You probably don’t notice how often you read listicle articles online, but if you stop and take a look, you’ll realise that listicles are everywhere. There’s a good reason for this – they perform well! According to Semrush, listicle content receives 80% more page views than other article types.
But listicle articles aren’t just great for driving traffic. They’re also a great tool for ecommerce businesses to boost product discovery. In this article, we’ll explain everything you need to know about listicles and how you can use them to increase the visibility of your products.
What is listicle content?
Listicles are a style of content, which include a list of items. Each item often contains a headline and short description. This type of content is usually structured in a numbered/ bulleted style and can include images and videos as well. While listicles have traditionally been used for entertainment purposes, they’re actually a very effective way to present ideas in a digestible format.
These days, we use listicles to present a range of information, from facts and statistics to quizzes and opinion pieces. Sometimes we use them to list ecommerce products, which helps readers compare features and price tags (more on this later). Some websites, such as Buzzfeed and Listverse, almost exclusively publish listicle content, but you’ll also find them on company blogs and other news sites.
Why do we use listicles?
Listicles have received a slightly bad rep in recent years for being ‘clickbaity’ and derivative. As a result, you might be wondering “Why are listicles so popular with content writers?”. As mentioned, despite their reputation, lists perform well online. But there are several other reasons why they’re still such a popular form of content marketing as we explain below.
They’re great for SEO
Google’s algorithm looks at headings and subheadings for clues as to what the article is about. This means listicle articles make it easier for Google to categorise your content, and target people searching for specific topics. You can optimise each subheading with targeted keywords to increase your chances of generating more organic traffic.
They’re easy to read
People’s attention spans are shrinking all the time, which means it’s now harder than ever to keep readers engaged. Listicle articles are great for this because they break up text into easily digestible chunks. This makes it easier for people to find the information they need quickly without having to read through lengthy text.
They simplify complex topics
It can be difficult to explain complex topics in a straightforward way, but listicle articles are great for this. By breaking down the topic into smaller sections, you can make long-winded topics both easier to understand and more interesting as well.
Our brains prefer lists
Our brains are hardwired to respond positively to lists. We’re naturally drawn to them because they make it easier for us to organise and recall information. For our brains, reading a list feels like checking off an achievement, which gives us a feeling of satisfaction.
They go viral easily
According to research by Moz, people are more likely to share listicle articles than other forms of content. More shares mean more potential for your content to get noticed and generate clicks.
They help buyers discover products
Ecommerce store owners are competing with hundreds (or even thousands) of other businesses selling similar products. Creating listicle content can be a great way to promote specific items in an engaging way. This helps customers quickly find the product they want and drives sales (more on this in the next section).
What is the role of listicle content in product discovery?
When you Google things like, “What’s the best mascara?” or “What are the best laptops?”, you’ll often come across listicle articles that answer these questions in the form of a ‘top 10-style’ article.
The buyer’s journey is typically divided into three stages:
- Awareness. The first stage of the buyer’s journey is when a customer becomes aware that there’s a problem/ need they must address. It can also refer to the moment they become aware of a brand, product, or service.
- Consideration. The second stage of the buyer’s journey is when a customer starts researching and evaluating solutions for their problem/ need.
- Decision. The third stage of the buyer’s journey is when a customer makes the decision to buy or not to buy.
Listicle articles can play a role in both the awareness and consideration stages of the buyer’s journey. Your potential customers may discover your product by reading a listicle or they may use the listicle to compare their options and make a purchasing decision.
According to one study, if a song appeared on a “bestseller” list on a music streaming platform, its discoverability increased by around 11- 13%. It’s self-evident that the more your product appears in listicles, the greater its visibility and the more likely it is to be discovered.
But besides simply discovering your product, ecommerce writing featuring listicle content also provides “social proof” that your product is worth buying. It’s an effective way to increase credibility and further influence user decisions. Consumers are significantly influenced by the opinions of others – 93% of consumers say online reviews affect their buying habits. So having your product featured in a listicle with a positive review adds that highly influential element of external approval.
How to write a listicle that drives product discovery
So, you want to use listicle articles to increase the chances of potential customers seeing and buying your products. How do you create a listicle that gets attention? Here are some handy tips.
Research keywords first
Think about the product you’re selling and the search intent of your potential customers. For example, if you’re selling a garden tool, research keywords related to gardening such as “best gardening tools” or “essential gardening tools”. What are the most popular keywords? You should include your main keyword in the listicle’s main heading. Secondary keywords should be integrated throughout the text as naturally as possible.
Odd numbers perform better than even ones
Marketers have truly researched everything, and the latest research shows that odd-numbered lists get more clicks than even-numbered lists. There could be a few reasons for this, but probably odd numbers just appear more “exciting” to our brain, catching our attention and increasing our chances of clicking. So, where possible, list “7 essential gardening tools” instead of “6”.
Write a compelling introduction
You’ve got your keywords and visuals ready, now it’s time to write the actual listicle content. Start with an engaging introduction that pulls readers in and explains why they should care about the topic. Make sure you include your main keyword in the introduction, so Google knows what the list is about.
Put your product at the top
It should go without saying but if you’re ranking products and you want to promote your own product, don’t put it at the end of the list. Ideally, your product should be number one – but you need to justify why. If it’s higher quality or cheaper than its competitors, make sure you talk about that in the listicle.
Link to your product
Again, this might be common sense, but don’t forget to link back to your own product page. It helps to use your main keyword as the anchor text when you link so that Google knows what’s being linked and can properly index it.
Stick with one format
Should you write a simple list with minimal descriptions or an in-depth review of each item? Both are acceptable options. But if you want to keep your readers interested and engaged, it’s best to stick with one format. In the same vein, if you’re including details such as price, be sure to include them for all items in the same way.
Don’t forget the visuals
People are visual creatures – they’re more likely to click if there’s an image accompanying your listicle article. If you don’t have images of the products featured in the list, at least use a relevant, visually appealing image that conveys the message. Additionally, keep in mind that posts with images get 30% more shares and 25% more backlinks than posts without!
Use HTML list elements
One key element of search engine optimization is to make sure the listicle content is formatted in a way that allows search engines to easily parse it. HTML list elements are a great way to do this. Make sure you do the following:
- Use an H1 tag for the article’s main title.
- Use an H2 tag for your list’s headline.
- Offer a brief description under the H2 headline to introduce the list.
- Structure your list points using the HTML unordered list element (UL).
- Assign each item in your list with an H3 label.
Keep it up-to-date
One of the best ways to ensure your listicle is successful is to regularly update it. Your ecommerce product descriptions might change over time, so ensure your listicle articles always have up-to-date information. Check back on the products in your list regularly and make any necessary changes, so they’re as relevant as possible.
Consider partnering with an influencer or reviewer
Want to add something extra to your listicle? Consider partnering with an influencer who is passionate about the topic. They can help add to the credibility of your listicle by providing their own opinions on each ecommerce product and bringing in more readers who trust what they have to say. Alternatively, ask a customer or reviewer for their genuine opinion on each product and add this content to the descriptions.
Promote your listicle
Once you’ve finished writing the listicle, don’t forget to promote it. Share it on social media, email it to your subscribers, and make sure it’s easy to find on your website. Create a meta title and description containing the appropriate keywords so that search engines can easily find your content.
Pitch it to another website
To get your listicle content published on other websites, make sure it’s well-written and contains unique angles not available elsewhere. Then pitch the listicle to relevant blogs that accept guest posts. Riding on the success of another website’s audience can be a great way to get more eyes on your content and build up your brand.
Hire an ecommerce writing service
While listicles might seem like an entry-level form of ecommerce writing, they still need to be well-written. If you don’t have the time or experience to write a listicle article yourself, consider hiring an agency that provides professional ecommerce writing services. They can help you create a listicle article that’s targeted to your intended audience and meets the standards of search engines.
Need more content for your ecommerce site?
If you’re looking for ways to promote your ecommerce products, listicles are an excellent place to start. Here at VAMS, we have a team of ecommerce writing experts who can help you write a high-quality ecommerce product listicle. We’ll help you create engaging content and ensure your listicle is optimized for search engine visibility. Contact us today to learn more about our ecommerce writing services.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about listicle content.
What does a listicle look like?
A listicle is an article composed of a series of points. It usually has a catchy headline and is divided into easily digestible sections. The most successful listicles include images and videos, as well as links to relevant products or websites.
What is the difference between an article and a listicle?
A listicle is a form of article writing that’s focused on creating an organised list of information, usually accompanied by short paragraphs and graphics. The content can range from factual to humorous, depending on the writer’s style. Articles are more likely to be written in paragraph format and provide longer-form insight into a topic.
What are the benefits of writing listicle content?
Writing a listicle article is an effective way to capture your audience’s attention and provide valuable information in an entertaining format. You can also break down listicles into easily digestible bite-sized chunks, which makes them perfect for time-sensitive readers. Additionally, listicles are a great way to increase web traffic towards a particular product. They’ll also help you rank higher on search engine result pages.
Are listicle articles easy to write?
Writing an effective listicle requires research, creativity, and strong writing skills. Depending on the subject matter and the writer’s experience, it can be a relatively simple task. However, there’s an art to effectively capturing your audience’s attention, which can take some time to master. At VAMS, producing quality listicles is our bread and butter!