Listicle Websites: 12 Great Examples That Will Also Pay You To Write!
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Listicle websites have become extremely popular over the years with publishers, and for good reason - people love lists, so they drive traffic. And according to research, the human brain can digest chunked content more easily, like what's found in list content.
There are listicle websites in just about every niche, with some of the most popular ones being weird, wacky, and humorous.
Interestingly, these listicles are not all written by pro writers - anyone can make money writing an epic list, even as a beginner.
No formal qualifications are needed to be a list writer, but you will need to have great internet research skills and the ability to write engagingly.
Let's dive in.
Contents
The Best Listicle Websites to Write Lists for Money
Do you have an idea for the top 25 weirdest holiday destinations of all time, or maybe 10 of the funniest things celebrities said while drunk?
There are so many bits of information you could turn into a funny, shocking, or entertaining list post, and the listicle websites below want your contributions!
Read on to learn about the best list-based websites that pay people to write lists.
1. Cracked
Cracked is a popular listicle website that's focused on the humorous side of life and has millions of monthly readers.
Their main content categories include:
- Trivia and jokes
- Movies and TV
- Sports
- Relationships
- Celebrities
- Science and History
- Weird World
- Personal experiences.
You can create a listicle of any number, but the most popular ones seem to be in the 10, 20, or 30 range.
So, if you have a funny story to tell or you have a knack for finding entertaining material, send your listicle idea to the Cracked team.
2. ListVerse
ListVerse is another hugely popular list site on the web that has over 8 million readers each month.
Their main listicle articles are focused on the following subjects:
- Bizarre
- Entertainment
- General knowledge
- Lifestyle
- Science
- Society.
All lists published are lists of 10, and your list will need to be something novel to get accepted.
Lists must also be at least 1500 words and be proofread and edited. Make sure you check out their author guide before you send in a submission.
3. WondersList
Wonderslist is a listicle website that posts list content on a huge range of subjects.
These include:
- People
- Animals
- Travel
- Bizarre
- Most expensive
- Net worth
- Many more...
Their article submission rules state that lists need to be 10 to 1, unique, free of errors, engaging, and at least 1500 words in length.
They only pay $5 for each accepted article, but you will get an author mention and can join their writers team moving forward.
4. AListApart
AListApart posts articles on a range of topics such as code content, design, business, and user experience, and its main audience is people who make websites.
They're always looking for new writers to bring a fresh perspective on a topic, and they encourage you to send in a rough draft if you have an article idea.
Articles need to be between 600 to 2,500 words, and you can check out their style guide to be sure of the contributor requirements.
5. WhatCulture
WhatCulture offers a range of informative and entertaining listicles with the majority being a list of 10.
A few popular categories on this site include:
- WWE
- Gaming
- TV and film
- Comics
- Music
- Offbeat
- Quizzes.
This listicle website leans towards the humorous side of life, so if you can produce this type of content, you can earn well as pay is according to article views.
Average Listicle payment: $0.40 per 1,000 views
Link to list writer application page: Hiring writers.
6. TopFiveBuzz
TopFiveBuzz is a site that posts a range of informative travel articles, guides, and listicles.
They're always on the lookout for new contributors, and you have free rein over what you want to write about.
All post submissions must be at least 600 words, although articles between 800 to 1,000 words have a higher chance of approval.
I couldn't see any information about pay on the contributor page, but it did state that you get an author bio and can link to your blog or website, which is a valuable reward if you're a blogger.
7. Sporteology
Sporteology is one of the best listicle websites that has a focus on all things sports.
The main topics include:
- Cricket
- Soccer
- Tennis
- Basketball.
They post articles with general sporting information, the latest news, sporting gossip, rich lists and sports top 10 lists.
The site has over 5 million viewers each month, and if you have a listicle idea, make sure it is at least 1,000 words, and you check all facts and points.
While pay isn't huge, you get credit for every posted article and have the opportunity to join their in-house content team.
Average Listicle payment: $7 paid within 24 hours
Link to list writer application page: Write for Us.
8. Ranker
Ranker is a listicle website that encourages reader participation through votes.
These votes help to ''Rank'' the lists, and topics include all sorts of things such as watchworthy, weird history, graveyard shift, total nerd, lifestyle, music, and more.
On their ''We're Hiring'' page, they're currently looking for new freelance writers to write lists about:
- Movies
- TV shows
- Actors
- The entertainment landscape.
If this sounds good to you, send in your resume alongside details of any other media content you've produced.
Average Listicle payment: Not disclosed
Link to list writer application page: Ranker Freelance Writer.
9. Top Tenz
Top Tenz is another listicle website that focuses on producing fun and quirky top 10 lists.
The main article categories include:
- Bizarre
- Culture
- Entertainment
- Science
- Crime
- History
- Humor.
If you want to get paid to write lists, they're currently accepting contributors.
Submissions must count down from 10 to 1, be in American English, be error-free, and have a word count in the range of 1500 to 2000 words.
10. List25
If you love the bizarre side of life, List25 would be a good listicle website to visit!
They post lists counting down from 25 to 1 in a range of niches such as science, history, sports, random, bizarre, people, and more.
You'll often see review lists on the site as well, detailing anything from the best roof ladders to the best antifungal socks or the weirdest clothes you can buy online.
List25 does accept listicle contributions; however, they do not currently offer financial compensation.
But you will get article credit and a link to your website if you have one.
11. KnowledgeNuts
While KnowledgeNuts is not an exclusive listicle website, it does often post list content and a range of other interesting content such as facts, misconceptions, bizarre tales, and more.
The site is full of articles on all different subjects, including budgeting, business, family, government, health care, travel, money, parenting and just about anything else!
At the time of writing this, they had stopped accepting submissions, but when they did, pay was $10 for every knowledge nut.
Keep an eye out on their submission page for when it opens up again.
12. History Lists
History Lists is a site focused on history, people, events, arts, architecture, mythology, and more.
A few of the latest lists I saw on the homepage include:
- 10 famous explorers in history
- 20 of the world's most famous paintings
- 10 events that led to the Cold War
- 9 of the most devastating medieval weapons
If you enjoy reading and learning about history, this is a listicle site that should keep you busy.
Due to a sudden influx of submissions, they've currently stopped taking submissions.
However, it is worth keeping an eye on the ''Write for Us'' page to see when this changes.
Listicle Websites: Tips to Succeed as a List Writer
The majority of list websites don't require you to have a degree or previous experience, but there are a few things that will help you succeed as a listicle writer.
Write What You Know
While you may worry that you're not an expert in anything, everybody has deeper knowledge about one or two certain subjects.
Have a think about your hobbies, the TV and films you watch, the jobs you've done, which celebrities you follow or where you traveled on that career break.
An example might be if you traveled to Asia recently. You could write a listicle about 10 bizarre facts about Asian culture or something more specific.
Find an Interesting Angle
Listicle websites often focus on the humorous or bizarre side of life, so you're more likely to get your list published if it contains unusual or shocking facts.
Controversial also works for lists, as it gets people talking and will encourage people to click and read.
A few controversial posts on Listverse for ideas include:
Research the Audience
Like with the majority of freelance writing jobs, listicle writing requires you to know and write for a specific audience.
It may be tempting to write how YOU want, but doing this will risk putting people off, so your content won't get many views.
Always read the listicle website writer guidelines, as this will often detail the tone of voice and style of writing they're looking for.
Choose a Scroll-Stopping Title
Article titles are the first thing a reader sees when they land on a listicle website.
A fun and interesting title can be the difference in whether anyone actually clicks on your article in the first place.
To write a great list title, it needs to grab attention, shock a little, and explain what they'll learn in 5-7 words.
Practice makes Perfect
Paid listicle writing might not be for everyone, but even the best list writers had to start somewhere!
As an aspiring list writer, you may even get your list ideas rejected a few times - but that's ok!
Not many people are perfect at writing list posts immediately. Just start writing, keep sending in ideas, and listen to feedback when you get it.
With a little perseverance, this could become a top writer side hustle or could even blossom into a full-time day job.
Final Words on Listicle Websites
Those are the best listicle websites to read and make money from writing lists!
If you're interested in becoming a publisher, list writing is a fun and interesting way to get started.
All you need to succeed is decent writing and editing skills and an unusual or informative list topic idea that hasn't been covered before.
Search through previous articles on any list website you plan to send in a submission to get a feel for what they're looking for, and always follow submission guidelines.
Remember - some of the most popular listicle sites may get hundreds or even thousands of submissions a week, so you need to get off on the right foot!
Want more ways to make money writing?
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