It’s quick-to-scan, easy for readers, and informative—listicles have many benefits for B2B SaaS brands. And everyone’s skimming the internet for listicles.
In this blog, we take a comprehensive look into listicles, what they are, how to write a listicle and more.
What is a listicle?
A listicle is a type of article that presents information as a list. For example, a listicle on SEO trends (2026) will start with a short introduction to SEO and include the number of trends in list format. Each point in the list is in H2/H3 and has short, specific information with images to educate readers.
This writing style is popular because it’s easy to read and often contains valuable information that is quick and simple to digest.
For B2B SaaS, listicles are often created around common topics, like:
- Trends
- Alternatives
- Best tools
- Steps to achieve “XYZ”
Why are listicles important (2026)?
Before learning “how to write a listicle”, let’s understand why listicles are popular and why you should include them in your content strategy.
1. Easy to read
Listicles provide information in a simple structure. Content formatted into several numbered points creates a visually appealing format that stands out from a generic wall of text.
Breaking down information in list format also lets readers extract essential details as it consists of a lot of white space and a clear distinction of points.
2. Simplify complex topics
Complex topics are always overwhelming for readers.
However, listicles organize such complex concepts into a list, making it more digestible for readers. It allows readers to focus on one point at a time, preventing information overload.
3. Appeal to shorter attention spans
People’s attention spans have decreased in the age of short videos. They want to get answers as soon as possible. They know what they are looking for and are interested in something other than text-heavy articles. With listicles, you also cater to this audience group.
The listicle presents crips content with clear subheadings, making it an ideal choice for those who do not want to invest much time.
4. Easy to write and preview
The listicle format offers an easy roadmap for writers as well. Once the outline is prepared, writing a listicle is all about following the outline flow. Each point has different sections, making it easier for writers to organize their thoughts.
Also, the list format allows writers and readers to preview the content effortlessly because of its simple structure.
How to use listicles in your B2B SaaS marketing strategy?
Owing to its simple structure, listicles are effective for SEO. Learn how to use them in your content strategy:
- Use listicles to break down complex ideas into easy-to-follow steps or key points.
- Use listicles to guide your audience through a process or provide a clear sequence of actions. It’s like giving them a recipe to follow.
- Listicles allow you to explore various aspects of a topic. Instead of a long essay, you can present unique angles or perspectives in a concise and organized way.
- Use listicles as lead magnets by providing exclusive content that’s useful to your audience. This helps grow your email list.
- Compile expert advice or tips into a list. It’s a quick and effective way to showcase your expertise on a particular subject. Readers appreciate getting valuable insights in a digestible format.
- Listicles are shareable content. When your audience finds your lists helpful, they are more likely to share them on social media. This helps increase your brand’s visibility and engagement.
How to write a listicle in 2026?
Writing a listicle is comparatively easy if you follow these steps:
1. Pick a good topic
Relevance is the key if you are looking to create an impact with your content. When you choose a good topic that aligns with your audience’s interests and challenges, half your battle is won.
To choose a good topic for creating SaaS listicles,
- Create at least 3 detailed customer profiles to cover different segments of your audience
- Each customer profile should answer key questions about their goals, passions, affordability, problems, and how your business addresses their needs
- Perform keyword research and evaluate the relevance of potential blog topics by asking, “Is this content valuable to customer segments X, Y, and Z? “You can use tools like Google Trends or Buzzsumo to identify trending topics in your domain.
The main requirement is your topic must fit the format of a list. In case where you are doubtful if the selected topic can be a listicle, simply search it on Google, and see if listicles are ranking for that keyword; this is your cue.
Some of the engaging listicle topics for SaaA are:
- 21 Best B2B Content Marketing Examples (2024)
- 21 Email Newsletter Examples We Love Getting in Our Inboxes
2. Conduct keyword research
With keyword research, the goal is to create a perfect match between your content and the searcher’s query. You want a primary keyword and a list of secondary keywords.
Long-tail keywords are more specific phrases that users might type into search engines. They often have lower competition and can be valuable for niche topics. Look for long-tail keywords related to your listicle content. For example, if your listicle is about “Top 10 Productivity Tools for Remote Work,” a long-tail keyword could be “productivity tools for remote teams”.
For free keyword research,
- Use tools like Google Keyword Planner
- Google Autocomplete → trending searches
- Google’s People Also Ask → related queries
- Google Trends → keywords interest over time
You can use tools like Ahrefs, Semrush & Ubersuggest to streamline keyword research.
3. Create an outline
Focus on deep research while building your content outline, as the richer the content outline is, the easier it will become to write SaaS list articles.
Follow these steps for creating an impactful outline:
- Have a brief in place (including target audience, keywords, title, and relevant products)
- Create a list of sub-topics relevant to the topic and arrange them in a logical order
- Populate each section with relevant stats/case studies/quotes/examples
- Add H2s, H3s, and H4s for highlighting the structure
- Restructure if needed so it takes on a cohesive flow
- Decide where to add internal links and social proof
- Decide soft and direct CTAs and where to add them in the draft
- Include examples of other high-performing content
- Product features to include and with what narrative
4. Create category buckets for longer lists
Category buckets are for organizing and structuring longer lists into different broader themes by grouping related items. This helps to improve the readability.
How to do it?
- Start by identifying the main themes or topics relevant to your listicle
- Group related points together
- Assign descriptive and concise names to each category
- Introduce each category before listing with an H2 heading
For example, if you write a listicle about statistics, you can create common themes as headings and later put relevant statistics under the broader topic. Like this:
5. Write each point
The explanation of each point should be specific, actionable, and descriptive. The aim is to educate and inform the readers without fluff. Readers will only get to the bottom of your page if the information is direct and relevant.
Here are some listicle writing tips for SaaS:
- Focus on a particular aspect or idea to provide clear value to your readers
- Use supporting data
- Include real-life examples
- Offer actionable tips
For example, this listicle serves as a perfect example of how to approach writing each point in listicles.
6. Enhance each point
To enhance the impact of each point, add:
- Internal/external links
- Images (screenshots+charts)
- Primary and secondary keywords
- Bullet points for more clarity
- Same style throughout the listicle
7. Format each point
When formatting each point in a listicle, it is crucial to maintain consistency and clarity to enhance readability for your audience. Make sure to:
- Use H2s/H3s, etc.
- Arrange the list in a logical order and chronological order
- Use a consistent font style and size
- Describe each list item
- Use bullet points
- Add table of contents
Lastly, be mindful of the length of each point to strike a balance between providing sufficient information and keeping the content concise.
Create listicles with Contensify!
If you’re looking to enhance your content strategy and create listicle content strategy around the pain points of your target audience, Contensify can help you.
Our team of B2B Content Marketers and SEO professionals will help you understand your target audience and identify their specific needs, pain points, and preferences. We do this by aligning the marketing, sales, and support teams to create comprehensive audience definitions and content strategies that are focused on them.
Our success stories speak for themselves—our content receives love and drives results.
Reach out to us today to create content that engages, educates, and converts!
