Lists bring order to chaos. They take the swirl of thoughts, tasks, and ideas racing around in your head.

A simple list transforms mental clutter into something concrete, giving structure to what feels overwhelming.

They also help us remember things. Our brains aren’t built to hold dozens of details at once. A list acts like an external hard drive.

It frees up mental space, allowing us to focus on the work that truly matters.

• You can jot down your daily to-dos.
• Capture long-term goals.
• Organize a big project.

Lists make sure nothing important slips through the cracks.

“People are attracted to lists because we live in an era of overstimulation, especially in terms of information.”

David Wallechinsky, an American historian

Beyond productivity, lists can relieve stress. Something is calming about taking uncertainty and breaking it into clear, manageable steps.

Writing things down provides you with a sense of control. Crossing items off gives you a hit of progress. It also provides momentum.

Most importantly, lists sharpen our focus. They force us to rank, choose what really matters, and see the path ahead at a glance. In a noisy, distracted world, that clarity is priceless.

“List, list, O, list!”

William Shakespeare, an English playwright, poet and actor, in his play Hamlet

We love lists. Many writers use lists in their posts.

For example, some examples of a numbered list article:

• 10 things to do today.
• 7 life lessons you should learn.
• 5 people skills you must master.

5 simple ways to write a better list blog post

We love lists because we know what we get with the blog post. We don’t like missing out on things. Lists feel less taxing on our stressed-out minds.

“Nearly everyone loves reading top 10 lists. A top 10 list is a winning format. It could be listing the most beautiful celebrities or the world’s richest people. It might cover important features you need to know about a new product. It may even include cats that look like Miley Cyrus.”

Amanda DiSilvestro, an author

We remember numbers and are mesmerized by them.

When we see a number in a headline, we are more likely to act. We will click on the headline or read the entire article.

We prefer numbered list headlines to any other type of headline. 

Research has found that women prefer list posts more than men do.

Many of my most popular articles feature numbers in their headlines. They are:

• Easy to read and write.
• An excellent way to organize and structure your thoughts.
• Capture the attention of your readers.

List blog posts, also called listicles, are here to stay if you write them correctly.

We love numbered lists. Use these five simple yet powerful tips to help you write a better blog post.

1. List posts work when you use the correct numbers

Patterns can help us remember things and process information more quickly. We remember things with patterns longer.

The smallest number needed to make a pattern is three. If you think about it, the number three is everywhere.

• The Three Musketeers.
• The Three Little Pigs.
• Three Blind Mice.
• Snap, Crackle, and Pop.
• Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle.
• Faster, Lighter, and Thinner.
• The Three Stooges.
• The Three Amigos.

You get the point.

The power of three is also evident in stories, as they typically have a clear beginning, middle, and end. 

Comedians use three stages to get a laugh (set the stage, anticipation, and punchline). Great conversationalists use the three-question rule to guarantee the other person is heard.

Key takeaway

If you are creating a list, make sure it doesn’t have more than 3 items. If you use numbers, use 3, 5, 7, 10, 15, 20, 25, or 50, 100.

Those numbers are the best for lists. Also, use the numeral, not the word (in other words, “10” is better than “ten”).

2. List posts must be useful

The best content is valuable. It’s the cornerstone of what makes content helpful. A list blog post is inherently practical.

Your list blog post must be useful and interesting. To make it enjoyable, you must have a strong writing voice.

To make this happen, speak the reader’s language and avoid buzzwords. Don’t try to sound clever; it’s a big turn-off.

Also, use shorter sentences and keep paragraphs to three sentences or fewer.

Concentrate on ensuring the list is worth your audience’s time and attention. Make it as helpful as possible and incorporate storytelling to make it more memorable.

Key takeaway

When your list blog post is helpful, it helps others, makes a difference, and adds value to someone’s life.

3. List posts must solve problems

Good content solves a reader’s problem. The best list posts find the reader’s trouble. These posts then tackle the issue by providing a list of solutions.

Humans have tons of problems to solve

If you are looking for ideas for a list post, create a list of your readers’ problems. Answer those problems with your list blog post.

You must understand what motivates your audience. Know what is bothering them. Find what is worrying them. Learn what is exciting for them.

You should also know what they are fearful of, what they cherish, and what they don’t want to lose.

Key takeaway

Listen to problems in your daily life and how you solved them. Find better ways to solve those problems and share that knowledge with your readers.

4. List posts must be scannable and readable

Your list blog post must be scannable and readable. Yet, it’s not guaranteed that anyone will read your entire list post. 

Research shows that only 16% of people read the words of an article.

So, it is essential to understand how your readers consume your content.

Most readers will pick out individual sentences, like a paragraph’s first and last sentences. Make sure that you add subheadings and include one idea per paragraph.

Also, highlight, bold, or italicize crucial words, phrases, and sentences.

Make sure your list blog post has enough whitespace so readers can take a breath while consuming your content.

Pay attention to formatting for both scanners and readers. That will guarantee your content is enjoyable to read.

Key takeaway

Show your blog post in a way that is appealing and compelling.

Make sure your lists meet the scanners’ requirements and serve the readers who want to delve deeper into a topic.

5. List posts must have a strong call to action

You must understand the outcomes. This occurs after you include a list of possible solutions to a problem in your blog post.

What should the reader do next?

It would help to think through what you want your reader to do next.

Before you publish and promote your list post, decide the next step for your readers

The most effective call to action for most blog posts is to encourage readers to consume more content. This is reading another blog article, subscribing to an email newsletter, or watching a video.

Your call to action is different depending on the content.

Key takeaway

The best call to action is clear, concise, and compelling. After reading your blog post, the reader should not doubt what to do next.

For example, it is subscribing to your email newsletter, reading another list post, or downloading an eBook.

Bringing it all together

You must follow five simple yet powerful tips to write a better list of posts worth reading.

List posts work effectively when you use the correct numbers. They are helpful and solve problems.

Please make sure they are scannable and readable. A strong call to action is also essential.

“Love them or hate them, informational posts presented in list format are easily digestible, and allow for an efficient transfer of your value proposition to the reader.”

Brian Clark, the founder of Copyblogger

Lists are an excellent way to convey information to your readers in a recognizable, digestible manner.

Numbered lists help you show your ideas clearly and concisely. You can’t go wrong with a format that has been proven to work.

---

Join my email newsletter for a free eBook and more helpful insights.