Long-form content and articles on websites and blogs?
Human attention span on the web is no more than that of a goldfish. Should you really have long articles that require more than a few minutes of reading time?
Content marketing has two purposes.
First, content is your tool to engage customers, increase brand awareness, and drive sales.
Second, it’s your secret weapon for improving search rankings and skyrocketing your online visibility.
Long-form content is the tool to master the two objectives.
Why Long-Form Content & Blogposts?
Remember when blogs and articles were short, around 400 to 500 words? Then, the standard shifted to 600 to 800 words. Today, even an 800-word post is considered short. To really succeed, you might need to write long-form content – think 2,000, 3,000, or even 5,000-plus words.
Why the shift? Well, long-form content pleases both readers and search engines. People love it because it’s engaging and packed with information.
When you seek information, answers, or perhaps a touch of inspiration, long-form content emerges as a valuable tool, akin to a reliable map and compass.
Elevating Engagement
Long-form content is not solely about quantity; it prioritizes quality and depth. It offers the opportunity to delve deeply into a subject, providing valuable insights, examples, and comprehensive explanations. Readers don’t merely skim the surface; they actively engage with your content, dedicating more time to your website.
The SEO Advantage
Search engines prefer long-form content as these are packed with information, providing in-depth knowledge. Crafting comprehensive content is rewarded with improved search engine rankings. Check out the top search results. Most have 1,000 to 5,000 words!
Building Trust and Authority
Consider seeking advice on a complex topic. Would you prefer a brief, vague summary or a well-researched, in-depth article? Long-form content serves as a testament to your expertise and authority. Readers perceive you as a reliable source of knowledge.
Sustaining Engagement
Long-form content functions as a magnet, effectively retaining visitors on your website. Instead of swiftly departing after a cursory scan, they read, scroll, and, most crucially, remain. This increases the likelihood of converting visitors into loyal readers or customers.
Promoting Organic Sharing
Compelling long-form content is more likely to be shared across social media platforms. When readers encounter genuinely valuable content, they are eager to disseminate it to a wider audience. This organic sharing can extend your reach and enhance your online presence.
How to write long-form content that’s engaging?
So, how do you create long-form content that’s engaging and effective? Let’s find out.
1. Write Naturally
Certainly, long-form content can feel overwhelming to readers. To make them feel comfortable, steer clear of technical jargon and academic language.
Write in a conversational tone, as if you were chatting face to face, and ensure the topic is relatable. This is the key to holding readers’ attention beyond the initial paragraph.
2. Break the Monotony
Long-form content can easily turn monotonous. Who wants to scroll through a 5,000-word post that takes 20 minutes to read?
The secret to retaining reader interest is to break up the text. Utilize a range of stylistic elements to make the article more digestible.
A long-form article should use subheadings, visuals, pull-out quotes, and other visual aids to offer relief to the eyes and boost on-page engagement. Try to use similar techniques in your content.
3. Offer Calls to Action
Long-form content often faces the challenge that not everyone sticks around until the final paragraph. While a few dedicated souls may, it’s wise to anticipate that most will drop out as they read on.
To maximize the value you get from your content, consider sprinkling in some CTAs (Call to Actions) at various points throughout the text. This way, you can engage your audience and encourage action even if they don’t reach the end.
4. Try the Listicle (List Article)
For content writers who are accustomed to developing 500 and 600-word posts, the notion of churning out a massive post that’s two or four times as long can be intimidating. If you feel this way, a listicle is an effective way to simplify the process.
A listicle is a type of article or content format that presents information in a list-like structure, often with a numerical or bulleted format. Listicles are popular because they are easy to skim, offer clear organization, and tend to provide quick, digestible information on a specific topic, making them a common choice for online articles and blog posts.
5. Make Content Highly Linkable
You can attract only so many clicks and views on your own. In order to maximize the value of your long-form content, you’ll likely require the help of others.
This is why it’s vital to make your content highly linkable.
By including quotes from experts in your field and incorporating facts, data, and research into your writing, you can substantially increase your chances of getting referral links.
Give Your Audience Something to Chew On
Your audience craves more than just superficial content. Whether it’s a search engine algorithm or a local customer checking you out, long-form content is the substantial feast your potential audience is hunting for.
So, why squander your time on brief posts that barely catch anyone’s eye? It’s time to shift your focus towards content that provides genuine value and yields significant returns.