How to Write a Listicle with Examples |

So, you’re thinking about writing a listicle? Great choice!

Listicles are one of the most popular blogging tools, as they can drive huge traffic to your site.

People love lists, but creating one that stands out takes more than just a simple bullet-point rundown. You need a recipe that keeps readers hooked and prompts them to share.

Before you start writing your list posts, you must ensure your listicle includes eight specific strategies (more on that in just a bit). Then, you’ll be on your way to creating listicles that get tons of shares, build your audience, and increase your views.

The best part? You don’t need to be an expert blogger to get started!

In this post, we’ll show you how to write a listicle with examples and use them effectively in content marketing management.

What is the Listicle Format?

In simple terms, a listicle presents information in the form of a list, where each item is formatted consistently and is about the same length in its respective description. Each item in the list format is usually followed by a few paragraphs explaining or expanding on it. These descriptions help the reader understand the item’s significance, provide background, or share why it matters.

The format of a listicle is easy to follow. Each item is highlighted with a numbered subheading, guiding the reader through the content.

For example, look at Reader’s Digest’s listicle of the ‘100 Best Books of All Time’. Each book’s title appears as a numbered heading. Below that, you’ll find a brief summary of the book, why it’s on the list, and why it’s worth reading.

Listicles present information effectively in a highly snackable manner, making them great for scaling content production while keeping your readers engaged.

What Makes Listicles So Effective?

Listicles are among the most popular content formats, but what makes them so effective?

Let’s explore the psychological appeal, engagement metrics, and overall user experience that drive content marketers to write listicles.

1. Listicles are easy to read

With attention spans shrinking, no one has the patience for long paragraphs anymore. The listicle form—with key items and descriptions broken down into numbered points—makes their content highly scannable.

Numbered lists and bullet points give readers clear visual cues on where to look and how to navigate the content. Each list format item also serves as a subheading, helping organize the content in a structured way. This is key not only for user experience but also for SEO. 

Search engines like Google use heading tags (H1, H2, H3) to understand content structure and relevance.

2. Listicles are engaging

Listicles naturally provoke curiosity, mainly because they follow a numbered format. This format creates an inherent anticipation—readers want to know what comes next. 

But there’s more to engagement than just the format.

• Make listicles even more engaging by incorporating interactive elements (quizzes, polls, comment sections) to boost engagement (improve time on page, reduce bounce rate, enhance social sharing)
• Add calls-to-action (CTA) buttons, like “See more” or “Learn more,” to increase interaction by letting people go down the rabbit holes of related content
• Use visual enhancements (images, infographics, videos) to break up text and maintain reader engagement
• Treat each list item as micro-content for higher interaction and improved reader retention

3. Listicles are shareable

Have you ever noticed how listicles dominate your social media feeds—especially on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter? That’s because they’re made for sharing. Their catchy headlines and easy-to-skim format make them irresistible. Think about it: if a marketer comes across a post titled Top 5 Marketing Tools You Should Be Using, it’s a quick, actionable read—perfect for reposting among their network of fellow marketers.

If you want to boost shares, create a listicle that highlights popular tools, platforms, or even influencers and tag them. Tagging or reaching out to those mentioned increases the chances of them sharing your content with their audience. It’s an easy way to amplify your reach.

Listicles also work wonders for guest blogging. Collaborating with others not only strengthens your content but also introduces your work to a wider, engaged audience. More visibility, more shares, and more credibility—all from a well-crafted listicle.

4. Listicles are versatile

Listicles can cover various topics and cater to various reader interests. Don’t feel restricted to a particular style—listicles inform, entertain, persuade, or even inspire your audience.

Plus, listicles are a great way to build a content database. By creating different types, you’ll have a collection of evergreen content that can drive traffic, long-term.

5. Listicles work well in SEO

Listicle titles are naturally SEO-friendly content. They’re structured with headings and subheadings, which makes it easy for search engine crawlers to index the content. Plus, listicle titles often contain numbers and keywords, which is great for SEO.

To really optimize your listicles for search engines, be sure to:

• Include relevant keywords in your headings and throughout the content
• Use internal linking to connect to other relevant pages on your site
• Optimize meta descriptions and use rich snippets
• Incorporate outbound links to authoritative external sources, enhancing content credibility and supporting SEO ranking

6. Listicles can be any length

Listicles are incredibly flexible when it comes to length. You can adapt the listicle format to suit your needs, whether writing a quick “Top 5” list or a detailed “Top 50.” The key is to customize the length of your listicle based on your audience’s attention span and the depth of information you want to convey.

Short listicles are perfect for readers who want surface-level information quickly, while longer ones allow you to explore complex topics and provide more value.

7. Listicles can be complex

While listicles are often seen as quick, bite-sized content, they can also be incredibly detailed and informative. Combining depth with brevity makes listicles a powerful tool for conveying complex information in an easy-to-understand format.

Examples of detailed listicles include ‘25 of the Most Unique Airbnbs in the World, or ‘18 iPhone Photography Tips You Need to Know.’ These listicles may require more research but provide valuable content that discerning readers will appreciate.

8. Listicles are faster to create and consume

One of the most appealing aspects of listicles is how quickly they can be consumed. Readers can quickly scan through them in minutes, making them easy to revisit. Once you’ve nailed the title and list headings, you’re already 90% of the way to a great piece. For marketers, this quick consumption means higher chances of retention and engagement.

But how do you go about creating a high-performing listicle? The best way is to explore high-quality examples. Think of these examples as templates (which you can easily mirror in ) or shortcuts for your next brainstorming session. 

10 Listicle Examples That Will Make You Love Them Too

Here are 10 of the best listicle examples that will inspire you to fall in love with the format and get you eager to create your own!

1. Buzzfeed’s ‘50 DIY Decor Ideas To Spruce Up Your Home Instantly’

Buzzfeed’s popularity soared in the mid-to-late 2000s thanks to its viral listicles and quizzes, which showed how a well-crafted listicle can drive massive traffic to your site. This article features 50 DIY home decor ideas to add a personal touch to your living space.

From simple washi tape decorations to more extensive furniture makeovers, the list offers a variety of creative and budget-friendly ways to personalize your home. 

2. Homes to Love’s ‘12 of the Best Eco-Friendly Cleaning Products to Use’

Homes to Love features 12 eco-friendly cleaning products that deliver excellent results while being kind to the environment. Think cleaning concentrates that only require water!

This listicle is an excellent resource for those wanting to adopt more sustainable cleaning habits at home.

3. Gowling WLG’s ‘Post Pandemic’

The future is always on our minds, especially in times of transition. Gowling WLG used a listicle format to outline predictions and recommendations for various aspects of life post-pandemic, from urban planning to healthcare, workplaces, and well-being.

4. UpgradedPoints’ ‘The 12 Best Websites for Booking Flights at the Cheapest Prices’

UpgradedPoints put together a listicle to help travelers save on their next vacation. The article compiles websites offering flight discounts and breaks down the pros and cons of each.

5. Men’s Health’s  ‘45 Of The Best Exercises To Boost Your Home Workout Gains

Men’s Health presents a comprehensive list of 45 exercises designed to elevate your home workouts. The exercises target various muscle groups, including the upper body, lower body, and core. Each exercise is accompanied by clear instructions and supporting images, making it easy to follow. 

6. RELX’s ‘The Internal Communication Manual’

RELX offers analytical and decision-making tools for businesses, and this listicle is an excellent example of their content marketing strategy. By providing valuable resources, they assist potential customers and demonstrate their industry expertise. 

The Internal Communications Manual, designed in a simple black, white, and yellow color scheme with line illustrations, has a clean, modern look. Its DIY feel makes it both approachable and functional.

7. BuzzFeed’s ‘26 Times Old People Were The Best People On The Internet In 2015’

The BuzzFeed listicle ‘Old People in 2015’ stands out for its mix of humor, nostalgia, and insightful commentary. The piece takes a lighthearted approach to discussing generational differences, using clever captions and relatable observations to capture the quirks of older generations in the modern age.

8. Nature’s ‘How COVID has Deepened Inequality’

The COVID pandemic brought a flood of research and data—daily charts, percentages, hospital statistics, and infection rates became part of our daily routine. With so much information, it’s hard to cut through the noise. Yet, Nature delivers a crucial message: the pandemic has worsened global inequality.

This listicle is a prime example of how the format can address even the most serious and complex issues. Nature presents a clear and compelling narrative by condensing its findings into six animated graphics. 

9. Campaign’s ‘5 Ways to Future-proof Your Business in a Post-Cookie World’

If you’re in marketing or communications, you’re likely aware that the “Cookie Apocalypse” is just around the corner. With privacy laws tightening, online ads evolving, and tracking undergoing massive changes, the big question is: What’s next?

This is a complex issue involving technical, legal, and strategic challenges. However, Campaign magazine makes the topic approachable by breaking it down into five actionable steps businesses can follow to adapt. 

10. Polygon’s ‘The Best Superbowl Commercials of 2023’

We’re sure you remember at least one of the ads from the big game. Whether you watched or heard about it later, the commercials are always the real conversation starters. Polygon brings together all the ads that are sure to be the talk of the town in this article.

What’s brilliant about this post is it lets you experience them. 

Bonus: ’s Top 50 AI Tools and Software Listicle

Not to toot our own horn, but we do feel a little partial toward our listicle on the top AI tools and software. We put in some serious effort to make it a well-structured, highly scannable, and genuinely useful read—exactly what readers expect from a good roundup. 

Instead of just listing tools with generic descriptions, this listicle provides clear value by categorizing them by use case (writing, design, productivity, etc.), making it easier for our readers to find what they need. 

Now that we’ve explored some fantastic listicle examples, let’s learn a few simple tips for creating a list post that truly stands out!

How to Write a Listicle

If you want to publish listicles that capture attention and drive traffic consistently, you need to do more than just string together a few bullet points—and that’s where comes into the picture!

is the everything app for work that combines project management, knowledge management, and chat—all powered by AI that helps you work faster and smarter. Let’s look at how you can use the platform to write high-quality listicles faster.

Plan and collaborate efficiently 

Writing a listicle requires coordination, especially when working with a team. Planning content, delegating tasks, and ensuring everything stays on schedule can be a hassle without the right tools.

Fortunately, with Tasks, you can assign tasks and tackle what matters most with custom priority levels, statuses, fields, and innovative sorting options.

For example, if you’re writing a listicle titled ‘Top 10 Marketing Tools,’ you can break it down into individual tasks such as ‘Research’, ‘Drafting’, ‘Editing’, ‘Review’, and ‘Publishing’. Assign the tasks to relevant team members. Interns may be expected to research and compile the data. A freelance content writer can draft the piece, while an in-house editor reviews, refines, and publishes it. This ensures thorough coverage and no loose ends.

’s collaboration tools further support team efficiency and information sharing. With threaded comments on tasks,  you can leave comments, provide feedback, and review drafts in real time. In fact, you can Assign Comments in to the people responsible for the right task, so they can resolve any issues directly.

If you want to discuss topics, refine headlines, and brainstorm on the content for listicles without switching between dozens of apps, try Chat. With dedicated channels for group conversations and threaded messages, writers and editors can track ideas and resolve questions efficiently. Tagging teammates ensures quick input on research, SEO, or formatting. Plus, chat-linked tasks keep the writing process organized, from drafting to final approval.

Segment your content 

If you want to view your project in different ways—say, as a Gantt chart for a quick project timeline, a Kanban board for progress updates, or a calendar view for resource planning— offers 15+ Custom Views to fit every need.

For the listicle, you can use the List View or Board View to keep track of its progress. You can set due dates for individual sections and approval or feedback dependencies, ensuring everything gets done on time.

Generate listicle content quickly

You don’t have to spend hours perfecting your listicle or stressing over each detail— Brain is here to streamline the process.

Here’s how this AI-powered writing assistant software can help you not just create a listicle faster but also ensure it’s engaging, well-structured, and optimized:

1. AI Knowledge Manager to gather and research context

Gathering accurate and relevant information is a key challenge when writing a listicle. ’s AI Knowledge Manager helps you easily access content, data, and insights from your team’s documents, reports, and knowledge base (and even rely on its own knowledge of the external world).

Instead of manually searching for facts, stats, or references, you can use this AI tool to:

• Retrieve detailed answers about tasks, documents, and team progress
• Quickly analyze large sets of documents for context or trends
• Gather background information for each list item without wasting time

2. AI Project Manager to automate repetitive tasks

Creating a listicle involves multiple steps—research, writing, editing, and formatting. Many of these steps can feel repetitive, especially if you’re creating multiple listicles. ’s AI Project Manager takes the pressure off by automating key parts of the content creation workflow.

Here’s what you can use it for:

• Automate task summaries and project updates
• Highlight essential data points for your listicle
• Track roadblocks or challenges

3. AI Writer for Work to produce high-quality listicle content with ease

Listicle creators often hit a wall during the writing phase. ’s AI Writer for Work is a powerful writing assistant that ensures your listicle is clear and compelling.

With the AI Writer, you can:

• Automatically generate content based on your list’s outline (i.e., turning bullet points into entire sentences or paragraphs)
• Use built-in tools to conduct grammar and spell checks
• Create helpful templates for each section of your listicle (e.g., introduction, individual points, conclusion)
• Turn voice notes or meeting transcriptions into written content that can directly inform your listicle

To rank well on search engines, your listicle needs to be more than just informative—it must be in tune with SEO requirements. Docs provide all the tools you need to write and format content that appeals to readers and performs well on search engines.

Combining Docs with Brain lets you access suggestions for high-ranking keywords, meta descriptions, alt-text for images, and internal/external linking—all essential for improving your SEO ranking.

Read-made templates to help you get started

Suppose you want to manage your editorial calendar, streamline blog management, or create a centralized repository for future listicle ideas. In that case, offers a huge library of 1000+ templates, making these tasks simple and efficient. 

These pre-designed templates help you stay organized and save time so you can focus on creating high-quality content.

For example, the Blog Management Template allows you to track and manage all your listicles and other blog posts in one central place. It streamlines every step of the process, from brainstorming new topics to optimizing content and monitoring deadlines.

With this all-in-one blog management template, your team can:

• Organize and optimize blog content in a single location
• Track and schedule posts, asset creation, and due dates
• Collaborate seamlessly among writers, designers, editors, and more

Similarly, the Blog Editorial Calendar Template simplifies organizing new blog content. It helps ensure consistency and allows you to develop an editorial content strategy for regular posting, supporting your overall content goals.

With this content calendar template, you can:

• Organize and plan all your content in one central location
• Set deadlines and track progress to ensure timely publication
• Collaborate with teammates and contributors to create high-quality content

Extracting Maximum Value from Listicles Using

List posts are a fantastic way to diversify your content marketing strategies. Whether you’re looking to promote, educate, or entertain, the list article format uniquely keeps your audience engaged. It’s also an excellent choice for those new to content marketing, as listicles are easier to write while still offering impressive results.

That being said, not every topic fits into the listicle structure. You must assess the subject and your audience’s needs to decide which content format is best.  

If you’re looking for an all-in-one tool to easily create listicles, how-tos, in-depth guides, or a blog post, offers everything you need—templates, AI tools, and collaboration features that make content creation and management effortless.  

Sign up for today and start creating listicles that deliver real value!

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