Exclusive 5-Steps Guide To Write A Listicle That Ranks
You might have immediately clicked on titles like "Top 10 Travel Places…" or perhaps "38 Things That Will Keep Your Home Clean," etc.
Why?
We always love clicking on readable and concise articles that provide wholesome details quickly, thanks to an irresistible LISTICLE.
Who creates that ZING? Of course, the experienced professional content writers known for their innovative thinking.
Presenting large information in crisp and easy-to-scan numbered sections in a structured way to promote engagement - that's a listicle’s power!
Don't fret; your SEO strategy will also work great when small pointers and lists take over the monotonous blog tones.
In this article, I'll explore why listicles are so popular and guide you through the steps to create effective content for successful marketing.
What is Listicle?
Listicles are simple – list + articles. When we put items in a list form to represent the full article in a readable format under the well-crafted headings and sub-headings. This listicle format increases the readers' on-page time.
Listicles first existed in the 11th century, when poetess Sei Shonagon wrote them from the Heian period in Japan. Later on, the book was known as The Pillow Book.
However, the modern Pillow Book is the Buzzfeed. The articles' headlines are clickbait, emotional, cool, trending, and interactive.
Here are some more examples that represent Buzzfeed listicles.
Why Do People Like Listicles?
The popular search engine like Google is full of catchy and intriguing headlines. What first thing will strike your mind when you see results such as:
The first two examples are catchy headlines, and the readers know what information to expect from those articles. This gives them satisfaction in interpreting correct information in less time. Thus, they are more likely to be clicked than the third headline.
The average reader's span is less than 8 seconds. Listicles drive our brains to process things faster and remember them for a long time compared to simple, monotonous, long-form write-ups.
Listicles are easy to read, with an engaging introduction, a list of tips/tricks or ideas, and a clear CTA or conclusion. Thus, they get more attention and a higher click rate than simple headline-based articles (like the third example title above).
Moreover, people usually prefer numbers in the headlines. Thus, listicles greatly benefit marketers as they get more clicks. Companies unable to create ‘clicking’ listicles can take professional content writing services to influence their reader’s thoughts.
Various other reasons to love listicles are:
Types of Listicles
1) Simple List Posts
This is a sweet list of to-do things related to travel, artifacts, trekking, copywriting strategies, etc.
Examples:
2) Expanded Listicle Posts
Posts containing at least one listicle in every 500-word article get 70% more traffic than posts without any lists. SEO works better in a roundup in this type of listicle post. You can add more ingredients in expanded listicles where bullet points with descriptions are provided under each sub-heading.
Example: 10 SEO Content Strategies for 2024
-?Introduction
-?SEO strategies for content writing (H2)
-?10 Best SEO Content Strategies (H2)
Research Your Audience ?(H3)
Make Headlines ?(H3)
Use Keyword-phrases ?(H3)
……….
?-?Final Thoughts (H2)
The image shows how an Expanded Listicle type post works:
3) 'Best List' Posts
You must have seen articles trending with write-ups like 10 Best Home Décor Tips for Your Bedroom, 15 Best Websites to Book Cheap Hotels, 20 Awesome Blogs to Read on Cryptocurrency, etc. You can write for tools, bloggers, hotel sites, places, etc.
4) Ranking Listicles
These listicles create an order from best to worst of writing the items or the other way round. We will guide you with what information to include while writing a ranking listicle.
5) Step-by-Step Guides
These articles convey detailed information and deepen the readers' understanding of the content stepwise.
?Examples:
Qualities Your Listicles Must Have
How to Write a Listicle Article in 5 Steps
Step 1: Pick an APPROPRIATE Listicle Topic
Now, you know what a listicle is, its qualities, and why people like it.
However, every topic cannot become a LISTICLE, so choosing the right title is necessary. If you are writing a post to make the readers aware of different frameworks or to bring changes in their lives, the listicle works perfectly.
Examples: 10 Habits to Build Strong Disciplined Life, 10 Best Web Development Frameworks to Use in 2024, etc.
However, topics like - Link Building Guide for Beginners, Learn the Basics of LinkedIn Writing, etc., are long-form topics but may not perform well as a listicle. Here, we have to properly define link building, the importance or significance of LinkedIn writing, features, tips, etc. These may ruin your 'listing' format.
Thus, if the details of your topic cannot be represented in a list form, do not create a listicle out of it.
Step 2: Choose the Best Format for Writing
Your structure matters when it comes to listicle writing. The proper H1, H2, H3, etc. tags must be provided.
Let's say your blog is 1000 words.
The blog is on 5 Best Cameras for Vloggers. Let's structure this listicle now:
This structure has a proper heading, H2 tags providing complete details, and a CTA or conclusion.
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Step 3: Get The Right Keywords
Your listicle topic and format are all set, and now you need RIGHT keywords to build the content around.
We said 'RIGHT' because only your industry-related keywords must be used in the listicle to perform well with the search engine's algorithm. Keyword research will help you reach out to the target audience.
Dig the best-suitable keywords by watching:
You must properly place these keywords throughout the article for SEO optimization of the blogs. SEO-friendly listicles will help you rank higher.
Step 4: Make Each Listicle Crystal Clear
Be actionable, comprehensive, and specific about your listicle content.
Let's say you choose the topic - 30 Fun Games That Your Employees Will Enjoy.
Here, you must provide some amazing and action-oriented games in your list that office employees can enjoy on Fridays. The article must open with a chic and vibrant introduction explaining how games make Fridays fun and prove distressing for employees.
Now, clearly explain the games. Few readers must have heard the game names for the first time. So, elaborate the games in a fun yet detailed way. Include information about what these games are best at, such as team bonding, sportsmanship, mind awareness, destressing, etc.
Example image for 'Two Truths and a Lie.'
Step 5: Number Your Listicle
If you are creating a long listicle, the numbered listicle format works perfectly.
With a gripping introduction and creative numbered lists using related images, the readers go down the numbered list, which is great progress for your listicle. The numbered list works well for the long-form listicle topic.
It proves helpful when readers want to know about a certain point, as they can pick the exact number. The numbered list can be of any point as long as it offers value to the readers.
Listicle Titles That Grab Attention
A.??? B2C Article Examples
B.???? B2B Article Examples
?C.??? Trending Topics Examples
Strategies To Promote Your Listicle Articles
1.????? Collaborate with Influencers
The global influencer marketing size will be $24 billion by 2024. This shows how ingrained this market is. Collaborating with macro or mini-influencers to promote your content will prove a game changer.
You can collaborate with an influencer to create a listicle to provide insight into your products or even invite guest contributors to add expertise to your listicle.
2.????? Build Trust by Providing Bite-Sized Chunks
An informative listicle helps build trust among your customers as they know the brand provides the latest information they need.
This particular business is not here to waste our time. It builds a brand reputation as more and more consumers will be interested in your brand. Ultimately, it will help drive sales too.
3.????? Using Social Media Platforms
Broaden your brand's outreach by developing listicle content on social media platforms.
You can create eye-catching lists around which polls can be organized, add some punchlines to your listicle associated with your brand, or create infographics to present your listicles in a better way.
It will engage your immediate users to interact and know more about your brand.
4.????? Guest Blogging
60% of the blogs write between 1 and 5 guest posts monthly, and 3% write more than 100 blogs per month.
These figures are your answer on how guest blogging is becoming a part of the tribe. Imagine what value your guest's posts in listicle format can add.
Well, these blogs will add to your engagements and help you develop a network of experts who can add valid points to your listicles. It will make your blog/article more powerful.
Create Winning Listicles To Upscale Your Blog or Business!
Human creativity is unlimited, and how you present your thoughts is clear.
Listicles are a great way to represent your thoughts in bite-sized chunks and still create a ripple among your readers.
A great listicle is SEO-driven and provides in-depth knowledge in a structured manner. Keep the above guide in mind when writing your first or next listicle.
FAQs
1.????? Are listicles good for SEO?
Yes, they provide a reader-friendly structure to provide more information efficiently. Listicles benefit SEO by enhancing readability and engagement on users' end, incorporating keywords correctly. Informative listicles are best used on social media platforms.
2.????? How can you pitch listicles?
Guest blogging, social media shares, and influencer marketing or collaborators are great ways to pitch your listicles. You can even create them with collaborators by inviting their expertise.
3.????? When do listicles fail?
They fail when they cannot deliver what your end users seek. It can attract new visitors, but people looking for more specific details may find it fictional sometimes.
4.????? What to include in your listicle?
A good and catchy headline with a primary keyword, sub-headings structured chronologically and nicely explained in short paragraphs, and a proper CTA. You must use images, videos, infographics, etc., to engage more users.
5.????? What not to do when writing a listicle?
If you create unnecessary lists without giving relevant information in the paragraphs, then it is a failure. Never go without listing the items or providing H2 and H3 structures.
6.????? What is the difference between an article and a listicle?
Articles are a long-form narrative way to describe in depth. While listicles list the major points in proper order and provide crisp narratives. It helps people grab more information in less time.
7.????? Why are there so many listicles?
Most blogs follow a listicle format to attract new customers and engage readers on their website.
8.????? What is the reason "Top 10" lists are more popular?
Last couple of years have made Top 10 lists popular because of the following reasons:
However, the top 10 are not the only listicles trending nowadays as writers resort to Top 15, Top 20, Top 25, and so on with interesting and useful information for the readers.