Party Game. Its beneficial to SEO efforts if the primary keywords are used in the subheadings. 10) Clickable Links: If youre creating a guest listicle blog post, provide a link to your website. Each list item will typically include either a few sentences or multiple paragraphs, and a listicle is meant to either educate or delight readers. software, Theyre easy to skim for important information, Its easy to put down and come back where you left off, They can break complex topics down into digestible chunks, Each item written feels like an achievement, Lists are great for targeting core keywords, Smaller listicles can be adapted to suit long-tail keywords, Write from personal experience on the topic, Use an interesting example/case study to frame the information, Dig out obscure but useful statistics to shed new light on the topics importance, Give relevant content upgrades to encourage further action and provide extra value, Collect information from multiple sources to provide a summary, Use images and/or gifs to illustrate your points, A personal essay/experience-based listicle (X things I learned about Y), Advice from experience (X tips from 3 years of, Research roundup (a heavily sourced list of information), Reported list (more of an article turned into a list to make it scannable), Editorial-turned-list (a list being used to argue a specific point), 16 Amazing Recipes to Convert Your Friends to Veganism, Give unique examples of your topic to inspire experimentation, Tie everything back to your central argument and hammer the point home, Offer a content upgrade or have another call to action, Suggest activities or techniques to use what youve written about. If an item is removed or changes enough that it doesnt belong on the list, it can easily be removed and a new one put in its place or the list number adjusted. Why do people like listicles? Best of all, if readers are already familiar with some steps in the process, they can skip to sections most applicable to them. When people search for something online, they often look for a list of results. 1. If you need help, check out our free SEO and keyword research process. This website uses cookies. Of course, some listicles are meant to be more fun, but that doesn't mean you can't include valuable takeaways. published a listicle about why zoos are bad. The Listicle Dilemma. Choose your keywords. It is a competitive game requiring a certain set of cognitive skills to succeed. Listicle | Board Game | BoardGameGeek - Help us reach our goal of 18k supporters this year! Posted on . The angle needs to provide value that nobody else can; otherwise, your post could be easily eclipsed by someone taking what youve written, adding their own expertise, and not even having to reference you. I noticed there is an error in the link indicated in the comment above. Whatever you choose, its worth creating a document in your writing app and taking notes on your choice. Plus, it makes the content more interesting to read. Games like Hades, Returnal and Deathloop have been great examples of this. In some cases, you might turn a personal essay into a listicle this way. . 3. Great list posts are comprehensive, so they can get pretty long and unwieldy. Longer paragraphs will take longer to read, which decreases the likelihood that readers will click through to your website. Do you? This very listicle How-To post includes 10 steps for writing a listicle, because that's how many I thought were individually valuable and indicative of a high-quality list post for this particular subject. Still, whether you go for gold or just want to create an engaging list post that doesnt stink of clickbait, you now have everything you need to know to get started. Heres an example of a clickbait listicle: Buzzfeed is packed full of these kinds of listicles. This is a typical listicle; its a long list, its punchy with short descriptions, but its not too short. Even the most dedicated of readers can quickly zone out if theres nothing but text to occupy their attention. I have a question- does this article actually qualify as a listicle? This is an easy one. For example, the listicles we've all seen on Buzzfeed are advertorials. However, you shouldnt go overboard with them. At HubSpot, we don't agree. Build your list. Dont forget to use bullet points! Instead, try to use the conclusion to do something extra. 9) Checklists: Todays Parent created a checklist containing items every new baby should have. This interactive game allows the player to brush up and practice some common math vocabulary to ease and aid their understanding of the lessons. Lists of actionable steps you can take. Humorously enough, there are many published listicles on reasons to love or hate them"179 Reasons to Hate Listicle Articles" & "Five Reasons Why Millennials Love Listicles" are examples for each side of the debate. Credit: Photo by Kristina Tamaauskait on Unsplash. This will help make your list more manageable. I typically do subheadings for the list items, an image representing the tip or tool, and a paragraph describing its value. A daily dose of irreverent and informative takes on business & tech news, Turn marketing strategies into step-by-step processes designed for success, Explore what it takes to be a creative business owner or side-hustler, Listen to the world's most downloaded B2B sales podcast, Get productivity tips and business hacks to design your dream career, Free ebooks, tools, and templates to help you grow, Learn the latest business trends from leading experts with HubSpot Academy, All of HubSpot's marketing, sales CRM, customer service, CMS, and operations software on one platform. Its time to plan the meat of the article the list itself. Board games, video games and other game formats such as conversation games that are designed to be played at a social gathering. For help on that, check out the following post: Most of the value of listicles comes from the list itself. Shorts - they're basically business casual. Self care and ideas to help you live a healthier, happier life. .rll-youtube-player, [data-lazy-src]{display:none !important;} A great list post nixes the fluff and concretely explains each item in detail. How you do this will depend on the subject and contents of your list, but here are some great organizational structures to choose from: alphabetical (great for glossaries), chronological (great for step-by-step guides), or by popularity/importance, like most to least or least to most (great for top 10/20/50 lists). Cheers. This advice holds true for most blogging and article writing in general; the key is doing it consciously until it becomes a habit. And how are these listicles put together? It is kind of like a haiku or a limerick. Affiliate links allow you to earn money by promoting, The Most Frequently Asked Questions About ChatGPT, Ranking on Google: Using ChatGPT to Choose the Right Topics for Your Content, How to Create a Surfer SEO Content Brief for on-page optimization, How to find Low Competition Keywords in SEMrush. Simply put, a listicle is an article written in list-format. A listicle is an article in the form of a list. The format, however, is flexible. In fact, I'm a firm believer that the listicle does have a place in the world of high-quality blog content. Your listicle shouldn't just give readers a list of things to do and expect them to figure out how to do those things themselves. They can break down a complex topic into easily digestible chunks, which can be parsed in order or consumed at the rate the user wants to see. Giving our readers enough information for that section to be truly helpful would have involved copying and pasting the entirety of our GDPR post into our listicle, and that wouldn't have been the most helpful choice (and also might've hurt our SEO). Does that mean you should come up with three more lower-quality items just to achieve your goal of 14? What if there ends up being only 11 solid, valuable items that make up that list? var rp=loadCSS.relpreload={};rp.support=(function(){var ret;try{ret=w.document.createElement("link").relList.supports("preload")}catch(e){ret=!1} The title you craft can also help you stay focused. For example, a list of WordPress plugins to boost your SEO. When I sat down and brainstormed this list, for example, it was just that a brainstormed list. Just wondering! Then all of the relevant SEO keywords relating to metadata, content quality, backlinks, and so forth all make good items within the listicle. Sure, on the surface, each of these list points sound valuable. Hi there, great article and Im happy to have found your website. Having said that, you shouldnt add new points for the sake of it. Once youve decided, its time to move on to the title of the article. Then, we create articles that are 10x better to earn the top spot. 5) Images:Images add visual interest to your listicle. Happy planning! Before we dive into how to create your own listicle, let's explore a few examples to inspire you: Now that we've explored some examples, let's dive into how you can create a listicle of your own. Use the same header style to highlight your individual list items, and make sure it stands out. Instead, we explained the tip in a moderate amount of detail, and then directed readers to the other post where they could find more in-depth information if they needed it: Don't be afraid to do this in your own listicles. If this is the case, consider pointing your readers to another place for more in-depth information. And while every point you make on your list might not be new to all your readers, if a reader walks away thinking, "Well, I already put numbers 3, 4, and 6, into practice, but I can't believe I've been missing out on numbers 1, 2, and 5!" Dont worry about grammar and punctuation at this point. Buzzfeeds style of listicles is excellent for sharing on Facebook and going viral with memes, but its abysmal for SEO and marketing. The biggest indicator of a lousy list post is one that contains a ton of fluff and no real, valuable takeaways for the reader. For instance, listicles about a certain film or TV show should be pitched right as that film or TV shows are set to come out. Even if 15 of your 35 items are the same as their 15, you have more than double the value in the post because of all of the unique items you added. Whatever you decide to do to beat your competitors, note it down in your plan along with the rough information, number of points, and level of detail in other posts. As we mentioned before, listicles can easily become unwieldy. Once again, this is easier to achieve with a list (where appropriate) because of how easy they are to write and update. Look for books that are set in the winter but don't mention ice, snow, cold or other winter words in their titles, for example. I make each list item stand alone for very long lists and write more robust descriptions for categories. SEO expert and Web blogger @ elitecutomessays.com, Hi 1. Write the list. Finally, decide on the level of detail that will accompany your list and whether any extra material (eg, content upgrades) will be provided. Each list item will typically include either a few sentences or multiple paragraphs, and a listicle is meant to either educate or delight readers. That way you dont have to keep looking them up to know what you need to aim for and surpass. 6) 25 Celebrities That Look Like Mattresses One of my all-time favorite BuzzFeed lists, of course. Here are a few ideas: While this post has shown you how to write a basic listicle, that doesnt mean every list has to be short or easy. The main thing to consider when selecting or creating an example is to keep it as relatable as possible to your readers. Speaking of which, its time to move on to actually writing your listicle. Game to celebrate one of the most devastating and iconic fictional . Listicles are a great way to showcase examples in any niche. The lesson? The first and most basic list article format is the 'listicle' which Shepherd refers . I would be thrilled if you would include it in your articles (https://elitecustomessays.com/article-writing-writing-ideas/academic-work/), Best Regards, Listicles are everywhere. listicle: [noun] an article consisting of a series of items presented as a list. Titanic.. 4. Thanks for your comment! A listicle is an article that is a list. Even if you cant locate it, its good to get into the habit of trying. This is what comedian and writer for Parks and Recreation, Harris Wittels calls, 'false humility'.It allows the offender to boast his/her 'achievements' without any sense of shame or guilt. Pick a topic, set a number, and fill it out. For example, a checklist of SEO items to monitor. Archy Learning is an all-in-one gamification training software and elearning platform that you can use to create a global classroom, perfect for those who are training remote teams across the globe. Highlights: Personalized microlearning, quest-based game narratives, rewards, real-time performance management. Open 8AM-4.30PM what happened to danny's wife on blue bloods; whataburger coming to kennesaw ga 4) How To Sleep Better In 94 Seconds They don't tell you to inspect the comfort of your mattress, but there are some good sleep tips here. top list of local mechanics in the Las Vegas area. Get a Website Site designed in California by the Content Powered team. Definition, Tips, and Examples, Content Writing Tips for Beginners: A Step-by-Step Guide, Evergreen Blog Posts: Content Ideas, Examples, and Tips, 12 Reasons Why ChatGPT Won't Replace Your Content Writers, The Importance of The XML Sitemap Priority and Changefreq Tags. Listicles, otherwise known as list-posts, are articles structured around lists. Whatever you decide to use, make sure you have the appropriate permission levels to use it. if it's a list of action items, each should be led with a verb). The key to avoiding this is knowing how to properly plan and write your content. 5) 23 Songs To Play You To Sleep Yes, Debussy's "Claire de Lune"! Types of Listicles with Examples There are many different ways to structure a listicle. You've just passed off some link love, and you also now have another article idea for your blogging backlog! 3. Dont worry about the order of your list just yet (or any detail for the points you make). This is not to say that there aren't bad lists and sloppy lists and lists that would make . For example, a list of growth hacks you can take to boost your site ranking. Lists of lists. 4) Lists: If you create a listicle, you need to ensure a clear separation between each item in the list. This shows visitors that you created the listicle and gives them a reason to visit your website. Do you have to wonder what this post will be about? When writing a listicle post, my first step is to open up all the lists in the top 10-20 Google search results. 8) Bolding: Bolding is a great way to emphasize certain words within your article. Teachers may also mark off all vowels or cross 3rd word of each sentence. Do searches for your keywords and for related keywords to see what comes up. But not all list posts need to be low-quality. 6) Quotes: Quotes are another way to add personality to your listicle. Not only will you have to heavily reference that post in your work to avoid plagiarism (which will only make its ranking stronger), but there is literally no reason for someone to read yours instead of whats already ranking. Before you begin writing your listicle, conduct research to ensure your topic actually fits into a list-format. Generally consisting of 5 or more items, a listicle format is a great way to get readers to engage with content and generate traffic. Let me know what you think in the comments below! It becomes a listicle primarily because its numbered items in an order. Perfect! Here are some examples: 1) Top List: Keller Williams Realty Las Vegas Summerlin included a top list of local mechanics in the Las Vegas area. Math vocabulary game. This makes listicles a simple kind of content to keep up to date for search ranking purposes. They are, essentially, themed compendia of micro-articles, each one self-contained. Listicles take a complex thought and break it down into digestible chunks in the form of a list. Try searching Google for relevant images and videos. I'd be less likely to share a more text-heavy piece like "How to Start Your Own Influencer Marketing Campaign". 1. They can be shared and skimmed easily, and if even a single nugget of value triggers the users satisfaction, they can easily click to share it themselves. In fact, they can be credited with inventing the format, leveraging the curiosity gap and techniques of clickbait to draw people in and make their site the powerhouse it has become. March 30, 2012. There is no guesswork involved, and expectations you've set for your readers are very clear. For example, a checklist of SEO items to monitor. That is, as long as any claims you make are actually met within the body of the article. Updated: To create a high-quality listicle, it's vital your content is consistent and parallel. Lists of tools. Real examples are ideal, but sometimes even a hypothetical one works just as great. It is a portmanteau of list and testicle, because they are usually bollocks. The last tip in the list was "Check to see your emails' legality" and mentioned GDPR, which could be a blog post in itself in fact, it already is! For shorter lists, I might write longer or multiple paragraphs for each item or create categories for information such as pricing, industry/niche, or subject for each. Get the list written in its base form, make sure youve covered everything you want to, and look up information from existing sources if needs be. . One of the best-known examples is Dave Pell's Next Draft - a curation of great stories from around the web, which he regularly publishes as a list post. Project Zomboid, an open-world zombie apocalypse survival game, is set within a hauntingly accurate 1993 version of Kentucky. Examples of listicles. The truth is, they were, but also not really. Do something to stand out from your competitors. Easy to skim: Consistent formatting and pleasant spatial organization make it easy for readers to identify and extract the information they need. How To Write the Best Listicles: 5 Straightforward Tips Satisfying to read: The numbers inform the readers of the extent of the article and give them a sense of accomplishment as they progress. Write out your entire post in bullet points. [2022 List of Top Earners], 143 Good, Fun, and Interesting Topics To Write About, way to get readers to engage with content, The Product Review Template: Your Key to Consistent and Effective Product Evaluations, Maximizing Your Blogs Potential with Featured Posts: How to Use Them to Your Advantage, Top Blogging Statistics for 2023 that are Actually Useful. 10. Listicles are an excellent format for 10x content, as I mentioned above, but you cant 10x the competition if youre not aware of the competition. Sometimes, if you can write a listicle about a complex issue, you can get special attention for the novelty. Entertaining and motivating original stories to help move your visions forward. Number one was a great starting point, and number 10 made the most sense last, since that's likely the last thing you'd tweak when writing a list post. Semrush. Would you consider Lance Lynn to be a No. The closer you are to first place, the more people will read your content. A good example of a mind sport is chess. Our end-of-year support drive ends in 13 days, 2 hours and 50 minutes. This is pretty obvious when you think about how much . If you do choose to create a listicle, it's critical each list item matches with the topic at-hand. They cater to the short attention span of todays blog readers. 2. One of the ways you can make sure you're hitting on point #2 is to direct readers to other resources when necessary. Some keywords lend themselves to listicles, and others do not. Go ahead and plan out the number of points identified when looking up your competition. Clickbait is difficult to avoid, as it encompasses different things for each reader. Use quotes from famous authors or celebrities to show how popular the idea is. Originally I had brainstormed 11, but as I started writing, I cut one out because it wasn't that different from another point, and they could easily be represented as one. That doesnt mean you should skimp on the conclusion. I often make a spreadsheet of tips, with the ones I can think of, the ones I can find, the ones in other lists on the same topic, and so on. Google never really penalized listicles because they punished thin content, copied content, and valueless content. If there are indeed only 10 significant points to make, consider going into more detail, having a more scannable structure, or even adding bonuses to make your piece stronger than the competition. Lists Are Ethically Neutral. Theres an inherent sense of progress and accomplishment as you work your way through the piece, which itself encourages you to finish reading. You absolutely should do all these things in your social media marketing. Your email address will not be published. It's unfortunate, but definitely understandable. If you dont have one already set up, check out our free blog pre-publish checklist for a handy checklist to get you started. If a new point needs adding you can just slot it at the end of the current list and change the title. Use your analytics to tell you what's working. 154K followers View more on Instagram Comment Share Save 961 likes Hi Ben Mulholland He was selected for just one All-Star Game, and that was three years ago after he got off to a hot start. The format, however, is flexible. The listicles articles of Buzzfeed are a classic example of it. Author. Ideally, youll either find a wide-open keyword (which is rare) or a bunch of mediocre lists that you can take, merge, add value to, and sculpt into mega-content. Even if you don't think you know anything about anything important, don't sweat- just choose a topic and ask 3-4 other people to contribute a . Let's go!!! Listicles articles presented in the form as lists are a trendy content format because: They appeal to our brains' tendency to categorize things. You may unsubscribe from these communications at any time. Please, try again later. setTimeout(function(){link.rel="stylesheet";link.media="only x"});setTimeout(enableStylesheet,3000)};rp.poly=function(){if(rp.support()){return} Jeans - a year-round phenomenon, not just a casual Friday. 8) Items to include: when packing, camping, or moving. Like 7 Ways to Clean Your Sink (Number 4 Is Astonishing!). If you run an internet-based business and are looking to scale, schedule a call to speak with our founder: Content marketing has gained a lot of nuance over the last decade. If the audience of your blog is comprised of a variety of readers representing different industries or businesses (like ours), this can be tricky. Have you ever read Buzzfeed? List of SEO Items to Check Before Launching a New Site. Thank you for this authoritative article. If You're a Leader, You Need to Accept Some Harsh Truths. Usually, they expand on each list item with additional information to make them more useful for readers. Try my Tools. Here are just a few reasons: The SEO example is a good one because SEO Checklist is a good starting keyword. We're committed to your privacy. "only halfway to go" or "I'm almost done!"). However, you also need to ensure that your chosen images are relevant to the content. A listicle is a digital text that combines the words "list" and "article.". Subscribe to the Marketing Blog below. Some love them. Those headlines are hard to screw upand they tend to get healthier clicks precisely because readers know what to expect from them. Well, take a look at that post above. Save time creating blog posts with these free templates. Hidden in the vast, sprawling hills of Kentucky are many surprises. Definitely not. 10 ways to reduce blood pressure without medicine. The most common way people give up their power is by thinking they don't have any. Sometimes your list points will practically arrange themselves (e.g. Theyve been done to death, and a lot of us are sick of them. 2023 Content Powered. Failed to subscribe. 1. This will largely depend on how much information you have on each point, along with what your competitors have already published. Are they nothing but clickbait? Once youve selected your keyword (if at all) the next step is to look up your competition for the topic. Quick note; its always best to try to find the original source of your information to link back to rather than using a second-hand source. There are many different ways to structure a listicle. Thats why you need to include relevant images and/or gifs to add some flavor to your listicle. Mind . listicle definition: 1. a newspaper, magazine, or online article that is in the form of a list: 2. a newspaper. Sitting down and saying you're going to write a list consisting of 14 items makes no sense. See pricing, Marketing automation software. The last two years within the game industry have been dominated by a new genre of game that has suddenly seen a lot of love, the Roguelike game genre. Be unique! Many readers love listicles. First, we need to understand why listicles are so effective. Listicles are a suitable format for a site, so long as theyre robust enough in terms of content that can be indexed and so long as they are relevant and full of value. This website contains affiliate links that benefit me. Get in touch! Have you browsed Facebook in the last ten years? The listicle-style blog post is popular because people love lists, and they are easy to read. I wanted to reach out and share my finished article with you, since your article was super helpful in creating it. Identify The Article Topic. The game of ridiculously random lists! 15.Life is 10% what happens to me and 90% of how I react to it. Short listicles are easier to write than longer ones, but they dont provide as much value to readers. If you cut out the words in the images (which Google cant index), that post is 200 words long. Even if there isnt a list which naturally fits a given topic, you can create one by looking at the subject with a certain angle. A listicle is simply data in the form of a list; an example would be " 8 Tips . Each item featured in the article will then have a link to where you can buy the product, for example, or a CTA at the end that drives the readers towards an opt-in page. Longer listicles are harder to write and take longer to produce. Listicles are also great for targeting the long-tail of a keyword, as theyre easy to write and read. Fashion Reels like this highlight how brands can squeeze so much out of a short-form video. It's just a reality. Lists are a perfect medium for giving value without any fluff. They promise a finite, quantifiable story, suggesting an "easy" reading experience. Grab your FREE list here. A "listicle" is an article made of a list, usually with some kind of extra detail to each item. If theyre extensive lists, I might make a spreadsheet and paste them to see and remove duplicates more easily. Inside this tutorial: How to Create a Buzzfeed-Style Listicle. workflow The subject you write about can be literally anything. Step Two: Make Your Pitch Timely. Yes, they bring simplicity and order to stories. You have to choose what kind of listicle youll write before you even begin. 5) Reasons Why: One Green Planet published a listicle about why zoos are bad. Examples of listicles done well What is a listicle? 10. And, my favorite: listicles are an easy target for 10x content. This free game can be played on phones, laptops, tablets, and computers. Consistently higher clickthrough rates seems to back this up. Here, we're going to dive into what a listicle is, how to write one, and listicle ideas to help you generate high-quality, engaging content for your readers. Then theres the mental aspect of listicles; its similar to the psychological effect of having a checklist or task list. Healthline created a list of 7 benefits of High-Intensity Interval Training. They also have a very high click-through rate, so you can easily make money from them. Listicles summarize their main points in a sentence or two each (the list items themselves) and then elaborate on them. Let's answer that in listicle form: 1. People see lists and have been trained to think clickbait. If possible, its also a good idea to record what the purpose of the article is, as this can help you decide what angle youre going to tackle the topic from. Not to mention that your audience may well have heard everything you have to say before and quickly bounce from your page. When I was first getting started, Everyone has to start somewhere. From Buzzfeed and the Huffington Post to Bustle and beyond, thousands of lists are published every year, the majority of which are not exactly high-quality. Theyre formatted in a way that is exceedingly easy to skim to get to the exact information you want, making them a massive victory for fast access to information and usability.