Listicles are a popular type of content that can engage and inform your readers. Many people choose them because they’re easy to create and can be a great way to introduce new topics or provide more in-depth information on existing topics.
However, listicle style content still requires planning and understanding of the topic you’re writing about. So, in this blog post, we’ll discuss what listicles are, how to create them, and reveal some top tips for making them engaging and valuable for your readers.
Let’s dive in.
What Exactly Is A Listicle?
A listicle is simply a piece of content that takes the form of a list. It’s usually comprised of short paragraphs containing one or two sentences.
They can be about any topic you like, but some popular topics for listicles include:
List of resources on a particular topic
These lists are particularly popular for B2B businesses because they provide vital information. For example:
- 10 Content Marketing Stats You Need To Know For 2022
- 5 Ways Technology Will Change By 2030
Top tips for achieving something
Hugely popular for many blogs, these lists give people actionable advice to achieve their professional and personal goals. For example:
- 5 Ways To Ace An Interview
- 10 Ways To Get A Date
Ways to improve something
These listicles are similar to the above, but they focus mainly on improving skills or relationships. For example:
- 6 Things You Can Do To Improve Your Employment Prospects
- 10 Conversations To Improve Your Social Skills
Facts about a certain subject
When this type of listicle is used right, you can generate more interest and more loyalty from your readers. For example:
- 20 Things That Make Meryl Streep The Best Actress Of Our Generation
- 10 Make-Up Ideas
Why Are Listicles So Popular?
Listicles are popular for several reasons:
- They’re easy to read and understand
- You can quickly find the information you’re looking for
- They offer valuable information in a concise format
- They’re shareable and often go viral
How To Create A Listicle That Engages Your Readers
Creating an engaging listicle is not as simple as just throwing together a bunch of sentences. Here are some tips to help you create content that will keep your readers engaged:
Pick A Good Topic
The first step is to choose a topic that will be interesting and useful to your readers. It should also be something that you’re passionate about, as this will come across in your content.
However, if you’re using listicles for your business, you need to make sure the content is relevant and on point. For example, an accountancy company should focus on financial lists because nobody wants to read about your top holiday destinations!
Always make sure your topic is on point and save the things that interest you for your hobby blog.
Do Some Competitive Research
Once you’ve chosen your topic, it’s time to research. This is important for two reasons:
- You need to make sure the topic hasn’t been done to death already.
- You need to see what kind of content is out there and what popular style of listicle.
To do this, type your chosen topic into Google and see what comes up. If there are pages and pages of results, it’s probably best to choose a different topic.
However, if there are only a few results or none, you’re onto a winner! If you want to cover a specific topic, try not to worry about the competition and instead look at every way you can make your listicle stand out.
When you’ve found some similar content, take note of the style and tone, as this will help you create your own listicle later.
Never Forget The Keywords!
When you’ve done your research and chosen your topic, it’s time to begin the creation process. However, keywords are the difference between your list making its way to the top of the search engine results page or failing to make an impression.
You can use tools such as Google Keyword Planner to find the right keywords for your content, but try to make sure they’re a perfect combination of low competition and high volume phrases.
Create An Outline
Once you’ve got your keywords, it’s time to start planning the structure of your listicle. This is important because it will help you stay on track when writing and ensure that your content flows well.
Start by brainstorming all of the points you want to cover in your listicle. Then, put them in order from most important to least important. Once you’ve done this, you can start to flesh out each point with more detail.
If you’re struggling to develop ideas, try looking at other listicles for inspiration or using a mind map.
Remember The Introduction & Conclusion
When you’re happy with the outline of your listicle, it’s time to start writing! However, don’t forget the all-important introduction and conclusion.
Your introduction should be short, sweet, and to the point. It should also contain your chosen keywords to help improve your SEO.
Your conclusion should sum up the main points of your listicle and leave the reader feeling satisfied. It’s also good to include a call-to-action (CTA) in your conclusion, such as asking the reader to share your content or sign up for your newsletter.
Are You Ready To Create Your Listicle?
By following these simple tips, you can create listicles that engage and educate your readers while helping you achieve your business goals! There’s no doubt that listicles will always be popular because they’re easy to digest, but they still require skill and planning.
If you’re interested in creating listicles but don’t have the time, you can use affordable UK blog writers, so you don’t have to worry about doing any of the writing work.
Did you enjoy this post on listicles? Please feel free to check out the ultimate guide to creating a content strategy.
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