Lists also appeal to our general tendency to categorize things—in fact, it’s hard for us not to categorize something the moment we see it—since they chunk information into short, distinct components. This type of organization facilitates both immediate understanding and later recall, as the neuroscientist Walter Kintsch pointed out back in 1968. Because we can process information more easily when it’s in a list than when it’s clustered and undifferentiated, like in standard paragraphs, a list feels more intuitive. In other words, lists simply feel better.

“I think people who think negatively about listicles only think about the BuzzFeed, you know, ‘What Kind of Cat Are You?’ I think that, unfortunately, it bypasses what’s really important, which is the organizing principle in which we frame the world for people. I think the best news organizations are using the inspiration of listicles to tell stories more effectively.”

1. Because readers 🧡 them and SHARE them.

2. They provide structure for the blogger who has to generate a lot of content.

3. They provide a scannable structure that is especially effective for online readers and sharing. 

4. They deliver backlinks. Neil Patel's post on Listicles explains its value as a content marketing tool.

I discuss why listicles are a go-to format for bloggers and content creators in my blog post, Blogger, Meet Your New Best-Content Friend — The Listicle! Please read and like (if you like it!) 👍🏻

A listicle is a blog post, article, press release or any piece of writing or video content presented in a numbered list. A listicle has a number in the title/headline and the writing is structured around presenting the list. 

Listicles are everywhere and just about every content creator uses them. The New York Times and WaPo use them for feature content and sometimes news analysis.

• Traffic: Listicles rank when they nail search intent. You don’t need a 5,000-word guide, just the fastest, clearest answer to the query.

• Links: People link to listicles when they don’t want to recreate the work. Give them stats, quotes, visuals, and legit sources. Make it easier to cite you than compete with you.

• Shares: Nobody shares generic tips. They share things that surprise them, help them, or make them look smart. Organize your list for speed, add a hook, and lead with something unexpected.

• Quick rule: Each item should deliver standalone value. That means it should offer a clear takeaway, even without the rest of the list.