/listicle-generator

name: listicle-generator
description: >
  Write "Top N best..." listicle articles for affiliate marketing with mini-reviews, pricing,
  pros/cons, and CTAs per entry. Triggers on: "write a best of list", "top 10 [category] tools",
  "best [product category] article", "roundup post", "listicle about [category]",
  "write a top tools article", "best [N] alternatives to [product]", "product roundup",
  "write a tools comparison list", "best software for [use case]", "top picks for [category]".
license: MIT
version: "1.0.0"
tags: ["affiliate-marketing", "blogging", "seo", "content-writing", "listicle", "top-lists"]
compatibility: "Claude Code, ChatGPT, Gemini CLI, Cursor, Windsurf, OpenClaw, any AI agent"
metadata:
  author: affitor
  version: "1.0"
  stage: S3-Blog

Listicle Generator

Write "Top N Best [Category]" roundup articles that rank on Google, capture featured snippets, and drive affiliate conversions across multiple products. Each list entry is a self-contained mini-review with features, pricing, pros/cons, audience fit, and a CTA. The article is structured to win both the featured snippet and the "People Also Ask" box.

When to Use

• User wants to cover an entire product category with multiple affiliate links
• User says "best", "top", "roundup", "list of", or mentions a number with a category
• User wants to capture high-volume generic keywords ("best email marketing tools") vs. specific product searches
• User has multiple affiliate programs in the same category and wants one article to cover them all
• User wants an article format that benefits from regular updates (add/remove products as market evolves)

Workflow

Step 1: Determine List Parameters

Parse the user's request for:

• **Category**: what type of product (e.g., "email marketing tools", "AI video generators")
• **List size (N)**: explicitly stated number, or auto-select based on category depth
• Niche/specialized categories: 5-7 products
• Broad/competitive categories: 7-10 products
• Very broad (e.g., "project management tools"): 10-12 products
• **Target audience**: inferred from category + any context clues (beginners, enterprises, specific industries)
• **Year**: always use current year in the title for freshness signal

**If no affiliate product is specified:**

• Ask: "Which product are you promoting? I'll feature it prominently in the list."
• If user says to proceed anyway, generate a balanced list and note where they should insert their affiliate link.

Step 2: Research the Product Landscape

Use `web_search` to build the product list:

1. **Seed query**: `"best [category] tools [year]" site:g2.com OR site:capterra.com OR site:trustradius.com` 2. **Validate with traffic**: `"best [category]"` — check autocomplete for common phrasings 3. **Find affiliate programs**: `"[category] affiliate program"` — identify which products offer commissions

For each candidate product, gather:

• Product name and one-line description
• Starting price and free plan availability
• G2/Capterra rating (if available)
• The one thing it does best (unique angle)
• Who it's primarily designed for

**Affiliate prioritization rules:**

• Position the user's affiliate product at #1 or #2 (never lower than #3 unless it genuinely cannot be defended in the top 3)
• #1 position gets the most clicks — use it for the highest-commission or best-converting product
• If the user has multiple affiliate programs, spread them in positions 1, 2, and 4
• Non-affiliate products fill the remaining slots to make the list credible and balanced

Step 3: Plan the Article Structure

Map out every section before writing:

**Article structure:** 1. Title (with year, number, category) 2. FTC disclosure 3. Introduction (150-200 words) 4. "At a Glance" summary table 5. Evaluation criteria (H2) 6. Individual product entries × N (H2 each) 7. Comparison table (all products × key dimensions) 8. How to Choose (H2) 9. FAQ (H2) 10. Final Recommendation (H2)

**Per-entry structure** (400-600 words each):

• H2: `[Rank]. [Product Name] — [One-line Value Prop]`
• Opening paragraph: what it is, who made it, why it's on this list
• Key features section (3-5 bullet points)
• Pricing table (free / starter / pro / enterprise)
• Pros list (4-5 bullets)
• Cons list (2-3 bullets — be honest, builds trust)
• Best for: one sentence naming the ideal user
• Affiliate CTA button: `[Try [Product] free →](url)`

Step 4: Write the Full Article

**Title formula:** `[N] Best [Category] Tools in [Year] (Ranked and Reviewed)` Alternative: `Best [Category] Software: Top [N] Picks for [Year]`

**Introduction (150-200 words):**

• Open with the core problem this category solves
• Mention how many tools you evaluated and your selection criteria
• Name-drop 2-3 products from the list to signal comprehensiveness
• End with a transition: "Here are the [N] best options I found."

**"At a Glance" Table** (immediately after intro, captures featured snippet):

| Tool | Best For | Starting Price | Free Plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| [Product 1] | [Use case] | $X/mo | ✅ |
| [Product 2] | [Use case] | $Y/mo | ❌ |

**Evaluation Criteria (H2, before the list):** List the 4-6 criteria used to rank products. This builds credibility and explains why your #1 pick is #1. Example criteria: ease of use, feature depth, pricing value, customer support quality, integration ecosystem, scalability.

**Individual Product Entries:** Write each entry following the per-entry structure above. Vary the opening sentence — don't start every entry the same way. Include specific, verifiable details (actual feature names, real pricing tiers, concrete limitations) — not generic praise.

**Master Comparison Table:** After all product entries, include a comprehensive feature matrix:

| Feature | [P1] | [P2] | [P3] | [P4] | [P5] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free plan | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ | ⚠️ | ✅ |
| [Key feature] | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ |
| [Key feature] | ⭐ Best | Good | Limited | Good | Basic |
| Start