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How to write a listicle LinkedIn post

150–300 words

Listicles are one of the highest-performing formats on LinkedIn because they're easy to scan, easy to share, and easy to engage with. A well-structured list post packages your expertise into discrete, actionable items that readers can immediately apply. The format works for tips, lessons, tools, mistakes, and almost any other knowledge you want to share.

How to structure this post

  1. 1Write a headline-style opening that tells the reader exactly what the list contains and how many items to expect. Example: "7 things I wish I knew before starting a consulting business."
  2. 2Number each item. Keep each item to 1-3 sentences max. Front-load the key insight — don't bury it in the middle of a paragraph.
  3. 3Order your list strategically: put your strongest item first and your second-strongest item last. People remember beginnings and endings.
  4. 4Add a brief intro sentence before the list if needed, but don't write a full paragraph — get to the list quickly.
  5. 5Close with a question asking readers to add their own item to the list. This drives comments and extends the conversation.

When to use this format

  • •When you have multiple related insights, tips, or lessons that work better as a curated set than as a single narrative.
  • •When you want to create a reference-style post that people save and come back to.
  • •When you're sharing practical, actionable advice that benefits from being broken into discrete, numbered steps.

Example posts

8 things I've learned about pricing after 6 years of freelancing: 1. If nobody pushes back on your price, it's too low. 2. Hourly rates punish you for getting faster and better at your job. 3. The client who negotiates the hardest usually pays the latest. 4. Raising your rates loses you some clients and gets you better ones. 5. Your price communicates your positioning before a single word of your pitch does. 6. Fixed-price projects are less stressful for everyone when the scope is clear. 7. The best time to raise your rates is right after a successful project, not when you're desperate. 8. Confidence in your pricing comes from tracking your results, not from reading about pricing strategy. Which one resonates most? I'd add #3 was the most expensive lesson to learn. Anything you'd add to this list?

5 mistakes I see in almost every company's LinkedIn strategy: 1. Posting as the company page and expecting engagement. People follow people, not logos. Your best distribution channel is your employees' personal profiles. 2. Writing for your peers instead of your customers. If your posts are full of industry jargon and insider references, you're impressing competitors and confusing buyers. 3. Treating LinkedIn like a press release channel. Nobody wants to read that you're "thrilled to announce" anything. Talk about what you learned, built, or broke. 4. Posting three times a week for one month, then disappearing for six. Consistency beats frequency. One quality post per week for a year outperforms daily posting for 30 days. 5. Ignoring comments. If someone takes the time to comment on your post and you don't reply, you're leaving engagement and relationships on the table. Which of these is your company guilty of? (No judgment — I've made every single one.)

Topic ideas for this format

  • •Lessons learned from a specific number of years in your industry
  • •Common mistakes you see in your area of expertise
  • •Tools, books, or resources that changed how you work
  • •Rules or principles you follow that most people in your field ignore

Tips for this format

  • •Odd numbers and specific numbers (7, 11, 23) tend to get more clicks than round numbers (5, 10, 20). "9 lessons" feels more authentic than "10 lessons" because it implies you only included what actually mattered.
  • •Make each list item standalone. A reader should be able to screenshot any single item and have it make complete sense without the rest of the list.
  • •Vary the length of your items. If every item is exactly one sentence, the post feels monotonous. Mix in 2-3 items with a brief follow-up sentence for rhythm.

Frequently asked questions

How many items should my list have?
5-10 is the sweet spot for LinkedIn. Fewer than 5 feels thin; more than 10 starts to lose readers. If you have more than 10 great items, pick the best 7-8 and save the rest for a follow-up post.
Should I use numbered lists or bullet points?
Numbers almost always outperform bullets on LinkedIn. Numbers create a sense of progress as readers move through the list, and they make it easy for commenters to reference specific items ("#4 really resonated with me"). This drives more specific, higher-quality comments.
How do I make my listicle stand out from all the other lists?
Be specific and opinionated. Generic lists ("be authentic, add value, stay consistent") are forgettable. Lists with unexpected items, strong opinions, or very specific advice ("raise your rates the week after a successful project, not when you're desperate") get remembered and shared.

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