Are you looking for ways to improve your website's ranking in search engines? If so, you may want to consider creating long-form content.
Long-form content is defined as articles or blog posts that are at least 1,000 words in length. And while it may seem like a lot of work to produce such content, there are actually several benefits that come with it.
For one, long-form content tends to rank higher in search engines than shorter articles.
This is because search engines view longer articles as being more informative and comprehensive, which is what their users are looking for.
In addition, long-form content allows you to target specific keywords and phrases that you want to rank for.
By including these keywords throughout your article, you can improve your chances of showing up in search engine results pages (SERPs) for those terms.
Finally, long-form content gives you the opportunity to build trust and credibility with your audience.
By providing in-depth information and answering common questions, you can show your readers that you're an expert in your field.
If you're ready to start creating long-form content for your website, check out these tips on how to get started.
Why Your Website Needs Long-Form Content and How it Works
Blog content is often defined as anything longer than a tweet. In theory, this makes sense because search engines are designed to index and rank web pages based on the amount and quality of text on those pages.
Posts that are over 1,000 words and posts with word counts as high as 2,000 or 4,000 or even 8,000 are considered long-form content.
That said, long-form content has been largely ignored by most businesses.
There’s no doubt that shorter forms of content are more popular – after all, they’re easier to consume.
But there are a few reasons why long-form content can be more successful than shorter pieces.
For one, long-form content is more likely to be interesting and engaging. That’s because it takes time to develop a well-written piece that will hold the reader’s attention. It requires lots of research and planning in order to make sure that the content is authoritative.
Even though long-form content is time consuming, longer content is often better suited for SEO. Search engines reward sites that provide high-quality long-form content because it can be split into smaller chunks that are easier to index and rank.
Plus, long-form content is often rich in keyword opportunities, which can generate more backlinks. – something that can make your site rank higher in search engine results pages.
Short vs Long-Form Content
When it comes to ranking higher in search engines, the debate between short and long-form content is one that has been around for years.
The general consensus has always been that longer content ranks better than shorter content.
However, there is a growing body of evidence that suggests this may not always be the case.
A study by serpIQ found that the average word count for a first page result on Google was 2,032 words. This is a significant increase from the previous year, where the average word count was 1,890 words. However, it's important to note that this study only looked at a small sample size of 10,000 keywords.
Another study by Backlinko looked at 100 million articles and found that the average word count for an article that got over 1,000 shares was 1,600 words. This would seem to contradict the findings of the serpIQ study.
So, what does all of this mean?
It's hard to say for sure. It seems clear that Google prefers longer content when it comes to ranking pages in their search results.
But it's also possible that shorter content can still rank well if it's high-quality and informative.
Ultimately, the best way to ensure your content ranks well is to produce quality content that is both informative and engaging.
Pros of Long-Form Content
- Long-form content allows you to thoroughly cover a topic, which can help establish you as an expert in your field.
- It provides more opportunities to include keywords and phrases that people are searching for, which can help improve your search engine ranking.
- It allows you to go into greater detail than shorter forms of content, making it ideal for complex topics that require explanation.
- Long-form content is generally more engaging than shorter content, since it can hold readers' attention for longer.
- It gives you a chance to build a relationship with your readers by providing valuable, in-depth information.
Cons of Long-Form Content
- Long-form content can be time-consuming to produce, especially if you're doing it all yourself.
- It can be difficult to keep readers engaged for the entire length of the piece.
- Not all topics lend themselves well to long-form treatment, so it's important to consider whether or not the topic is suited for this type of content before embarking on creating it.
When is Shorter Content Better?
It is generally accepted that longer content ranks higher in search engines.
However, there are certain situations where shorter content may be more advantageous.
If you are targeting a specific keyword or phrase, shorter content may be more effective.
This is because you can include the keyword more often, making it more likely to show up in search results.
Shorter content may also be better if you are trying to appeal to a wider audience.
People have shorter attention spans these days and are more likely to click on something that is concise and to the point.
Of course, this does not mean that all your content should be short. You should still aim for quality over quantity.
But if you want to increase your chances of ranking high in search engines, it is worth considering shorter pieces from time to time.
5 Benefits of Long-Form Content
There are many benefits to writing long-form content. Here are a few of the key ones:
1. Engaging Readers
Long-form content is more likely to engage readers than short-form content.
This means that readers are more likely to stay on your page longer, and be more likely to share or recommend your content.
2. Creating Trust
Long-form content builds trust with your audience. People will trust you more if you consistently produce high-quality, long-form content.
They’ll also be less likely to leave your site if they don’t find what they’re looking for right away.
If your website is a reliable source of information, you will build an audience of loyal return visitors.
3. Creating Value
Long-form content provides valuable information that people will want to know.
When you write long-form content, you’re providing valuable insights that will help readers make informed decisions.
This can increase the chances that people will refer your site to others, or even buy from you.
4. Creating Brand Awareness
Writing long-form content can help you build brand awareness.
When people read your content, they’ll remember the information you shared and view you as an expert or authority in that particular niche.
That can help them trust you when they do business with you.
5. Creating Content Marketing
When you write long-form content, it can easily serve as a piece of content marketing collateral — a marketing tool that helps businesses to sell their products and services.
SEO and Long-Form Content
When it comes to ranking high on search engine results pages (SERPs), content length is key.
Not only do longer pieces of content tend to get more clicks, but they also tend to rank higher than shorter pieces.
In fact, articles with 3,000 words or more are 67% more likely to rank in the top 10 results on Google.
The benefits of long-form content are clear, but why is it such a big hit with users and search engines?
One reason is that long-form content is more engaging.
It’s easier for readers to stay engaged with a story than it is with a list of facts or figures.
And since Google rewards websites that are well-organized and easy to navigate, long-form content can help your site stand out from the competition.
How to Create Long-Form Content
So what should you do if you want to create long-form content?
There are a few tips that will help you make the most of your writing time:
1. Start with a strong thesis.
The goal of any article is to provide users with new information or insights that they can use.
If you can tie your article back to your theme or topic, the better.
2. Research, research, research.
A well-researched article will be packed with information that your readers will find valuable.
Take the time to find data or statistics that support your claims.
3. Write in a clear, concise style.
Long-form content doesn’t have to be dry or boring.
In fact, the best articles are those that are easy to read and understand.
Use short paragraphs and simple sentences to make your point.
4. Edit, edit, edit.
Once you’ve written your article, it’s time to go back and revise it.
Read through your work and cut out any unnecessary words or phrases.
This will help you tighten up your article and make it more readable.
5. Promote your content.
Just because you’ve written a great article doesn’t mean people will automatically find it.
Make sure to promote your content on social media and other channels to ensure that it gets the attention it deserves.
Optimizing Long-Form Content for SEO
We've already discussed how SEO and content go hand-in-hand.
After all, without SEO your content may be lost somewhere on page 50 of the search results; and we all know traffic on those pages is less than satisfactory.
Likewise, your first-page ranking can only do so much if your content post-click is crummy.
That’s why a good relationship between SEO and great content is essential!
Here are a few tips on how to optimize your long-form content for SEO so you can rank higher in search engines.
1. Do your keyword research.
Before you start writing, you need to know which keywords you want to target. This will help guide the direction of your article and ensure that you’re including relevant terms that people are actually searching for.
There are a number of different keyword research tools out there, such as Google Ads Keyword Planner, SEMrush, and Moz Keyword Explorer.
Find a couple that work well for you and get started!
2. Use keywords throughout your article.
Once you’ve targeted some valuable keywords, it’s important to use them throughout your article in order to let both readers and search engines know what your piece is about.
Try to include them in the title, headings (H2, H3), meta descriptions, body copy, and alt tags for images.
However, beware of keyword stuffing – this is when you cram too many keywords into your content and it becomes difficult to read. Not only will this turn off your readers, but it will also result in a lower ranking.
3. Optimize your title and meta descriptions.
Your title and meta description are what show up in the search results, so it’s important to make them both keyword-rich and compelling.
Your title should be no longer than 60 characters, and your meta description should be no longer than 155.
Keep in mind that your title and meta description are what will entice someone to click through to your article, so make them count!
4. Structure your article with headings and subheadings.
Breaking up your content with headings and subheadings not only makes it more scannable for readers, but it also helps search engines understand the hierarchy of your article.
Be sure to include keywords in your headings whenever possible, but don’t force them – they should always sound natural.
5. Add images and videos.
Including images and videos in your articles can help break up the text and make them more visually appealing. But did you know that they can also help with SEO?
When you upload an image or video, be sure to include keywords in the file name and fill out the alternate text field with a brief, keyword-rich description.
By following these tips, you can help improve your long-form content so that it ranks higher in search engines and drives more traffic to your website.
How Does Long-Form Content Work for Social Media?
When it comes to social media, content is still king. But what kind of content should you be creating to get the most engagement and ROI?
Long-form content is a great option for social media because it allows you to dive deep into a topic and provide value to your audience. But how does it work, and how can you make sure your long-form content is effective?
Here's a look at how long-form content can work for social media:
1. Long-form content is shareable.
One of the main benefits of long-form content is that it's shareable.
People are more likely to share in-depth articles and guides than shorter blog posts or status updates.
2. Long-form content is informative.
Another benefit of long-form content is that it provides valuable information to your audience.
If you can answer their questions and help them solve their problems, they're more likely to keep coming back for more.
3. Long-form content builds trust.
Finally, long-form content helps build trust with your audience.
When people see that you're an expert on a topic, they're more likely to trust your opinion and recommendations.
If you're looking for a way to improve your social media strategy, consider creating long-form content. It's shareable, informative, and can help you build trust with your audience.
Tools for Writing Long-Form Content
There are a number of content writing tools that can help you write long-form content. Here are a few of the most popular:
Google Docs
Google Docs is a free online word processing application that allows you to create and edit documents in your web browser.
It offers a variety of features that make it ideal for writing long-form content, such as the ability to add comments, track changes, and collaborate with others in real-time.
Microsoft Word
Like Google Docs, Microsoft Word is a widely used word processing application that offers many features helpful for writing long-form content.
Word also has some unique features, such as the ability to insert multimedia objects and track document changes.
Adobe InDesign
Adobe InDesign is a paid desktop publishing application that is often used by professional designers and publishers.
However, it can also be used to create high-quality long-form content.
InDesign offers many features not found in other word processing applications, such as the ability to create advanced layouts and add interactive elements.
WordPress
WordPress is a popular open source content management system that can be used to create all sorts of websites and blogs.
While it is not as feature-rich as some of the other options on this list, WordPress is very user-friendly and perfect for creating simple long-form content like articles or blog posts.
SEO Tools for Copywriting
There are a number of SEO copywriting writing tools available to help copywriters optimize their content for search engines. Here are a few of the most popular:
Google Analytics
Google Analytics is a free tool that allows you to track your website’s traffic and performance.
This is valuable data that can help you determine which topics are most popular with your audience and how to adjust your content accordingly.
Yoast SEO
Yoast SEO is a WordPress plugin that helps you optimize your content for specific keywords.
It also provides guidance on how to improve your content’s readability and structure.
Scribe
Scribe is a paid tool that analyzes your content and provides suggestions on how to improve it for better search engine visibility.
It also includes features like keyword research and social media integration.
While these tools can be helpful, it’s important to remember that there is no magic formula for ranking higher in search engines.
The best way to improve your chances of ranking well is to produce high-quality, relevant content that appeals to your target audience.
Build a Long-Form Content Strategy
If you're looking to rank higher in search engines, long-form content is the way to go.
Long-form content is defined as articles that are over 1,000 words.
We've established that this type of content provides more value to readers than shorter articles because it is more informative and comprehensive.
Not only does long-form content help you rank higher in search engines, but it also keeps readers engaged for longer periods of time.
This means that they are more likely to share your article with their friends and followers, which can help increase your reach even further.
So how do you create a long-form content strategy that will help you rank higher in search engines?
Here are a few tips:
- Identify the topics that your target audience is interested in.
- Create comprehensive articles that cover all aspects of those topics.
- Use keyword-rich titles and descriptions to help your articles rank higher in search results.
- Promote your articles through social media and other channels.
- Monitor your progress and adjust your strategy as needed.
By following these tips, you can create a long-form content strategy that will help you rank higher in search engines and engage your target audience.
Conclusion
If you want to rank higher in search engines, then long-form content is the way to go. Not only will your readers appreciate the added depth and insight that comes with longer articles, but search engines will too.
So if you're looking to improve your SEO strategy, make sure to start producing longer pieces of content. It'll take some extra time and effort, but it'll be worth it in the end.
Need Help Writing Long-Form Content?
Do you need help writing long-form content? Maybe it's time to hire an SEO agency who knows how to create quality content for your website.
Our content marketing strategy will help you reach your business goals and generate leads and conversions for competitive advantage.
Our experienced team can create compelling content that resonates with your target audience, so all your messaging hits its mark.
One of the best ways to establish a positive customer relationship is by offering high-quality, engaging content with messages that are perfectly tailored to your target audience.
And with Binary Glyph's tools and resources for websites, email marketing, and managed SEO services, you'll be able to deliver just that. Get in touch with a content marketer to get started.