Content Marketing Long Form Content and Its Types – All You Need to Know

Ask two content creators about the difference between short form and long form content writing. Ironically, both of them will give different answers. The reason is that the answer to the question what is long form content writing is not very specific. It varies depending upon the person creating the content form and for what purpose.

What is Long Form Content?

Long form content meaning stems from the articles or any type of content which is longer than 700 words. Conventionally, most content marketers like to stick to a google long form content length between 700 and 1,800 words. 

So, is long form content dead? No, it is not. 

Do people read long form content? Yes, they do.

Contrary to the common belief that readers like short, digestible content, many readers prefer to read meatier articles offering valuable information. 

Some great long form content examples can be found on a business news website Quartz. Despite being a news website, the platform has shifted its focus to the standardized word count of 500-600 words for news articles to lengthier content pieces with 1,200 words or more. 

Similarly, platforms like Patagonia, Airbnb, IBM, and Chevrolet all use long form content to promote their offerings and generate better ranking authority. 

Is Long Form Content Better for SEO?

Long form content is not something new, but it has progressed to a bigger magnitude as more SEO content marketing strategies are emerging. 

Websites and brand communities struggling with low viewer engagement deploy long form content SEO to boost the dwell time, decrease the bounce rate and enhance user-engagement with time. 

Long form content is a boon for platforms who get good searches but fail to engage website traffic. Incorporating long form content into content marketing strategy can not only improve search engine result rankings but also enhance the domain authority. 

However, you need to keep in mind that long form content writing does not mean writing more word count. Google long form content that ranks high is essentially highly valuable and high-context for users. It means instead of churning out words to meet the word count, the content marketers and creators have to tread carefully to deliver value to the readers. 

Read More: Top 2022 Content Marketing Trends That Should be on Your To-Do List

Apart from the content length, Google also looks at other factors such as the number of backlinks, the website’s user dwell time and engagement. 

Long Form content marketing is better for SEO in the following ways:

More Backlinks:

Long form content has higher chances of getting more backlinks. The reason is that it offers insights on a myriad of topics relevant to user intent. 

More Social Shares

Long form content also receives a staggering number of social shares. When users read information that extensively addresses their concerns, they are more likely to share it with others. 

Google’s RankBrain Loves Long Form Content

Google’s RankBrain is an algorithm which sorts search results into categories for better understanding of search queries. This machine learning algorithm loves long form content and is likely to offer it good search positioning.

Long Form Content Marketing Tips

Long-form writing has opened new avenues of content marketing for content specialists. Since the users and search engines love to read long-form pieces, content marketers need to incorporate it into their content marketing strategy. 

The catch for marketers is that despite the high popularity of long-form writing, only 18%^[1] of company-based blog posts have 750 or more words. 

Sadly, this word count is not even comparable to the first page of Google search results. 

Since 60% of marketers find it a challenge to create engaging content, long-form writing creation opens new opportunities for engaging content creation. 

Suggested Read: What are the Ingredients of a Successful Blog?

Keep in mind that your Long Form Writing has To Be Really Good‍

How to Write a Good Long Form Article?

The following are the main objectives that you must keep in mind while creating a long form content piece:

• Information value and utility for the reader
• Content Comprehensiveness and context 
• Compelling Titles and engaging tags
• High Dwell Time with Lower bounce rate

These 4 elements can drastically improve the quality of your long form content marketing. Hence, you can bring in more social shares and backlines to boost the overall search rankings of your content.

Using the Best Long Form Writing Software

Long-form writing software saves you time and effort while offering a myriad of high-context ideas for any topic. If you are looking for the best long-form writing app for your website use, WriteMe is the perfect pick for you. The AI Based long-form writing generator is ideal for creating long-form articles, blogs, video scripts and more.

How do you Write Long Form?

What is a long article? As described above, a long article extensively addresses the main user intent as well as associated user search intent. If you want to know how to write a long form copy that converts, carefully study the user’s search intent and offer high-context, valuable information to readers.

What is Long Form Social Media Content?

Long form social media content refers to the use of creating captions that contain more characters and information than the conventional short-caption posts. These posts are meant for readers to read like a blog or a news article. Each social media platform offers different ways of writing long form social media content.

What is Long Form Video Content?

Also Read: Craft Your Social Media Ad Copy To Perfection – Top 5 Tips

Long form video content is descriptive in nature. It is typically video content which is longer than 10 minutes. It has content arcs in the start, middle and end of the video. If the long form video content is ad supported, the video will have breaks in between the clips. 

Types of Long-Form Content

Long-form content refers to comprehensive, in-depth pieces of content that provide detailed information on a particular topic. Long form articles or blogs are longer in length, often exceeding 700 words, and are designed to engage readers by delivering valuable and informative content. There are several types of long-form content that can be used effectively to educate, entertain, or persuade an audience. Let’s explore some examples:

Whitepapers: 

Whitepapers are authoritative reports or guides that present a specific problem or challenge and offer a well-researched solution. They are commonly used in business and technology sectors. For example, a company specializing in cybersecurity might create a whitepaper titled “The Future of Cyber Threats: Strategies to Protect Your Business.”

Interviews: 

Long-form content can also take the form of interviews. Conducting interviews with industry experts, thought leaders, or influential individuals can provide valuable insights and perspectives. These interviews can be transcribed and published as written articles or transformed into audio or video formats. For instance, an interview with a renowned chef about their cooking techniques and culinary philosophy can make for engaging long-form content.

E-books: 

E-books are longer, more extensive forms of content that are often downloadable or available for purchase. They cover a specific topic in-depth, providing a comprehensive resource for readers. For example, an e-book titled “Mastering Photography: A Comprehensive Guide for Beginners” could cover camera settings, composition techniques, post-processing, and more.

Research Papers: 

Research papers are highly detailed and academically focused documents that present findings from a specific study or investigation. While typically associated with academic or scientific fields, research papers can also be valuable in other domains. For example, a research paper analyzing consumer behavior and purchasing trends in the retail industry could provide valuable insights for marketers and business owners.

Types of Popular Long Form Blog Posts

Long form Blog Posts

Long-form blog posts are comprehensive and detailed articles that go beyond the typical length of a standard blog post. While a typical blog post might be around 500-700 words.

How many words in a blog post?

Long-form blog posts often exceed 700 words and provide in-depth information on a particular topic. These longer articles are designed to engage readers, offer valuable insights, and establish authority on a subject matter.

Step-by-Step Tutorials: 

Long-form blog posts can also take the form of detailed tutorials that guide readers through a specific process or skill. These tutorials often include screenshots, images, or videos to enhance the learning experience. For example, a blog post titled “A Step-by-Step Guide to Building Your First Website with WordPress” could walk readers through the process of setting up a domain, choosing a theme, and customizing their website.

Expert Roundups: 

Expert roundups gather insights and opinions from industry experts on a particular topic. These blog posts typically feature quotes or interviews from multiple professionals, offering readers a diverse range of perspectives. For example, a blog post titled “Top SEO Experts Share Their Best Tips for Ranking Higher in Search Engines” could include insights from renowned SEO specialists.

Thought Leadership Pieces:

Long-form blog posts can also serve as platforms for thought leadership. These articles delve into complex topics, present unique perspectives, and encourage readers to think critically. For example, a blog post titled “The Future of Artificial Intelligence: Ethical Implications and Impact on Society” could explore the ethical considerations of AI technology.

Definitive Guides: 

Definitive guides are extensive and comprehensive blog posts that cover a topic in great detail. They aim to provide readers with a comprehensive understanding of a subject matter. For instance, a blog post titled “The Definitive Guide to Content Marketing” could cover various aspects such as content strategy, content creation, content distribution, and content measurement.

Case Studies: 

Case studies in blog post form are detailed narratives that showcase a real-life example of a problem or challenge and its solution. They often include data, analysis, and testimonials to support the story. For example, a software company might publish a case study blog post titled “How Company X Increased Productivity by 30% with Our Project Management Software.”

Ultimate Lists: 

Ultimate lists are comprehensive compilations of resources, tools, or examples related to a specific topic. These blog posts aim to provide readers with a one-stop resource that covers all the relevant information. For instance, a blog post titled “50 Essential AI Resources and Use Cases for Content Writers” could include links to an AI writing Tool software, online tutorials, and helpful articles.

How to Search for Long Form Blog Posts Ideas and Keywords?

Finding long-form keywords and topic ideas requires a bit of exploration and creativity. Here’s a step-by-step guide on where to find them, written in an easy-to-understand style with personal anecdotes:

Explore Search Engine Suggestions

When you start typing a topic related to your blog niche into a search engine, have you noticed how it suggests completions? These suggestions are based on popular search queries, providing valuable insights into what people are looking for. For example, when I typed “healthy recipes for…” into the search bar, it suggested “healthy recipes for weight loss” and “healthy recipes for dinner.” These suggestions can spark ideas for long-form keywords and topics.

Dive into Online Communities

Online communities are treasure troves of ideas. For instance, when I was looking for gardening blog post ideas, I joined gardening forums and engaged with fellow enthusiasts. I discovered that people often asked about “companion planting for organic gardening” and “tips for extending the growing season.” These discussions inspired me to create long-form content around these topics, providing valuable information to my audience.

Source: www.gardening-forums.com 

Seek Inspiration on Social Media

Social media platforms are not just for connecting with friends; they can also be a goldmine for long-form keyword and topic ideas. Instagram, for instance, allows you to search for hashtags related to your niche. 

By exploring posts with relevant hashtags, I stumbled upon gardening accounts where users shared their experiences with “vertical gardening techniques” and “creating a bee-friendly garden.” These discoveries sparked ideas for comprehensive blog posts that resonated with my audience.

Pay Attention to Questions and Comments

Interacting with your audience is invaluable for finding long-form keywords and topics. When I shared a blog post about home organization tips, readers often left comments or sent emails asking for more detailed information. Their inquiries helped me identify areas where they desired in-depth content. For example, one reader asked about “space-saving storage solutions for small apartments,” inspiring me to create a long-form post that addressed this specific concern.

YouTube – The 2nd Most Used Search Engine

When I was looking for long-form topic ideas on YouTube for my travel blog, I discovered a video titled “10-Day Itinerary for Exploring Europe on a Budget.” This video sparked the idea of creating a detailed long-form blog post on budget-friendly travel itineraries.

Actionable Tips:

• Start by searching for topics relevant to your niche on YouTube. For example, if you run a fitness blog, search for keywords like “workout routines,” “nutrition tips,” or “healthy recipes.”
• Pay attention to the video titles, video descriptions, and comments section. Look for popular videos with a high number of views and engagement.

Quora Question Mining

While browsing Quora for topic ideas for my technology blog, I came across a question asking, “What are the latest advancements in artificial intelligence?” The answers provided a range of cutting-edge AI technologies. Inspired by this question, I created a long-form blog post that explored each technology in-depth and their potential implications.

Actionable Tips:

• Visit Quora and search for topics related to your niche. Look for questions that have received a high number of views, upvotes, or engagement.
• Read through the answers to identify common themes or areas where people are seeking detailed explanations or solutions.

Explore Online Communities and Forums

As an aspiring writer, I joined a writing-focused subreddit and discovered a thread titled “Tips for Creating Engaging Characters in Fiction.” The responses from fellow writers provided valuable insights and sparked the idea for a long-form blog post on character development techniques in storytelling.

Actionable Tips:

• Identify online communities and forums that are relevant to your niche. Examples include Reddit, specialized forums, or Facebook groups.
• Dive into discussions and threads within these communities to find recurring topics, challenges, or questions that generate a significant amount of engagement.

Engage with Niche Experts

When I started my entrepreneurship blog, I followed a renowned business influencer on LinkedIn. I noticed that their posts on “Effective Marketing Strategies for Small Businesses” consistently garnered high engagement. This observation inspired me to create a long-form blog post exploring different marketing strategies and how small businesses can implement them.

Actionable Tips:

• Seek out niche experts, influencers, or thought leaders on social media platforms like LinkedIn, Twitter, or Instagram.
• Follow their content, read their posts, and engage with their audience. Pay attention to the questions people ask, as well as the topics and discussions that generate significant interest.

How to Use an AI Writing Tool for Long Form Writing?

Here are the stepwise actions involved in using an AI writing tool for long-form writing:

Choose a Reliable AI Writing Tool

WriteMeAI is a reputable AI writing tool that specializes in generating long-form content. It offers features such as natural language processing, grammar checking, and content structuring.

Define Your Writing Objective: 

Clearly define the purpose and objective of your long-form content. Identify the main topic, key points, and desired outcome. This will help you provide accurate instructions to the AI tool.

Set Content Parameters: 

Determine the desired word count, writing style, and tone for your long-form content. Provide specific instructions to the AI tool, such as using a conversational tone, incorporating storytelling elements, or including statistics and examples.

Generate Content:

Enter your instructions and prompts. Break down your content into sections or headings and provide clear instructions for each section. Collaborate with the AI tool by providing feedback and making adjustments as needed.

Review and Edit Generated Content: 

Once the AI tool generates the initial content, review it carefully. Make necessary edits for clarity, coherence, and accuracy. Ensure that the generated content aligns with your original objective and conveys the intended message.

Add Personal Touch and Enhancements: 

While AI tools can generate content efficiently, it’s crucial to infuse your expertise and unique perspective into the writing. Add personal anecdotes, relevant examples, and additional insights to enrich the content further.

Proofread and Finalize: 

Before publishing or sharing your long-form content, proofread it thoroughly for grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors. Use grammar-checking tools or enlist the help of a human editor if necessary.

Publish and Promote: 

Once you’re satisfied with the final version of your long-form content, publish it on your website, blog, or other relevant platforms. Share it on social media, email newsletters, or other channels to maximize its reach and engagement.

Using the Best Long Form Writing Software

Long form content writing software saves you time and effort while offering a myriad of high-context ideas for any topic. If you are looking for the best long form writing app for your website use, WriteMe is the perfect pick for you. The AI Based long form content generator is ideal for creating long form articles, blogs, video scripts and more.

Key Takeaways:

• Long-form content provides comprehensive information on a specific topic.
• Research and keyword analysis are essential for generating long-form ideas.
• Stepwise actions for using an AI writing tool: gather research, define outline, provide instructions, review and edit, optimize for SEO.
• Reusable prompts for AI writers: introductions, key points, statistics, expert opinions, examples, tips, misconceptions, trends, call to action.
• Sources of long-form ideas: industry publications, books, surveys, trends, research reports, courses, audience feedback.
• YouTube and Quora offer valuable long-form keywords and topics through video descriptions, comments, questions, and discussions.
• Personal anecdotes add a unique touch to long-form content, making it relatable to the audience.

References:
[1] Content Marketing Statistics: The Ultimate List – Curata