What does listicle mean?

Wikipedia puts it this way: a listicle is "an article that is structured as a list", often with extra text on each item (Wikipedia, read 1 November 2026). The word is a blend of "list" and "article".

There are three common kinds:

  • Ranked lists: "Best help desk software for small teams". This is the best-of list.
  • Alternatives lists: "9 Zendesk alternatives". Buyers read these when they want to switch.
  • Unranked lists of tips or ideas: "12 ways to cut churn". These rarely name products.

Why do listicles matter for B2B SaaS?

Software buyers read ranked lists when they build a shortlist. More and more of them do that inside an AI assistant.

G2's 2026 survey of 1,076 B2B decision-makers found that 51% of B2B software buyers now start their research in an AI chatbot more often than in Google.

When Prefer checked 188 answers from ChatGPT, Perplexity, Gemini and Claude in July 2026, 40% of the sources cited for buyer questions were independent lists. Vendors' own sites got 34%, review sites 3%.

So a list that names your product can reach a buyer twice: once on the page, and once in an AI answer that cites the page. A list that leaves you out is a shortlist you are not on.

What does a listicle look like? (example)

A hypothetical example: "Best help desk software for small teams in 2026". It opens with a short answer and the test criteria. A comparison table follows. Then each tool gets its own section: who it is for, what it does well, where it falls short, the price and a link. The page ends with a date of the last update.

How do you make a listicle?

  1. Pick one buyer question, such as "best help desk for teams under 20".
  2. Set your criteria before you pick the items.
  3. Test or research each item and note who it suits.
  4. Give each entry its strengths, its limits and why it made the list.
  5. Label paid entries and affiliate links where readers see them.
  6. Update the list and the date when products change.

Google's review guidance asks for the same depth: "Ensure there is enough useful content in your ranked lists for them to stand on their own" (Google Search Central, read 1 November 2026).

How Rank Monthly handles listicles

Rank Monthly books businesses into the listicles that buyers read and AI assistants quote, and keeps them there. A placement is a position in an existing list article or a new sponsored article. Publishers connect Search Console, Analytics and WordPress, so every traffic number is measured, never typed in. Publishers are paid every month for the spots they hold. See listicle placements for B2B SaaS.

Listicle vs best-of list vs sponsored listicle

  • A listicle is any article built as a list.
  • A best-of list is a ranked listicle that names the top options for one need.
  • A sponsored listicle is a listicle in which a brand paid for its entry or for the whole article.
  • A listicle is not a directory. A directory lists every vendor in a category; a listicle picks a few and explains why.

For what list spots cost on the open market, see the listicle placement price index.