No matter how dissenting opinions are on the format, listicles add value. They follow the brain’s instinctively preferred path.
- They save time.
- They have a formula.
- They are predictable.
- They provide answers.
- They are (subconsciously) calming.
“When we put lists on the cover, our newsstand sales go up.”
— David Zinczenko, Men’s Health Editor, Men’s Health
People love lists because they make life easier.
Backed by human psychology, listicles zero in on the most fundamental aspect of delivery namely:
Listicles can make complicated topics easier to understand. The subject tackled can be about anything. Even if a particular topic doesn’t naturally fit into a list, you can create one by approaching the subject with a quirky or new angle.
“There’s nothing about the form of the listicle itself that prevents it from dealing with highbrow or important subjects and increasingly, news of all kinds is being delivered in this form,”
— Arika Okrent Ph.D., Source: The University of Chicago Magazine
An easy reading experience has distinct characteristics: The headlines are digestible. The information is brief but deeply relevant. The work is easier.
Listicles cater to shorter attention spans. The audience engages on its terms. Everything is bite-sized. Listicles make simple promises. And keep them.
Lists are a joy to read because:
- The question and the answer are in the title.
- They give you the freedom to skim to the best part.
- You always get value no matter how little you read.
- They make complex topics digestible.
- They understand who their readers are.
Listicles present the main points under defined lists, which makes it easy to mark your place for later reading.
Here are the ways listicles provide benefits to content marketers and creators:
- They are easier and quicker to write.
- Content planning becomes more structured.
- Updating listicle content on a website is easier.
- Each completed list gives the writer a sense of achievement.
- Content can be shaped around core keywords and long-tail keywords.
Based on these metrics, we can see that an effective listicle cannot be a product of short-cut writing.
“Thought leadership articles aren’t promotional but informative and add genuine value to the reader. But they’re way more effective because the reader will remember you, and even better, trust you.”
— Helen Croydon, Founder, Thought Leadership PR