We’ve noticed an interesting occurrence in content creation among blogging blogs. It’s what we call, the compilation post. A compilation post is similar to a list or ‘best of’ post but it consists primarily of links to software or blog previews to showcase the best (or worst) of a certain trend taking shape in the blogosphere.

The benefits of creating compilation posts are fairly clear. They are easy to read and scan through, they are excellent reference guides, they beg to be bookmarked and they spread link love to talented people across the blogosphere. We thought we’d weigh in, and better explain the trend by creating a compilation of compilation posts.

Here goes:

Blog/Website Design Galleries

A very common compilation post that showcases beautiful site designs across the web. Sometimes, these galleries will be centered on specific design themes or tools, like a WordPress exclusive post or a focus on elaborate headers, etc.

Examples:

47 Must See Great Blog Designs @ blogdesignblog.com

25 Incredibly Artistic Websites @ vandelaydesign.com/blog (this one made it to the top of del.ici.ous)

Widget Lists

These lists feature some prominent widgets being implemented in blogs, complete with descriptions, downloads and/or links to their creators.

Examples:

The Top Ten Underrated Wordpress Plug-ins @ dailyblogtips.com

50 Great Widgets for your Blog @ mashable.com

Best of the Blogs/ Blog Resources

These posts can come in different shapes and sizes. Generally, they are a list of useful resources or advice centers for bloggers to consult. While some may argue that your site’s blogroll does the job here, sometimes there needs to be some more explanation detailing the strengths of each blog or resource. The lists can be very broad or very specific depending on who’s compiling them.

Examples:

Top 25 Blogs about Blogging @ dailyblogtips.com

101 Essential Blogging Resources @ blogtrepreneur.com

These are three basic kinds of compilation posts you’ll come across in the blogosphere. While there are other types of compilation posts out there, we felt these three categories summarize their general purpose and presentation. We hope these links will be valuable references for your blogging endeavors.

Feel free to share your own list of resources as well, as we are always looking for new sources.

Apollo Media’s Blog aims to bring you all the relevant news, tips and tools needed to succeed in the world of Web 2.0. Whether it’s for blogging, SEO, copywriting or marketing, you can count on us for all the best links, articles and lists.