How to write a listicle for your business blog (with examples and ideas)

Boost your online presence with listicles

The listicle has emerged as a powerful and versatile format in the world of online content. This format of content offers a unique blend of simplicity and engagement. In this article we delve into the art and science of crafting effective listicles. From understanding the concept of a listicle to discovering its role in content strategy.

Below we explore practical tips, key elements and illustrative examples of a listicle. And uncover how developing your knowledge and skills can help you harness the potential of listicles to boost the impact of your business blog.

What is a listicle?

A listicle is an article written in the form of a numbered list. It’s both a ‘list’ and an ‘article’. You’ve likely already seen many listicles when browsing online. They have titles such as, ‘10 electrical safety tips for your home’ or ‘The top 3 health benefits of walking your dog’.

Listicles can be compelling for people consuming content online. They offer a straightforward structure and a series of bite-sized chunks of information or fun facts. This format caters to people’s preference for quick and digestible content. Offering information that’s easy for your readers to consume during a busy day can help you connect with your audience in new ways.

The format of listicles also lets you break down complex topics into manageable points. This can help make information more accessible and engaging. In a world where your customers are inundated with information, listicles can help make your valuable content more compelling.

Why should you write listicles?

Incorporating listicles into your content marketing strategy comes with three distinct advantages for your business. We uncover these down below.

Enhanced readability

The numbered structure in a listicle can help make your content easier to read. It can also make it easier to scan by breaking it down into manageable sections. Viewers can easily navigate to sections of content that interest them. This helps them find specific information faster. 

Increased reader engagement

Listicles let you present helpful information in a concise and organised format that's easy to follow. Adding listicles to your content suite can help you leverage the benefits of blogging for your business.

High shareability on social media platforms

Sharing content on social media platforms can help extend the reach of your content and help drive traffic to your business website. The listicle format can be a great way to showcase your expertise and build credibility in your industry on social media platforms.

Adopting listicles can help you create content that captures and retains the attention of your target audience while encouraging social media sharing. This can ultimately help contribute to the growth and visibility of your business.

Improves SEO (search engine optimisation)

Creating listicle content can be beneficial for SEO because it can enhances user engagement. The simple, readable format can help lower bounce rates. And it organizes content more effectively for search engines.

Each list item in a listicle can be optimized with specific search keywords, promoting social sharing and attracting backlinks. This approach can also help increase the chances of your site appearing in featured snippets, ultimately improving your site’s visibility and driving more traffic.

Explore more SEO tips to help boost website performance

Key elements of a listicle

An effective listicle can capture and retain an audience's attention. Your goal should be to create a listicle that’s not only easy to navigate, but also visually appealing. The idea is to keep your reader intrigued from the title to the very last sentence. Below we explore four key elements of crafting an engaging listicle.

1. Craft a compelling title - Keep your titles relevant, clear and concise. This helps your reader know exactly what value they’ll get from reading your listicle.
2. Maintain a well-organised structure - Categorise your content into logical and easily digestible sections using numbered points, bullet points, or thematic categories. For example, if your listicle is about the ‘Top 10 dog breeds for young families with kids’, you could group tips into categories such as ‘temperament’, ‘grooming needs’ and ‘energy levels’.
3. Use informative subheadings - Subheadings guide your readers through each point while improving clarity and flow. By clearly breaking your content into smaller, manageable sections, your subheadings will help readers easily navigate through the article. This can help them find the information they’re interested in more quickly.
4. Incorporate engaging visuals - Images or infographics can help enhance the overall appeal of your listicle. Visual elements break up text-heavy content. They engage readers visually by helping to make the information more memorable and impactful. Including visually appealing elements also enhances the shareability of your listicle on social media platforms, as posts with images tend to amass more engagement and shares.

How to write an engaging listicle

Below we lay out some practical steps to help you write a listicle.

Choose your listicle topic

Start by making sure your chosen topic works well in a list format, as not all subjects suit this structure. The best topics for listicles are simple and easily divided into segments for clear organization. If any information doesn't fit seamlessly into your initial list, you may need to refine or rethink your topic.

Your listicle topic should also resonate with your target audience. Start by performing some keyword research to understand what people are searching for. You can also perform a competitor analysis to find out what topics your audience might enjoy and where there are gaps your listicle could fill. This will help you align your content with what your audience is interested in.

Use a numeric value in your title

Numbers can help your title stand out, create structure and set clear expectations for readers. For example, ‘6 benefits of investing in quality footwear’ or ‘9 ways to prepare your home for sale'.

This title format grabs attention and boosts readability, making the content easy to scan and more appealing for readers. For SEO, numbered titles align well with search queries and can help improve click-through rates on search engine results pages. They can help boost overall visibility and engagement.

Start strong with an engaging introduction

Your introduction should set the context of the listicle and the tone for what follows. Consider including an interesting statistic that encourages your audience to read on. This not only captures initial interest, but also primes readers to anticipate valuable insights or solutions that will be explored further in the listicle.

Stick to a clear structure

Organize your content into easy-to-read segments with clear headings and visuals to boost readability. Keeping your listicle cohesive and consistent helps avoid reader confusion.

Well-structured listicles often follow these guidelines:

• Maintain uniform section lengths.
• Follow a parallel structure for list headings.
• Use consistent header styles to emphasize list items
• Use dot points and images strategically to break up text and increase engagement.

Wrap it up with a call to action

In your conclusion, summarise the key takeaways in your listicle in a concise way. This reinforces the main points and ensures that readers leave with a clear understanding of what they've learned. Then give your readers a direct next step to encourage reader engagement beyond just consuming the content. For example, you could encourage them to share your listicle on social media or explore your other content. 

Listicle examples

Listicles can be effective at providing targeted and practical information across a range of topics. They can also help you show leadership in your industry. Below are some helpful listicle examples for different types of businesses.

Local plumber

Listicle example: 8 plumbing hacks every DIY enthusiast should know.

A listicle like this can help provide practical tips to showcase a plumber’s expertise. It can help build credibility and trust with a target audience.

Hairdressing salon

Listicle example: The top 10 hair trends of the season.

This listicle could offer clients fresh ideas for their next appointment while showcasing the hairdresser’s knowledge.

Graphic designer

Listicle example: 5 design trends to elevate your brand's visual identity.

This listicle can help provide valuable insights for businesses seeking a visual refresh, while showcasing the designer’s skill and style.

Dog walker

Listicle example: The ultimate checklist for a happy and healthy pup.

This listicle could engage an audience and help a dog walker build trust by demonstrating their expertise in pet care.

Use listicles to help your business stand out

Incorporating listicles as part of your digital marketing strategy can help you connect with potential customers in new ways. Listicles can help make your content easier to read, boost engagement and encourage social media sharing.

By focusing on the key elements of catchy titles, well-organised structures and visuals, you can craft listicles that will have the best chance of resonating with your audience. Doing so can help you drive more website traffic and engagement online. 

Last published March 2024, updated September 2024.