Why You Should Use Medium Lists a Lot More
And how to do it right
My Medium friends can read this story over there as well.
When Medium introduced lists a few years ago, I wasn’t sure how to use them. They seemed like little more than a small organizational feature.
Completely wrong!
Frankly, it’s a shame that many people still sleep on Medium lists because ehy are such a powerful tool, and I’ve barely scratched the surface of what they can do.
But no more.
Let’s discuss how to fully utilize the power of Medium lists.
What Even Are Medium Lists?
Before we get into the nitty-gritty, let’s cover the basics.
Medium lists are exactly what they sound like: collections of posts you can group together.
To create one, navigate to the “Lists” section on Medium’s website or app. Simple, right?
Every Medium account starts with one default list: your reading list.
If you’ve never saved anything for later, it’s just sitting there empty, waiting for action. This list is private by default, but you can flip the switch to make it public if you want others to see what you’re into.
Creating additional lists is just as easy.
Visit the Library page from the main menu (your profile picture on the top right on the web or library/bookmark icon in the app).
Then, hit the “New List” button, give it a name, write a description, and decide whether it’s private or public. (Heads up: new lists are public by default.)
Each list gets its own unique URL, making it shareable across platforms. This is KEY for our powerful use cases!
Become a Superwriter
With my easy-to-use, yet comprehensive writing system “Superwriter”.
The Obvious Use Case
At first glance, lists seem tailor-made for organizing posts.
You can categorize your own stories or even group your favorite pieces from other writers. Like most people, I started using lists to sort my work by topic.
For example, I grouped all my pieces about YouTube strategies together. Makes sense, right? But honestly, this is just scratching the surface of what lists can do.
Creative Ways to Use Medium Lists
Once I got beyond the obvious, I realized there are so many ways to use lists creatively.
Here are a few ideas I’ve tried that might inspire you. And stay till the end, because they get more powerful as we go:
1. Monthly Recaps
One cool idea is to create monthly lists.
Title them with the month and year, and group all your favorite stories from that timeframe. This approach gives your readers an easy-to-follow timeline of your work.
You can also create a “most recent” list, which is perfect for linking readers to your latest content.
I did that for a while, but then it was too much of a hassle for me. But we’ll get way more productive with lists in a second.
2. Most Popular Stories
If you haven’t already, consider building a list of your greatest hits—your most-read, most-loved, most-commented-on posts.
Lots of people do this with a pinned post on their profile, but lists are even better. They’re easier to update and maintain, and they feel more polished.
This is an obvious way to show new readers your best work.
3. Supporting Other Writers
Another way to use lists is to spotlight your favorite posts by other writers. You can group them by topic, author, or even time period.
It’s a thoughtful way to share work you admire and boost fellow writers.
After all, sharing is caring.
4. Footer Embeds
This is where things get interesting.
At the end of most of my posts, I used to embed links to 1–2 related stories using Medium’s embed feature.
These embedded links often lead to more reads, as people tend to click through to related content. But there’s a limit—adding too many links can feel spammy, and some publications don’t allow it.
The solution? Link to a relevant list instead of individual stories.
Think about that!
With one link, you can guide readers to a whole collection of related posts. And if the list title is compelling, they’ll be intrigued enough to explore more.
So, yes, clickbaity list titles are a thing.
For example, instead of naming a list “YouTube Tips” (yawn), try something like “How I Got 4 Million YouTube Views Without Showing My Face.” Catchy, right?
The list title should be as attention-grabbing as your best headlines.
And don’t forget to include a link to your “most recent” list in your footers. It’s a seamless way to direct readers to your latest work, even if they’re discovering you through an older post.
5. Sharing Lists on Social Media
We’re all used to sharing individual stories on social media, but how often do we share lists? Not often enough.
Sharing a well-curated list has the same benefits as embedding it in a post: readers are likely to explore more than one story. It’s also a way to offer more value to your audience.
Again, the list title is key.
A strong title can intrigue someone enough to click, explore, and maybe even save the list for later.
Manage Your Entire Freelance Process in Notion
The all-in-one project and finance management system* for creators from the one and only Notion OG, Easlo.
What Not to Do with Medium Lists
Of course, I’ve made my share of mistakes while experimenting with lists.
Here’s what I’ve learned to avoid:
Broad Categories: Don’t lump all your stories into overly general lists. Instead of a massive list titled “Writing Tips,” create more specific ones like “How to Write Viral Headlines” or “Editing Tricks for Short Stories.” A list with dozens of stories inside will just overwhelm readers.
Overloading Yourself: It’s tempting to create a list for everything, but that can quickly become overwhelming. Stick to a manageable number of lists and update them regularly. Lists with two stories inside might not be worth it.
You’ll figure that out along the way. You can always adjust lists, add or remove stories, sort them how you like, and even delete lists, though you should be careful with deletion, because this will break all your links to those deleted lists, obviously.
The Bottom Line
Medium lists are more than just a way to organize your stories—they’re a tool to enhance your reach, improve reader engagement, and build connections.
You’re probably not using them to their full potential.
They’re perfect for sharing on social media, embedding in posts, or creating a dynamic portfolio of your work.
Let me know how you use lists—or plan to—because I’m always up for learning new ways to elevate my writing game.
More on Medium 2025
Want to know more about the state of Medium 2025, if it’s still worth it, and how to make the best of it? You’ve come to the right place. Read more here ⬇️
*this is an affiliate partner link. I’ll get a commission if you decide to sign up.
This is an awesome feature that when used wisely can create a catalogue of the greatest hits of your writing. Thank you for the play-by-play.
Very interesting. For me, I never see lists as a way to get more readers. I just mostly add stories I like or stories I may read later to a category. But I might consider your tips. Thanks for sharing!