1.1 Examples of a list of headings
2. articles in list form - why are listicles so popular?
3. How do you write a listicle that will attract the attention of your audience?
3.2 Make sure you have the right headline
3.3 Create an outline of your list
3.4. Do not limit yourself to a specific number of items on the list
3.5. Ensure clarity and value of content
If you are reading this blog, you have already come across the concept of 'evergreen' content. It is such contentthat is easy to update and thus always remains 'fresh', up-to-date and useful to users, regardless of when they read it. What are the types of evergreen content you should also create for your business? Comprehensive tutorials, tutorials, customer testimonials, checklists, as well as articles in the form of lists, or so-called listicles, are most often indicated.
What exactly is a listicle?
A listicle (as you can guess from the name, which is a conglomeration of two words) is a type of content that combines two things: an article and a list. By opting for it, you present information in the form of a detailed list. Usually, each item on the list is accompanied by a few sentences (sometimes paragraphs) of description explaining to the reader why it has been included.
The list can be ordered according to a specific criterion and constitute a ranking. It then implies a qualitative evaluation, expressed by the order of the items in the text. However, lists do not necessarily value items among themselves. Instead, they may present them in a random order.
Examples of a list of keys:
Articles in list form - why are listicles so popular?
Until 55% bloggers published a list article in 2022 (only guidebooks rank higher). This popularity is due to the fact that people love reading lists! We love to click on list headlines because they are detailed and set out exactly what we can expect from the content of the article. We also love reading lists because our brains are attuned to this sorting of information. Lists improve their assimilation.
You probably love reading all kinds of lists and rankings yourself, so you should also love creating them. Why is it worth it from a website/blog owner's point of view? According to SEMrush, the effect of publishing list-based articles is to 4 times more traffic and 2 times more social media shares than publishing traditional articles. Moreover, 36% are more likely to enter content with a headline suggesting a list.
How do you write a listicle that will grab the attention of your audience?
Follow these tips and take your listicles to the next level.
Choose a suitable topic
First and foremost - it must be suitable for creating a list! Not for every topic will such a format be suitable, that much is obvious. Simply put: if you cannot fit all the necessary information in your article into a list, you should not write it in this format. Some topics naturally fit into a list. For example, tutorials, which can be broken down into clearly distinct steps. Another way to determine whether your topic can be a list is to do a simple key phrase research on Google. If several highly ranked articles for a given keyword are lists, this is a good indication that searchers expect or prefer a list format.
Make sure you have the right headline
However, you should have no problem with this - once you have chosen the right topic, the headline should practically write itself! Remember, however, not to overdo it and create a click-bait when you want to "spice it up". Click-bait headlines promise more than they deliver. Simply put, such a headline initially excites the reader in some way, but once the reader clicks through and starts reading, he or she will immediately feel disappointed.
Avoid this by stating clearly and specifically what your listicle will contain. Describe this in the header and give the exact number of steps/points your list will contain.
Create an outline of your list
Create a document and think about the layout of your content. Lay out all the steps, points or elements in a list. Write them down in simple form and number them accordingly.
This is how the outline will be created - helpful because it allows you to see the entire list box from a larger perspective and make sure that everything in it makes sense and has its place. At this stage, also make sure that the list items are ordered as logically as possible.
If the items on your list are steps in a process, organise them in an order appropriate to the task being described. If the order of the items on your list does not depend on logic, list first those items or points that you think readers are most interested in.
When you create an outline for your article in the form of a list, don't predetermine "I have to fit in 5 points" or "I can't describe less than 20 points". I can guarantee you that this is a recipe for a list that will not satisfy the reader.
Let's take an example like this. Having a hard time coming up with more list items after number 5? You can gymnastise, but the chances are that the rest of the items are unlikely to be as valuable or interesting and will disappoint your audience.
Therefore let your subject tell you how much information you need and how long your list should beto satisfy readers.
What else can you do?
do some research on Google to see what (and how much) your competitors have listed
think about your knowledge and experience - only include in your letter what you know will be valuable
Never add more items to the list just to "hit" a specific number!
In order to write a really useful listicle, you have to make each point or item in the list as clear and valuable as possible. This means that it also has to be concrete, feasible and descriptive.
Yes, it is true that the development of a given sub-heading will also be under the sub-heading. However, you must bear in mind that it too must not be too general in itself, as the readers tend to scan the text rather than read it carefully. Descriptive subheadings also help search engine indexing robots understand what the content is about.
So what should this look like in practice? Let's say you're writing a bullet list of activities to do in the garden in autumn. Instead of writing in the sub-heading the enigmatic: "Plant the plants", write "Plant bulbous plants that will flower in spring e.g. tulip, garlic". Can you see the difference?
Here are the general rules to follow:
Format each list element as a numbered header
Use the same header level for each point in the list (e.g. all H2)
Describe each element of the list. Tell the reader why it is on the list
If necessary, add graphics or photos to illustrate each point
Finally - don't forget about it!
Make sure your lists are useful and updated when necessary. After all, you don't want to advertise an outdated tool or a non-existent blog as your number one.
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