In this model lists are content. This accounts for up to 30% of web content. These lists are used to communicate, to educate and to tell stories.

Facebook, LinkedIn (Groups), Twitter, G+ (Circles), FourSquare, Klout, PeerIndex, YouTube (Play Lists), Pinterest (Pin Boards). These lists consist of only one type of item. In this model lists are filters or navigation tools. These lists are a "feature" or the Social networks, as such they are proprietary.

Lists can be bookmarks or collections of links eg Delicious (wikipedia)

Introduction post to a series of posts exploring the value of social lists

Old Model: Information Hierarchy : Publisher > Content > Consumer
New Model: Information Network : Community forms around Content
Old Thinking: We (the publisher) knows best
New Thinking: We (the collective) knows better – Wisdom of Crowds

Old Model: Lists / Collections are Static / Fixed / Dormant / Linear
New Model: Lists / Collections are Interactive and Evolving
Old Thinking: Lists / Collections are simply “text”
New Thinking: Interactive & Participation are the New Normal!

Old Model: Lists are a Feature (Proprietary)
New Model: Lists are a Product or a Market (Open / Ubiquitous)
Old Thinking: Lists exist inside Applications and within Blog Posts
New Thinking: Lists traverse applications. Lists unify. Lists are reusable

Old Model: List Metrics = Post Metrics – Lists are Part of a Post
New Model: Lists reach beyond the post – Lists can be embedded in multiple posts

Old Thinking: Lists are Content – Content is complete when published
New Thinking: Lists are a tool – A tool to spread your message and evolve your content.

Old Model: The Lone Expert – The Journalist/ The Blogger
New Model: Many Eager Contributors – Co-Creations meets Co-Curation
Old Thinking: We know everything. Here it is. More next week.
New Thinking: Here’s my initial thoughts, can you help?

Old Model: Write once. Publish. Move on. Reader is the consumer
New Model: Writing Never Ends. Reading is Never Alone. It’s a continuum

Old Model: Monolog – Spectators / Consumers
New Model: Dialog – Participation & Contribution
Old Thinking: Lists are born perfect. No need to listen. No Feedback Required
New Thinking: Lists are a way to engage your audience.

Old Model: Creation
New Model: Creation AND Curation
Old Thinking: Start from Nothing – Ex Nihilo
New Thinking: Start from Something – Mashup Models – ReInvent/Copy/ReCombine

Old Model: We crave “more” and “new” content. We need new contain to sustain our traffic.
New Model: We can get more from less content by keeping our content alive
Old Thinking: Publish, Spike and flatline
New Thinking: Publish and grow SEO ranking and traffic as your content evolves