If you are a blogger who’s looking to create stronger engagement with your target engagement, you should consider following the rule of three. Basically, this principle is based around the idea that our brains are hard-wired to respond when confronted with groups of three. To learn more about the rule of three and how it can be used to create a successful and engaging blog, keep reading.
Rule of Three: the Basics
Even if you are unfamiliar with the rule of three, chances are you’ve seen or have encountered groups of three before. From stories like the Three Little Pigs and Three Musketeers, to retail merchandising displays consisting of three mannequins and fast food meals with three items, they are all around us.
There’s a good reason for this: when confronted with groups of three, it triggers a visceral response that forces us to stop, look and listen. Scientists believe this is due to the fact that three items, when grouped together, are unsymmetrical. So when we see a group of three, it creates a stronger reaction on a subconscious level. As a blogger, you can use this to your advantage by implementing groups of three into your posts.
Blog Posts About Groups of Three
One simple way to use this strategy in your blog is to publish posts that revolve around groups of three. For instance, the “Top 3 Mistakes Made by XZY” or “Top 3 Tips for XYZ.” Of course, you’ll want to replace the “XYZ” with your blog’s niche/central theme, but you get the idea. Just seeing the post name is often enough to entice a user to click and read it. You can craft dozens of posts like this, using the rule of three to capture to visitors’ attention while building your blog’s popularity.
Images of Groups of Three
Another idea is to upload images to your blog in which three items are grouped together. Regardless of what you are writing about, chances are you can find a relevant image in which three items are presented. And even if you cannot find one, you can always piece together your own image of three. Using a photo-editing program from Adobe Photoshop or Fireworks, combine three items into a single image and then use it in a blog post.
Does the rule of three always work? Unfortunately, no, but it’s a very real phenomenon that’s backed by actual scientific studies. If you’re still skeptical of its effectiveness, try using it on your blog. Craft a few posts around three items, complimenting it with an image of three, and measure the response by your visitors.
What are your thoughts on the rule of three? Let us know in the comments section below!
As they say, good things come in threes. Definitely worth trying out!
Three symbolizes balance, strength, and unity. As human beings we are naturally attracted to sets of three.