, remove entries that no longer meet your standard, and update the publication year in the title.

Well-maintained roundup posts accumulate backlinks over time because other sites link to the "definitive" resource — that status is only maintained through regular updates.

Expert roundup vs resource roundup

An expert roundup asks multiple people a question and compiles their answers — the value is in the diversity of perspectives and the social proof of the contributors. Best for: building relationships in your niche, generating shares from contributors, and establishing authority in your space.

A resource roundup curates the best existing tools, content, or sources on a topic — the value is in the editorial judgment and the time it saves the reader. Best for: SEO (resource roundups rank well for "best X" queries) and evergreen traffic.

Expert roundups generate more immediate social sharing; resource roundups generate more sustained search traffic. Both are valuable; choose based on your current goal.

Frequently asked questions

How many entries should a roundup post include?

Enough to be genuinely comprehensive for the topic, not so many that the post becomes a data dump. For expert roundups: 10-25 experts is the sweet spot — enough diversity to be interesting, manageable enough to read completely. For resource roundups: 10-20 entries for specific topics, 30-50 for broader annual lists. A tightly curated 12-entry roundup that explains each entry beats a 75-entry list that just names them.

Do I need to get permission before featuring someone in a roundup?

Not for publicly available content — you do not need permission to link to and describe someone's public blog post, tool, or resource. Expert roundup questions (where you quote the expert's answer) should be based on explicitly requested responses with their consent. Reach out before publishing to inform contributors of their inclusion — not to get permission, but as a courtesy that generates shares.

How do I get experts to respond to my expert roundup question?

Keep the ask specific and low-effort: one question that can be answered in 2-5 sentences. Send personalised outreach — reference something specific about their work. Give a clear deadline. Be explicit about how the post will be promoted and the estimated reach. Most bloggers and creators receive dozens of generic expert roundup requests; personalised, specific asks with a clear promotion plan earn much higher response rates. Aim for responses from 20-30% of those you contact.

Will a roundup post rank in Google?

Resource roundup posts ("best X tools for Y") rank well because they target high-commercial-intent queries that searchers research before purchasing decisions. Expert roundups rank less consistently because the content is unique (not searchable by topic) and Google values topical authority from a single expert over a collection of brief quotes. For SEO, resource roundups are the stronger format; for social sharing and relationship-building, expert roundups win.

Write roundup posts that earn links — publish on blogrr.

blogrr is free — a clean blogging platform with built-in SEO controls and newsletter. Publish your roundup posts and distribute them to an audience you own.

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