You’re almost there. You’ve written a great listicle, and you can see the finish line. But before you hit publish, you ask yourself a critical question: do I need to write a conclusion?
Listicles need a conclusion to create a lasting impression, give the reader a sense of closure, and leave them wanting more. This final section is also an excellent opportunity to cement the bond you’ve built with your reader and encourage them to take action.
Before you say it, I know. There are tons of listicles out there without a conclusion. They reach the last point and then just… stop. Honestly, every time I read a listicle like that, I feel a bit like I’m teetering on the edge of a cliff, about to plunge into an abyss of uncertainty.
But that’s not the kind of experience you want your readers to have, is it? You want them to feel like they can trust you, that you’re an authority on the subject, and that they can rely on you to give them the information they need. And a conclusion is the perfect way to do that. So let’s look at seven reasons you really want to end every listicle with a conclusion.
Table of Contents
1. Gives a Sense of Closure
Another important reason to include a conclusion is that it gives the reader a sense of closure. When you finish reading a listicle, you want to feel like you’ve learned something new, that your time was well spent, and that you know what to do with the information you just took in.
But if a listicle doesn’t have a conclusion, it’s like the article just stops in its tracks. You’re left hanging, wondering what the point of it all was. And that’s not a good feeling.
A conclusion gives the reader a sense of satisfaction that they can move on with their day, having learned something new. It’s a way to tie up all the loose ends and leave the reader feeling good about the experience.
Otherwise, it’s like a TV show that was canceled before the ending was ever revealed. Your readers are left frustrated, wondering what could have been. And they might complain for years and years about it – does “Firefly” ring any bells?
Don’t be that TV show. Instead, give your readers a satisfying conclusion so they can move on with their lives. And so you don’t have fans writing angry letters to you and muttering more than two decades later about how you tried to appease them with a hastily thrown-together movie that didn’t really answer any of their questions. Oh, wait, that was Fox.
Yes, I might still be slightly bitter about Firefly. But the point stands. You don’t want to be the Fox network and pull the plug on your show before giving your fans a satisfying conclusion. Or you might find that your entire industry changes due to the backlash.
End your listicles with a conclusion so your readers can have closure and be satisfied with what they’ve read. Trust me, they’ll thank you for it.
2. Helps Cement Your Credibility
Though it might sound silly, if you don’t finish your listicle with a conclusion, it feels like you have no idea what you’re doing. You’re saying, “Oh, look at all this information. Isn’t it cool? Now go away and figure out what to do with it.”
“But my listicle is chock full of helpful information!” you might be thinking. And that’s great! But take things a step further and remember the format you’re delivering the information in.
By their very nature, listicles are supposed to be easy to read and digest. That’s why they’re so popular. There are other reasons, of course, which you can check out in this article I wrote on why listicles will never die.
But if you don’t provide a conclusion, it feels like you’re just dumping a bunch of information on the reader without giving them any guidance. And that’s not helpful or trustworthy.
By including a conclusion, you’re saying, “I know this information can be overwhelming. But I’m here to help you make sense of it.” You’re taking on the role of teacher or expert, and that helps build your credibility with the reader.
Otherwise, it feels like you’re just trying to show off how much you know. And that’s not going to win you any points with your reader.
3. Strengthens the Bond You’ve Built With Your Reader
Throughout the listicle, you’ve been building a bond with your reader. You’ve been showing them that you understand their needs and concerns and have the information they’re looking for.
But if you don’t include a conclusion, it’s like you suddenly forget about the connection you’ve built up and just abandon them.
Think of it like a date. You’ve been getting to know each other, sharing stories and laughs, and building rapport. Then, at the end of the night, instead of saying goodbye and making plans for a second date, you just walk away without saying a word.
It’s kind of weird, right? And it would definitely leave your date feeling confused and disappointed. Plus, you can bet your bottom dollar there wouldn’t be a second date.
The same is true of your relationship with your reader. If you don’t include a conclusion, it feels like you don’t care about them or their needs.
However, if you take the time to craft a compelling conclusion, it shows that you’re invested in the relationship and want to continue providing value. And that strengthens the bond you’ve built with your reader and keeps them coming back for more.
4. Encourages the Reader to Take Action
A good conclusion also encourages the reader to take action. This is your chance to encourage the reader to put what they just learned into practice.
We’re all inherently lazy. We want to consume information, but if someone doesn’t tell us exactly what to do next, we’re liable to dither and do nothing.
Your conclusion is the perfect opportunity to push the reader in the right direction. This is where you tell them what they should do next to implement the information they just learned.
For example, if you’ve written a list of tips on how to save money, your conclusion could be something like, “Start by implementing one tip per week. Then, track your progress and see how much you save each month. After a few months, you’ll be surprised at how much money you’ve saved!”
This is just a hypothetical example, but you get the idea. You want to give the reader something specific to do so they can put the information from your article into practice.
It’s a way to add value to your article and make it more than just a list of tips or information. It’s a way to turn your piece into a tool the reader can use to achieve their goals.
5. Addresses the Reader’s Objections
Your conclusion is also an excellent opportunity to address the reader’s objections. This is your chance to overcome any objections your reader might have about taking action on the information in your article.
Suppose you wrote a listicle on the different types of meditation and the reader’s objection is that they don’t have time to meditate.
Your conclusion could be, “I understand that you’re busy and think you don’t have time to meditate. But if you start with just five minutes per day, it’s not as daunting. And once you see how much better you feel, you’ll be motivated to keep going.”
Why would you want to do this?
Your goal in writing the listicle was to help the reader achieve a specific goal. But if something is holding them back, they won’t be able to achieve that goal.
By addressing their objections in the conclusion, you help remove any roadblocks that might be standing in their way. That makes it more likely they’ll take action on the information in your article and achieve the results they’re looking for.
And they’ll remember that you were the one who helped them get there, which means that next time they need help with something, they’re more likely to come to you.
6. Increases Conversion Rates
If you’re using your listicle to generate leads or make sales, then including a conclusion can help increase your conversion rates. The conclusion is one of the last things the reader will read before taking action, which could be to leave your site rather than doing what you want them to do, like signing up for your email list or buying something.
If you’ve done a good job of building trust and demonstrating your authority, the reader will be more likely to take the action you want once they reach the end. However, if you don’t include a call-to-action, you’re missing out because you’re making things far too difficult for your readers.
So, a good conclusion should include a call-to-action (CTA) that tells the reader what to do next. Providing them with a clear path forward that includes a link to make it as convenient as possible will increase the likelihood of them doing what you want.
For example, if you’re using your listicle to generate leads, your CTA could be, “Click here to download your free guide.” Or, if you’re using your listicle to make sales, your CTA could be, “Click here to buy now.”
Hubspot, for example, increased conversion rates on some blog posts by as much as 1,000% by including anchor text and image CTAs with a link to a landing page. So, it’s definitely worth including a CTA in your conclusion.
7. Drives Traffic to Your Other Pages
Finally, a good conclusion can help drive traffic to your other pages. If you have other articles or resources that would be helpful for the reader, this is your chance to point them in the right direction.
For example, if you wrote a listicle on tips for running a marathon, your conclusion could be, “If you’re thinking about running a marathon, these tips will help you get started. But if you want more detailed information, check out my other articles on the subject.”
And make sure to include a list of relevant articles with links (or just use a plugin like Yoast SEO to do it automatically for you) to make it easy for the reader to find what they’re looking for.
This is a great way to keep the reader engaged with your content and increase the likelihood that they’ll visit your other pages. It’s also a way to build trust with the reader by showing them that you’re not just trying to sell them something.
You’re genuinely interested in helping them achieve their goals and have the resources to do it. Once again, they’re more likely to come to you when they need help with something in the future.
Ready to Get Your Conclusion On?
Conclusions are essential for listicles (and any other type of article). You can increase engagement, build trust, and even drive sales by including a conclusion in your listicle.
So, if you’ve already written a bunch of listicles but haven’t been including conclusions, go back and add them in. And if you’re just getting started with listicles, make sure to end each one with a powerful conclusion. Your readers will thank you for it!
See what I did there? I included a conclusion that drives my point home and encourages you to take action. And if you want more tips on writing listicles, check out my other articles on the subject.