Listicles
A countdown or list of picks, with your product as one of them.
Updated October 8, 2026
What is a listicle?
The creator runs through a list: top apps, favorite products, underrated tools. Your product is one of the picks, often the last or the “best one”.
Also called: top 5 videos, “apps you need”, favorites lists.
Why it works
Lists promise value up front, so people watch to the end to see every pick. Being one of several feels like an honest recommendation rather than an ad.
Best for
Apps (“iPhone apps you need”), beauty and wellness picks, gift guides, tools and productivity.
How to make a listicle
- Say the number and the promise in the hook (“3 apps that…”).
- Give each pick one line: what it is and why it's good.
- Save your product for last or call it the favorite.
- Keep a steady rhythm, one pick every few seconds.
Hooks to try
Fill in the blanks for your product:
- “3 apps that feel illegal to know about”
- “Underrated ___ you need in 2026”
- “My top 5 ___ right now”
- “Things on my phone I can’t live without”
Do's and don'ts
Keep your listicles on an inspo board
An inspo board is a swipe file for short-form video: the TikToks, Reels and Shorts worth copying, sorted by format, each with its hook and a note on why it works. Save the listicles you like to your board in inspo instead of losing them in your TikTok saves.
Because each video on the board carries its format, hook and notes, the board doubles as a brief: share it with creators in one link, or paste it into ChatGPT or Claude to draft new scripts and hooks in the same style.
More formats
Talking headOne person talking straight to the camera, like a FaceTime with a friend.
Face to demoStarts on a face with a hook, then cuts to the product in action.
Faceless videoNo one on camera: hands, point-of-view shots or b-roll, with text or a voiceover.
SlideshowsA swipeable set of photos with text on each slide.VoiceoverA voice telling a story over footage, without talking to camera.
TextwallA block of text over a simple background, read while a sound plays.
Green screenThe creator talks in front of a screenshot, article, post or website.
SkitsA short acted scene, often one creator playing several characters.Questions
Where can I find good listicle examples?
inspo keeps a live board of real listicles from TikTok, Reels and Shorts, each named with the hook it uses, on this page. Save the ones you like to your own inspo board, add why they work, and share the board with your creators in one link.
What is an inspo board?
An inspo board is a list of short-form videos worth copying, sorted by format, with the hook and a note on why each one works. inspo keeps the video, hook and notes together, so you and your creators can find them again in seconds.
Can AI write a listicle script from my examples?
Yes. Every video on an inspo board carries its format, hook and notes, so you can copy the board as a creator brief and paste it into ChatGPT or Claude to draft scripts and new hooks for a listicle.