With today’s short attention spans, odds are you’ve been told to keep your online content bite-sized to encourage people to read it.
We’re here to tell you that’s bogus.
The reality is that long-form content with at least 1,500 words has been proven to be more engaging, shareable and better for search engine optimization (SEO) than short-form content.
What are some SEO benefits of long-form content?
- Longer content creates higher search rankings. Studies show that longer content tends to dominate page one of search engine rankings. This means that Google prefers content-rich sites over less informative sites.
- Longer content earns more backlinks. Long-form content tends to be more useful and comprehensive and provide more value than short-form content. This is because users prefer to have everything they need in one place rather than search for bits of information on multiple pages. As a result, long-form content is likely to provide the answers that users are searching for. Having quality backlinks significantly increases your search ranking because of the value it provides readers.
- Longer content gets more social shares. Social media users tend to value and share content that is both useful and comprehensive. These factors typically involve a higher word count.
- Google’s Rank Brain gives long-form content good search positioning. The algorithm is used to sort search results and better understand search queries. The primary function is to measure user satisfaction. The more satisfied users are with the content they click on, the higher the rank in search engine results pages (SERPs). Greater satisfaction tends to come from longer-form content than shorter-form content.
How can you effectively create long-form content?
- Break up your paragraphs into sections. Keep your paragraphs no longer than three sentences to optimize for readability.
- Segment your main ideas. Include H2, H3 and H4 subheaders to guide the reader through the subjects of your sections.
- Keep your thoughts organized. Make sure your content has a logical flow with a beginning, middle and end.
- Mention why each section matters. This keeps readers engaged and wanting to find out more.
- Maintain a conversational tone. This helps maintain interest in the information.
- Use visuals to break up long sections of text. Images, videos, blockquotes or anchor text draw readers back if they start to lose interest.
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As leaders in digital marketing and brand awareness, BARQAR’s team of experts will help you build awareness, drive response and create a healthier bottom line. Reach out to us today!
