Failure to incorporate long-form content into your content marketing strategy equates to a missed chance to significantly enhance your SEO rankings and attract more valuable traffic. Long-form content enables you to deliver richer, more informative content to your audience, potentially establishing your brand as an industry leader while improving search engine result page (SERP) rankings. [Image: red boxes surrounding position data] What, then, constitutes long-form content?This page delves into the concept of long-form content, discusses the necessity of employing ultra-long content, and offers three tips for crafting impactful in-depth material. To gain further insights into this content type, get in touch with us online to consult with a strategist on how we can craft a tailored long-form content marketing plan for your business, leveraging our copywriting expertise.Addressing the question “what is long-form content?” yields varied definitions. Some marketers define it as content exceeding 800 words, while others assert it should be at least 2000 words.Top search results typically contain around 1890 words, making it advisable to aim for this range when creating long-form content. Regardless of word count, long-form content is characterized by its extensive information provision to the audience, covering subjects in-depth.It delves beyond the surface level, exploring multiple facets of a topic to offer a comprehensive understanding. Many businesses mistakenly believe that users prefer short-form content.Given that individuals typically spend only 37 seconds on an article, one might assume that there’s no possibility they’ll linger long enough to read long-form content. Despite users spending less than a minute on articles, they do desire long-form content. Users prefer not to navigate through multiple pages to locate the information they seek.They prefer to invest their time in a single, highly informative article that supplies all the necessary information. Long-form content encompasses any material that offers in-depth information to your audience, transcending surface-level topic details.Now that you understand what long-form content is, let’s explore its criticality. If you’re pondering, “how can writing longer articles impact my business?” consider these four benefits of crafting long-form content.1. Enhanced Search Engine RankingsPrimarily, long-form content is a game-changer for your search engine optimization (SEO) rankings. We’ve mentioned that pages ranking highly in search results often contain around 1800 words. Google aims to deliver the best information to its users’ search queries.Long-form content improves your search rankings. By providing a wealth of information to your audience, they spend more time engaging with your site pages to find all the answers they need. This extended dwell time signals to Google that your website aligns well with the user’s search query, thereby increasing your ranking in the search results.Desiring to elevate your site’s ranking in search results? Long-form content is your solution. It aids in achieving higher rankings. Moreover, when compared to short-form content, long-form content allows for targeting and ranking for a broader array of keywords pertinent to your products and services. In fact, a single piece of long-form content can potentially rank highly for numerous keywords! [Image: red boxes surrounding organic keywords and organic traffic for a page in Ahrefs]2. Meeting the Informational Needs of UsersUsers seek to gather all the information they require without bouncing from one site to another. Offering comprehensive content that addresses all their questions is more beneficial. Even if users don’t read the entire article, they can still scan your content to find the answers they need.By providing your audience with all the necessary information, they’re more likely to spend time engaging on your site, boosting your SEO ranking and enhancing brand awareness. It’s crucial to format your long-form content to facilitate skimming, using headings, bullet points, tables, and graphics to break up the content and make it more easily digestible.3. Establishing Company AuthorityWriting long-form content can bolster your brand’s authority and position you as a knowledgeable industry leader. Users will trust your business due to the extensive information you provide and the broad knowledge you share, making them more inclined to trust your company and purchase your products or services.Investing in long-form content marketing can build your company’s authority and attract more users to choose your business.Ready to embark on creating long-form content for your business? Discover these three tips for long-form writing that can drive results for your business.1. Selecting the Right TopicsFor effective in-depth content creation, choose topics that allow for thorough exploration. A pivotal aspect of long-form content marketing is selecting the appropriate topic. Avoid topics that lack breadth to prevent getting stuck in shallow discussions.Opt for more complex topics that offer numerous angles for exploration. For instance, “how to train your dog” is an excellent in-depth topic that allows for a variety of information avenues.You can cover:
Basics of dog training (when you can train them, what you need to prepare)
Commands you can teach your dog
Different methods for training your dog
Best practices for training your dog
[Image: infographic titled “how to train your dog”] This topic provides ample room for in-depth exploration. All this information is relevant to someone looking to train their dog, and they can find all the necessary information on this page.Selecting the right topic simplifies the creation of in-depth content and ensures your audience receives comprehensive information.2. Choosing the Right FormatOnce you’ve settled on your content topic, it’s crucial to decide on the format for your long-form content. You can utilize various formats, including:
Listicles
How-to articles
Informative articles
Articles with infographics
Your format will determine the information you present and the length of your content. For instance, a long-form article with an infographic may require less text than a listicle, as more time is spent examining the infographic. Understanding the best format for your content ensures that information is presented in a manner that resonates with your audience.You may even combine two formats! Establishing your format will optimize the impact of your content.3. Creating a Content ScheduleDeveloping a content calendar is essential when creating content. Track your content creation, scheduling, and publishing to maintain organization in your long-form content marketing. [Image: a content schedule outlining a week’s worth of content]It’s important to note that you should not continuously churn out long-form content. While it’s highly beneficial for your business, it can be exhausting for both writers and audiences. It’s crucial to strike a balance to avoid overwhelming your audience with excessive in-depth articles.A content schedule will help distribute your long-form content evenly and ensure a diverse range of content types. This approach will keep your audience engaged and interested in your business. A smart strategy is to mix long-form content with blog posts and product/service pages.Long-form content marketing can drive valuable leads to your business and keep them engaged with your information. By establishing your business as an authority in your field, you’ll increase the likelihood that leads will choose your company.At WebFX, we specialize in crafting long-form content that delivers results. With our skilled copywriting team, we’ll help you create SEO-optimized long-form content that attracts leads and fosters engagement. With over a decade of experience, you can rely on our experts to develop a content marketing plan that produces tangible outcomes.For more information about our content marketing services, contact us online or call us at 888-601-5359 to speak with a strategist today.
