You’ve probably heard about long-form content and wondered whether you’re already doing it or not, if that’s the case, then realistically you’re probably.
Creating long-form content can be a great way to get more rankings in the search engines and boost your SEO strategy but it can be expensive and time-consuming to create.
What is long-form content?
Long-form content is defined as content that is typically over 1,000 words but can be any word length, 7,500 or even 10,000 words and can have several advantages over shorter forms of content.
It’s important to understand that long-form content isn’t a surefire way to get top rankings.
This depends on the search intent of the keyword.
If you take a look at what’s currently ranking in the search engines and all the results are short then long-form content might not be right for that search term.
But, it’s quite likely that the number one result, especially for informational keywords will have more than 1,000 words. Did you know the average top results are just under 2000 words?
This is because search engines like Google and its users often want high-quality answers which dive into the topic.
What are the benefits of long-form content for SEO?
Long-form content allows for more in-depth analysis and coverage of a topic.
This is particularly useful for industries such as news, finance, or technology, where readers want to be kept informed of the latest developments.
In these fields, long-form content can provide a more detailed and nuanced understanding of a particular issue or event.
Long-form content is more likely to be shared on social media.
This is because longer pieces tend to be more engaging and thought-provoking, which makes them more likely to be shared by readers.
In addition, long-form content is also more likely to be picked up by other websites and publications, which can increase visibility and reach.
Long-form content can be an effective SEO tool.
Longer pieces of content tend to rank higher in search engine results, as they are typically more comprehensive and contain more relevant keywords.
This can help increase visibility and drive more traffic to a website.
Long-form content can be used to establish a brand as a thought leader in a particular industry.
By providing detailed and informative content, a brand can demonstrate its expertise and build trust with its audience.
This can lead to increased brand loyalty and customer retention.
Long-form content can be used to generate leads and sales.
By providing detailed information about a product or service, a brand can educate potential customers and increase the likelihood of a sale.
In addition, long-form content can also be used to nurture leads by providing valuable information and building a relationship with potential customers.
Long-form content has several advantages over shorter forms of content but remember, it’s not always the answer to ranking number one.
Creating long-form content allows for more in-depth analysis and coverage of a topic which overall provides the user with a better experience.
This means brands should consider incorporating long-form content into their marketing strategies if they are serious about increasing traffic to their website.
What are some examples of long-form content ideas?
Comprehensive product reviews
Writing in-depth reviews of products in your niche can provide valuable information for readers and establish you as an authority on the topic.
Additionally, these posts can attract organic traffic from search engines and potentially generate revenue through affiliate marketing.
How-to guides
Creating step-by-step guides on specific topics can help readers learn new skills and solve problems.
These types of posts can also attract a lot of traffic over time as they are evergreen content.
Industry News and analysis
Keeping your readers up-to-date on the latest developments in your niche and providing your analysis can position you as a thought leader in your industry.
Personal Stories and case studies
Sharing personal anecdotes or case studies can help build a connection with your readers and make your content more relatable.
They can also provide inspiration and valuable insights for your readers.
In-depth interviews
Interviewing industry experts or thought leaders can provide your readers with valuable insights and perspectives.
Additionally, these interviews can help establish your blog as a reputable source of information in your niche.
Research-based content
Sharing the results of your research or curating data and statistics from credible sources can make your content stand out, position you as an authority in your field and also provide valuable information for your readers.
In general, long-form content can be beneficial for bloggers because it allows them to provide more detailed and in-depth information on a topic.
This can help to establish themselves as experts in their field, attract more organic traffic from search engines, and build a deeper connection with their readers.
Learning to write long-form content is quite a skill and be prepared for it to take a little bit of time to get the hang of exactly how to do it.
For example, let’s say you’re looking at creating a guide and the current top results have pages ranging from 3,000 to 6,000, here’s a little breakdown of how you should approach that.
- Look at the overall content
- What headings are they using?
- How many images?
- Do they use video?
- Is the page visually appealing or simple?
The first thing you need to do is to make a content outline. Creating an outline makes it much easier to approach and plan your content.
- Create a page title
- Choose h2-h6 headings
From there you can start setting up your content and breaking it up into easier digestible sections.
For example, let’s say you decide your content will be around 4,500, that sounds like a lot of words but when you think of it like this, it becomes much easier to tackle
- 6 H2 tags with 100 words underneath (600 words)
- 10 H3 tags with 300 words (3000 words)
- 10 H4 tags with 100 words (1000 words)
How much effort should you put into long-form content design?
At first, the most important thing is getting the content on the page and indexed by the search engines.
The design of the page is important and can add to the engagement but it’s likely that in the first months especially, you’ll be moving content around and making edits to help make it more user-friendly and geared towards more keyword data from Google Search Console.
If you’re not great with design then look to use a tool like Canva which makes graphic designing simple.
When thinking about the design you want to pay attention to:
- What fonts are being used
- The layout of the post
- How many images and videos will be used
- The use of colour
10 tips on how to write long-form content to rank for more keywords
Research keywords
Before you start writing, conduct thorough research on the keywords you want to target. Use tools such as Google Keyword Planner to find relevant keywords and phrases related to your topic and build your content around them.
Create a content outline
Before you start writing, create an outline to organise your thoughts and ideas. This will help you stay on track and ensure that your content is comprehensive and covers all relevant points.
Use headings and subheadings
Break up your content into sections using headings and subheadings. This makes it easier for readers to scan and consume your content and also helps search engines understand the structure of your content.
Use internal linking
Link to other relevant content on your website to keep users engaged and on your site longer. This also helps search engines understand the structure of your website.
Use external linking
Link to credible external sources to demonstrate that your content is well-researched and credible.
Use images and videos
Use images and videos to supplement your text and make your content more engaging. This can help keep readers engaged and increase the average time spent on your site.
Optimise for readability
Use short paragraphs, clear and simple language, and formatting such as bullet points and lists to make your content easy to read and understand.
Optimise for mobile
Optimise your content for mobile devices to ensure that it is easily readable on small screens.
Optimise for shareability
Make it easy for readers to share your content on social media by including social sharing buttons.
Update your content
Keep your content up-to-date to ensure that it remains relevant and useful to readers. This can also help improve your search engine rankings.
