How to Write Listicles that Your Audience Will Love

“I love clickbait listicles that are full of generic info,” said nobody. Ever.

If you want to write listicles that people love, you have to think outside the box. Offer something more than just a list of dry facts or clickbait nonsense. 

It’s better to show than tell. That’s why we’re going to give you a listicle with a “twisticle” later on in this article 

But first, let’s see what science says about listicles.

What is a Listicle and Why do Our Brains Love Them?

We’ve all seen listicles. 

Internet giants like Buzzfeed perfected the art with topics like “12 Extremely Disappointing Facts About Popular Music” and “25 Ways To Tell You’re A Kid Of The ‘90s”.

Research suggests that listicles get 70% more traffic than posts without lists.

But why are they so popular?

The truth is, our brains are hardwired to love lists. 

More than 80% of people feeling overwhelmed by all the info out there. Lists promise us a welcome break from information overload by neatly packaging info in a way that’s easy to digest. 

A 2023 study blasts the myth that attention spans have dropped to 8 seconds or less. In fact, the average young adult has an attention of 76 seconds, with 67 seconds for an older adult. This means that listicles hit the sweet spot, as they only take a minute or two to skim and read.

Listicles do exactly what their name promises: they provide pertinent information or details about a certain topic in a list form, structured in convenient bitesize chunks, which is perfect for engaging people online.

13 Types of Listicles (and Some Examples of Each)

There are plenty of listicle types to choose from. Below you’ll find a list of different types. But this is a listicle with a twisticle, as we’re not simply listing them, but giving you three example titles for each.

1. “Best of” lists

“Best of” listicles feature rundowns of the top items, tools, resources, or anything else within a category. 

Sample titles:

1. 11 Best Coffee Shops in New York City
2. The 9 Best Gadgets of 2024
3. Top 7 Music Videos from the ’80s

Real-world example: 

Source

2. Checklists

Step-by-step checklists are listicles that talk you through completing a task.

Sample titles:

1. The Ultimate Car Buyer Checklist
2. Back-to-School Checklist for High Schoolers
3. Family Camping Vacation Checklist: What Not to Forget

Real-world example: 

Source

3. Tips and tricks

Tips and tricks listicles that offer advice, shortcuts, insights, and foresight on a specific subject.

Sample titles:

1. 5 Tips to Master Your DSLR Camera’s Manual Mode
2. 11 Time-Saving Kitchen Tricks
3. 7 Tips for Planning an Outdoor Wedding

Real-world example:

Source

4. How-to lists

How-to listicles present a sequence of steps telling you how to complete a task or achieve a goal.

Sample titles:

1. 8 Simple Steps To Bake A Show-Stopper Cake
2. The Ultimate Step-by-Step Guide to Writing a Business Plan
3. How to Fix a Coolant Leak in Your Car: 12 Steps

Real-world example:

Source

5. FAQs

FAQ listicles cover common questions or concerns about a specific topic.

Sample titles:

1. Top 11 FAQs About Renting Your First Apartment
2. 5 Common Car Insurance Questions Answered
3. FAQs for First-Time Tech Startup Founders

Real-world example:

Source

6. Mistakes to avoid

Listicles of mistakes to avoid feature common pitfalls in a certain area with advice on how to avoid them.

Sample titles:

1. 11 Common Gardening Mistakes to Avoid This Spring
2. 5 Investment Mistakes That Add Up Over the Long Run
3. Top 7 Mistakes New Homeowners Make and How to Avoid Them

Real-world example:

Source

7. Reasons or benefits

These listicles outline the benefits or value of something to generate awareness or interest around the topic.

Sample titles:

1. 8 Reasons to Start A Meditation Practice
2. 5 Benefits of Learning a Second Language
3. 9 Reasons to Stay Hydrated

Real-world example:

Source

8. Trends

Listicles detailing the latest trends in a specific field or area of interest.

Sample titles:

1. Top 7 Tech Trends to Watch Out for Next Year
2. 5 Weird Trends Shaping the Future of Fashion
3. 11 Digital Advertising Trends to Follow in 2024

Real-world example:

Source

9. Statistics or facts

Listicles that compile relevant stats, facts, or trivia about a particular topic.

Sample titles:

1. 9 Explosive Stats About Online Shopping Habits
2. 5 Mind-Blowing Facts About Modern-Day Politics
3. 21 Stats About How Inflation Impacts Consumer Behavior

Real-world example:

Source

10. Myths debunked

This popular listicle type addresses common misconceptions and clarifies the facts for the reader.

Sample titles:

1. 5 Common Myths About Electric Cars Debunked
2. Myth or Fact? Debunking 7 Myths About Fiber
3. Top 10 Fitness Myths That Do More Harm Than Good

Real-world example:

Source

11. Inspirational stories

Listicles that present collections of inspirational stories or examples around a specific theme.

Sample titles:

1. 3 Top Entrepreneurs Who Overcame Adversity
2. 7 Inspirational Stories from First-Time Tech Startup Founders
3. 5 Athletes Who Bounced Back After Severe Injuries

Real-world example:

Source

12. Historical lists

Historical events and figures in date order or by themes are a common listicle to showcase history. 

Sample titles:

1. 11 Defining Moments of The 20th Century
2. 5 Things The Ancient Romans Invented
3. A Timeline of Democracy: From Ancient Greece to Present Day

Real-world example:

Source

13. Problem-solving lists

These listicles offer a rundown of solutions to common problems or challenges in an easily digestible list form.

Sample titles:

1. 7 Strategies to Solve Common Customer Service Issues
2. 5 Ways to Make Remote Working Better
3. 5 Home Remedies for Neck Pain

Real-world example:

Source

How to Write a Listicle to Grab Audience Attention

When you’re crafting a listicle, there are three main things to consider.

• The content: How to make your listicle readable and engaging. 
• The value: How to create a listicle that is informative and provides value to the reader.
• The layout: How to make the listicle visually appealing, with clear formatting and embedded images or videos.

Listicles are catchy by nature, however, today’s consumers are facing information overload. There is so much online content available at the click of a mouse that even listicles are at risk of being ignored. Like all content, listicles require a deliberate and well-thought-out approach to grab people’s attention and keep them hooked.

Here’s a set of steps you can follow to create an effective listicle:

1. Choose a numbered format: Before you start writing, decide which listicle type is well suited to your content goal and audience. For example, a “how-to” listicle is a different beast than an “FAQ” listicle. Once you have chosen a format you can brainstorm ideas for each entry on the list, picking ones most likely to resonate with your audience and reflect your message.
2. Create catchy titles and subheadings: Make sure your titles are strong. Pique people’s interest by offering entertainment or informational value. Use specific call-outs to your audience, such as “7 Proven Strategies To Boost Productivity If You Work From Home”.  
3. Write a hook intro: Entice readers to stay by using hooks. A hook can be as simple as briefly explaining what will be covered and the benefits people will get. Phrase it in a way that generates curiosity.
4. Develop clear and concise points: Each list item should offer quick, digestible value. Keep descriptions to the point. Avoid fluff. One or two short sentences per paragraph is enough. 
5. Use visuals or video: Add images, videos, audio, or infographics to complement the text. This makes your listicle more scannable and engaging.
6. Use clear formatting: Add plenty of engaging subheadings, especially if you’re covering lots of subtopics within a broader subject. Add bullet points where they fit for easier scan reading.
7. Add internal or external links: Add links to authority sites (external) or relevant content on your own site (internal). This helps with SEO. It’s useful for the reader too, helping them explore the subject in more detail.

Tips and Ideas for Your First Listicle

Writing your first listicle may seem as daunting as writing your first blog post. If you’ve never tried listicle writing before, here are some helpful tips to get you into the list-y vibe.

Select a topic that resonates

Don’t forget – you’re writing for other people, not yourself. Take the time to figure out what will engage them. Offer real value. Aim to entertain too, as this makes your content more shareable. 

Visiting websites and forums like Reddit and Quora are great places to get ideas. Search for the broad topic area you’re writing about, then see what kind of questions people are asking. Build your listicles around that.

Add story elements

Stories and real-world anecdotes make your listicles more rich and relatable. For instance, instead of writing a list titled “20 Ways To Improve Your Home Cooking”, try this approach “21 Time-Saving Home Cooking Hacks from World-Class Chefs”. Include stories from top chefs about kitchen mistakes and how to avoid them. 

Build in cliffhangers

Cliffhangers (also known as “open loops”) are great for keeping people engaged. They work well in-between list items. They’re especially useful if people have to click to “turn the page” to the next list item.

Use the “Bucket Brigade” technique

Imagine people passing along a bucket of water to put out a fire. This technique involves using conversational phrases to keep people moving down the page, such as “in other words”, “not so fast”, “but wait, there’s more,” and “and that’s not all,” etc.

Opt for odd

Believe it or not, odd numbers (especially the number seven) are more appealing. Odd numbers often generate more traffic. If you want to create a comprehensive and meaty list, go for a really big odd number like “71 Ways To…” or “131 Surprising Stats About…”.

Include SEO keywords

Listicles can be a powerful SEO tool, as they provide a rich environment to naturally sprinkle in your relevant keywords. Using keywords at the right density (around 1 to 2% for the primary keyword) helps you hit the higher spots on Google search pages. 

Create Listicles that People Love

When people are scrolling online, they’re usually looking to get to the good bits without wading through fluff. And remember, most people don’t want to tax their brain too much when surfing the web. 

That’s why listicles work well. They break topics up into digestible pieces, so you can grab the key points and move on. They’re easy to remember too. You can turn just about any topic into a listicle, which means you should never run out of ideas.

Discover how Outbrain’s ad network can drive traffic to your listicles – click here.