Are Listicles Really That Bad?

Maybe critics have a point. Or do they?

Stop me if you’ve heard any of this before:

“I don’t respect writers who write listicles.”

“Listicles will kill your writing.”

“Listicles are for lazy writers.”

“Listicles lack creativity.”

“Let’s ban listicles.”

I’ve heard many similarly outrageous comments about listicles. Some expert writers have come down hard on listicles — and the writers that churn them out. But are listicles really that bad?

Make of them what you will, but with the many benefits of listicles to both reader and writer, it’s no wonder they’re gaining ground.

Yes, you’ll find some listicles lacking depth and quality. But that’s not unique to listicles. You can find similarly shallow op-eds and long reads filled with fluff and that offer zero value to readers.

Before the listicle slander continues, here are a few benefits we can all derive from listicles.

An easy way to build a writing habit

I’ve seen many writers start with listicles and build more confidence to write different types of content. Maybe they could have dipped their toes in the writing waters without going the listicle route.

But hey, all’s well that ends well, right?

Every writer starts from somewhere. And for many everyday writers, the listicle is the shortest cut they can take to get a foot in the game. That it appears so easy to put one together gives every writer a hope of writing something.

When you consider the many distractions of modern life, anything to help a writer build a semblance of a writing habit is welcome news. For some of these writers, the listicle may be a saving grace.

A listicle forces you to stay on theme

Getting every supporting point to follow that principal theme when you write is more challenging than people think. Good luck finding seven or nine different points to support the same idea.

A listicle will force you to stay on theme when you could easily wander off and drone on about unrelated points.

Listicles are easily digestible

In the fast-paced online world, readers love the certainty and simplicity of list articles. As soon as you spot the headline, you know what you’re getting before you click on it.

Okay, excluding clickbait headlines that are all too common, by the way.

For the many readers with limited time to go through all the hundreds of content fighting for attention, a list article can’t be more welcome.

When you finally click on it, you can quickly jump to the points, see how they help you as a reader, and then jump off a few minutes later.

That’s the way most of us read online, anyway. And listicles are only helping save readers and writers time.

It all comes down to knowing your reader better

The most popular content type is what works best for your reader. The experts may have their opinions. They may even share their experiences of why their style works better. The numbers may even tell a different story.

But at the end of the day, your target audience wields the most power. And they’re who you have to write for. Mix things up and see what content types resonate best with them.

Who’s to say those much-maligned listicles don’t appeal to your readers as much as any article type?

The debate should be less about the lists and more about the content in the lists

At least let’s judge the quality of the article less about the prejudice against listicles and more on merit.

The lists that make up listicles are only sub-headings. The content that follows these individual lists should be what counts, not so much the format the main article takes.

A well-presented listicle with clearly articulated points beats most other article types that make readers struggle to see what the writer is saying.

There’s a place for listicles

List articles are not evil. They don’t birth lazy writers nor kill writing dreams, as some people suggest. They’re every bit front and center of the content revolution happening online and even in books (think 7 Habits of Highly Effective People).

They’re a viable alternative to the many writing styles available. They help writers add variety to their craft and serve readers with a different brand of content.

We can’t ban them. If writers enjoy them because readers do, there’s little anyone can do about listicles.

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