This post title is intended as pun, making fun of these stories
You’ve seen the headlines, typically in the “lifestyle” category of “news” web sites:
- “37 countries I visited by age 27”
- “15 things not to do when visiting Bali”
- “The 17 best national parks to visit”
- “15 ways to cook potatoes”
- “11 ways to write click-bait articles!”
Research shows people are more likely to click on titles that contain numbers, so that’s part of the content mill click-bait.
Research suggests that people like seeing a specific list of items.
From a writing perspective, these articles are super easy and fast to write – so freelance writers, typically young writers, mostly female, in their 20s with degrees in English lit or creative writing, churn these out as fast as they can, often filled with the right keywords for Search Engine Optimization.
Above from: How To Write A Listicle (Tips And Examples)
Buzzfeed is credited with establishing “listicles” as a standard format but they now appear everywhere, especially at content mill like web sites.
They are known as “Listicles” – yes, there is a term for that!
5 web sites that show how to write “Listicles”!
- 10 listicle examples that will make you love the form
- How To Write A Listicle (Tips And Examples)
- FAQ: What is a Listicle? Examples, Writing Tips, and More
- How to Write a Listicle [+ Examples and Ideas]
- How to write a listicle (with 6 examples)
7 of these stories are Listicles!
