{"id":7914,"date":"2023-01-30T13:49:47","date_gmt":"2023-01-30T13:49:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2023\/01\/30\/how-to-write-a-listicle-with-6-examples\/"},"modified":"2023-01-30T13:49:47","modified_gmt":"2023-01-30T13:49:47","slug":"how-to-write-a-listicle-with-6-examples","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2023\/01\/30\/how-to-write-a-listicle-with-6-examples\/","title":{"rendered":"How to write a listicle (with 6 examples)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>One of the most popular formats for written online content is the humble listicle.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.orbitmedia.com\/blog\/blogging-statistics\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">55%<\/a> of bloggers say they\u2019ve published a listicle in the last 12 months (only how-to articles rank higher).<\/p>\n<p>But this popularity exists precisely because <strong>people love to read lists<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>We love <strong>clicking<\/strong> on list headlines because they\u2019re incredibly specific and set an expectation for what\u2019s inside the article. We know what we\u2019re getting into, and it\u2019s satisfying to behold.<\/p>\n<p>We love <strong>reading<\/strong> lists because our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.newyorker.com\/tech\/annals-of-technology\/a-list-of-reasons-why-our-brains-love-lists\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">brains<\/a> are wired for this exact type of information sorting.<\/p>\n<p>And, by the time you\u2019re done reading this article, you\u2019ll love <strong>writing<\/strong> listicles, too.<\/p>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_81 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2023\/01\/30\/how-to-write-a-listicle-with-6-examples\/#What_is_a_listicle\" >What is a listicle?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2023\/01\/30\/how-to-write-a-listicle-with-6-examples\/#Why_you_should_write_listicles\" >Why you should write listicles<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2023\/01\/30\/how-to-write-a-listicle-with-6-examples\/#How_to_write_listicles_that_grab_your_audience\" >How to write listicles that grab your audience<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2023\/01\/30\/how-to-write-a-listicle-with-6-examples\/#1_Choose_a_great_listicle_topic\" >1. Choose a great listicle topic<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2023\/01\/30\/how-to-write-a-listicle-with-6-examples\/#2_Write_a_clear_and_specific_listicle_headline\" >2. Write a clear and specific listicle headline<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2023\/01\/30\/how-to-write-a-listicle-with-6-examples\/#3_Outline_and_number_the_steps_or_points\" >3. Outline and number the steps or points<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2023\/01\/30\/how-to-write-a-listicle-with-6-examples\/#4_Dont_chain_yourself_to_a_certain_number_of_points\" >4. Don\u2019t chain yourself to a certain number of points<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2023\/01\/30\/how-to-write-a-listicle-with-6-examples\/#5_Make_each_point_or_step_clear_and_valuable\" >5. Make each point or step clear and valuable<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2023\/01\/30\/how-to-write-a-listicle-with-6-examples\/#6_Use_the_right_formatting_for_a_listicle\" >6. Use the right formatting for a listicle<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2023\/01\/30\/how-to-write-a-listicle-with-6-examples\/#Ready_to_write_your_listicle\" >Ready to write your listicle?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_is_a_listicle\"><\/span>What is a listicle?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>A listicle is a type of content that smashes together two things: an article and a list.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Simply put, in a listicle, you present information formatted as a detailed list. Usually, accompanying each list item will be a few paragraphs of description to help the reader understand it, to give them background or history on it, or to explain why it matters.<\/p>\n<p>Listicles are formatted in a very specific way, with each list item denoted with a numbered subheading.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Here\u2019s a good example from a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rd.com\/list\/books-read-before-die\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Reader\u2019s Digest<\/a> listicle of the 100 Best Books of All Time. Each book\u2019s title is a numbered point on the list formatted as a heading. Underneath each list item is a summary of the book, why it made the list, and why you should read it.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_you_should_write_listicles\"><\/span>Why you should write listicles<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Listicles are one of the most popular content types for a ton of reasons:<\/p>\n<p>They break down a topic into bite-sized, easily-digestible pieces.<\/p>\n<p>The list format is easy to scan, which helps readers find the information that\u2019s most important to them.<\/p>\n<p>When written about an educational topic, the listicle helps clarify complex ideas and processes.<\/p>\n<p>The list format makes complicated topics and long explanations more approachable and less intimidating.<\/p>\n<p>Writing listicles and publishing them as part of your content strategy is also useful for meeting brand <a href=\"https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/seo-content-marketing-388978\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">content and SEO<\/a> goals.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Listicles tend to get great engagement \u2013 when people see a typical listicle headline, they\u2019re more likely to click it. <\/p>\n<p>In a BuzzSumo <a href=\"https:\/\/buzzsumo.com\/blog\/most-shared-headlines-study\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">study of the most-shared headlines<\/a>, articles that got the highest engagement started with a number, e.g., \u201c7 unique ways to decorate for the holidays\u201d or \u201c10 of the best books of all time.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<\/div>\n<p>Half of the <a href=\"https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/top-10-seo-expert-columns-2022-390024\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">top 10 SEO expert columns on Search Engine Land in 2022<\/a> were listicles. (And that article itself is one example of a listicle.)<\/p>\n<p>Don\u2019t forget keyword rankings. If your listicles are properly researched and optimized for the right topics\/keywords, they\u2019ll rank in search engines, grab clicks, and drive traffic and leads to your website.<\/p>\n<p>So, let\u2019s answer the question: How do you write a good listicle that accomplishes all these things?<\/p>\n<p><!-- START INLINE FORM --><\/p>\n<div class=\"nl-inline-form border py-2 px-1 my-2\">\n<div class=\"row align-items-center\">\n<div class=\"col-12 col-lg-3 col-xl-4 pe-md-0 pb-2 pb-lg-0\">\n<p class=\"inline-form-text text-center mb-0\">Get the daily newsletter search marketers rely on.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"col-12 col-lg-7 col-xl-6  pe-lg-0\">\n<div class=\"form-nl-inline\">\n<div class=\"row g-0\">\n<div class=\"form-group col-12 col-lg-8 mb-0\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"col-12 col-lg-4 col-xl-4 mb-0\">\n<div class=\"d-none\">\n<p>Processing\u2026Please wait.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"btn btn-dark inlineButton w-100 rounded-0 font-weight-bold\">SUBSCRIBE<\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"col-12 col-lg-2 col-xl-2 ps-1\">\n<p class=\"text-center mb-0\"><a class=\"nl-terms\" href=\"https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/termsofuse\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">See terms.<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><!-- END INLINE FORM --><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_to_write_listicles_that_grab_your_audience\"><\/span>How to write listicles that grab your audience<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Writing listicles can be extremely straightforward. However, you can <a href=\"https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/write-better-listicles-383611\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">take your listicles to the next level<\/a> by incorporating these steps.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"1_Choose_a_great_listicle_topic\"><\/span>1. Choose a great listicle topic<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>First, make sure you choose a topic that lends itself to a list \u2013 not every topic will work for writing a listicle.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The best listicle topics are straightforward and easily sorted into a list. If you do your sorting and are left with dangling information that wouldn\u2019t make sense as part of your list, you need to rethink the topic or hone it.<\/p>\n<p>For example, this article you\u2019re reading could have been a listicle, but ultimately all the information I wanted to share wouldn\u2019t fit neatly inside the list format (such as the definition of a listicle and why you should write one). These \u201cdanglers\u201d ruin the list \u2013 and defeat the neatness, simplicity, and satisfaction inherent in the format.<\/p>\n<p>Long story short: If you can\u2019t fit all the information in your article neatly inside a list, you shouldn\u2019t write it as a listicle.\u00a0<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"2_Write_a_clear_and_specific_listicle_headline\"><\/span>2. Write a clear and specific listicle headline<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Thankfully, your listicle headline should write itself \u2013 but it shouldn\u2019t be clickbaity.<\/p>\n<p>Click-bait headlines promise more than they deliver. That means your headline initially excites your reader in some way, but when they click and start reading, they immediately feel let down.<\/p>\n<p>Avoid this by getting clear and specific about what your article will include. Describe that in your headline, including the exact number of steps\/points your list contains.<\/p>\n<p>For example, if I was writing a listicle about the best eco-friendly clothing companies, I would word it like this:<\/p>\n<p>\u201c10 amazing eco-friendly clothing brands for the earth-conscious shopper\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Or, if I was writing a listicle of tips to save money on heating\/cooling:<\/p>\n<p>\u201c5 simple tips to save money on heating and cooling your home\u201d<\/p>\n<p>These headlines are descriptive, but they don\u2019t over-promise. They\u2019re also front-loaded with the number of points in the list.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>This listicle headline from a <a href=\"https:\/\/happyhiller.com\/blog\/5-natural-ways-unclog-bathroom-sink\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">plumber<\/a> is another great example. It\u2019s simple but effective:<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<\/div>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"3_Outline_and_number_the_steps_or_points\"><\/span>3. Outline and number the steps or points<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Next, lay out all the steps, points, or items in your listicle. Write them out as a simple list and number them accordingly.<\/p>\n<p>This is your outline \u2013 a very helpful step that allows you to see your entire article at a glance and ensure it makes sense from a zoomed-out perspective.<\/p>\n<p>At this point, ensure that your list items are ordered as logically as possible.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>If your list items are steps in a process, organize them in the order needed to complete the task.<\/p>\n<p>If the order of your list items doesn\u2019t depend on logic, list the most valuable items or points first \u2013 the ones your readers will care about the most.<\/p>\n<p>For example, this listicle by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bakingkneads.com\/cake-baking-tips-for-beginners\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Baking Kneads<\/a> offers 13 tips for baking a cake. The tips follow a logical order, starting with prepping ingredients and ending with the right frosting technique.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<\/div>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"4_Dont_chain_yourself_to_a_certain_number_of_points\"><\/span>4. Don\u2019t chain yourself to a certain number of points<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>As you\u2019re outlining your listicle, don\u2019t say, \u201cI must write 13 points or else&#8230;\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>That\u2019s a recipe for an unsatisfying list. What if you have way more valuable information than that? What if you could easily write a list of 25 points, each one of them useful?<\/p>\n<p>On the other hand, what if you struggle to come up with more list items after number 7? The remainder of your points probably won\u2019t be that valuable or interesting \u2013 and that\u2019s how you end up with useless fluff.<\/p>\n<p>Instead, let your topic guide you on how much information you need to satisfy readers \u2013 and how long your list should be.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Do topic research on Google to see what competitors have included in their lists.<\/p>\n<p>Think about your brand expertise and add what you know will be valuable based on your knowledge and experience.<\/p>\n<p>Consider what your audience needs to know, and aim to provide that.<\/p>\n<p>Never add more list items just to hit a specific number or pad out your list.<\/p>\n<p>Great example: Plenty of people will tell you that including a certain number of items in your listicle is more engaging and will earn more clicks and reads. Some say to only use odd numbers, others stick to multiples of 5, and a few only build lists with 1-9 items.<\/p>\n<p>This Backlinko listicle completely throws all those \u201cbest practices\u201d out the window by including 200(!) items.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<\/div>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"5_Make_each_point_or_step_clear_and_valuable\"><\/span>5. Make each point or step clear and valuable<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>To write a truly useful list article, make each point or list item as clear and valuable as possible. This means being specific, actionable, and descriptive.<\/p>\n<p>For example, if I was writing a listicle of fall gardening tips, it would be easy to be vague, like:\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Plant bulbs<\/p>\n<p>Prune<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBut wait!\u201d my green-thumb readers would think. \u201cPlant <strong>what<\/strong> bulbs? Prune <strong>what<\/strong>?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>These steps only hit one target: They\u2019re actionable. But, to be clear and valuable, they must be specific and descriptive, too. Here\u2019s how I would edit them:<\/p>\n<p>Plant spring bulbs like garlic, tulips, and daffodils<\/p>\n<p>Prune hardy perennials and woody herbs<\/p>\n<p>Yes, you could describe these actions in the paragraph text. But, you\u2019ll make your overarching list more valuable (and <a href=\"https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/tips-optimize-content-people-search-engines-388271\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">optimized<\/a>) if you <strong>get clearer at the list level<\/strong>. For the scanning reader, especially, this is super useful. It also helps search engine crawlers understand what your content is about.<\/p>\n<p>Here\u2019s a good example of that from a gardening tips listicle by <a href=\"https:\/\/learn.eartheasy.com\/articles\/ten-ways-to-prepare-your-garden-for-winter\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Eartheasy<\/a>:<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<\/div>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"6_Use_the_right_formatting_for_a_listicle\"><\/span>6. Use the right formatting for a listicle<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Always use the same format for every listicle you write.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Sure, you could skip the formatting and just do whatever feels right. But remember that listicles are popular precisely because of their numbered list format. It\u2019s the reason they\u2019re so engaging and attention-grabbing. So why mess with a proven standard?<\/p>\n<p>Here are the general rules to follow:<\/p>\n<p>Format each list item as a numbered heading.<\/p>\n<p>Use the same heading level for each point in the list (all H2s, all H3s, etc.).<\/p>\n<p>Describe each list item. Tell the reader why it\u2019s on the list, why they should care, and, if applicable, how to do it.<\/p>\n<p>Order your points logically \u2013 use chronological order if you\u2019re listing steps in a process; add the most valuable points at the top if there\u2019s no clear ordering scheme.<\/p>\n<p>If relevant, add images to illustrate each point. (For example, each book in the \u201cbest 100 books\u201d list above includes a photo of the cover.)<\/p>\n<p>Finally, if your list is super-long, consider grouping it by categories.<\/p>\n<p>For example, a listicle of Christmas stocking stuffer ideas is grouped by type of gift:<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Ready_to_write_your_listicle\"><\/span>Ready to write your listicle?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Don\u2019t get overwhelmed when writing your listicle. Though there are lots of tiny details that will help your content <a href=\"https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/reliably-predict-seo-success-389436\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">rank better<\/a> and earn more reads, you probably have an instinct about creating a good list already.<\/p>\n<p>Think about it: How many listicles have you consumed in the last week alone? The last month? If you\u2019re like most online readers, it\u2019s probably a lot more than you realized.<\/p>\n<p>Take all the things you love about listicles and pour them into your content. Add in these steps and tips, and mix well. Your effective listicle will be ready for your content calendar in no time.<\/p>\n<p>The post <a href=\"https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/how-to-write-a-listicle-with-6-examples-392297\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">How to write a listicle (with 6 examples)<\/a> appeared first on <a href=\"https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Search Engine Land<\/a>.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>One of the most popular formats for written online content is the humble listicle. 55% of bloggers say they\u2019ve published a listicle in the last 12 months (only how-to articles rank higher). But this popularity exists precisely because people love to read lists. We love clicking on list headlines because they\u2019re incredibly specific and set an expectation for what\u2019s inside the article. We know what we\u2019re getting into, and it\u2019s satisfying to behold. We love reading lists because our brains are wired for this exact type [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"h5ap_radio_sources":[],"cybocfi_hide_featured_image":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7914","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-best-seo-blogs"],"featured_image_src":null,"featured_image_src_square":null,"author_info":{"display_name":false,"author_link":"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/author\/"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7914","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7914"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7914\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7914"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7914"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7914"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}