Listicle Generator

What the source does

• FilesystemNone observedNo reads or writes in the source
• NetworkNone observedNo outbound calls in the source
• ShellNone observedNo commands run in the source
• DependenciesPinnedNothing floats
• SecretsNone foundNo keys in source

Five audit layers

Gates applied: no behavioural pass.

Audit 0.4.1 · source sha 2515ce9634da · 15 Oct 2026Report an issue or request a re-scan

• PublisherAffitor GitHub organizationOwner of the repository this skill is read from
• Source folderAffitor/affiliate-skills/skills/blog/listicle-generatorThe exact folder we audited
• LicenceMITAs the repository states it
• Commit pinned for this verdict2515ce9634daA new audit runs when the source changes
• Repository statusNot archivedLast push 2 days ago
• Sandboxed runNot runSkills are read, not executed; layer L4 is skipped

Its 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]…

---
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

Excerpt, first 6,000 characters of SKILL.md, verbatim from the audited commit. It is text from someone else’s repository, quoted so you can judge it before your agent reads it.

1. 2026-10-15
   ✓SAFE B 89 / 100

   first audit · source 2515ce9634da

Questions about Listicle Generator

• github.com/Affitor/affiliate-skills/tree/main/skills/blog/listic — the audited source at commit 2515ce9634da and every finding aboveObserved · 15 Oct 2026

Spotted something wrong? Report a correction · Methodology