In marketing, you've probably heard the phrase "content is king." But not all content is created equal. One type of content that has gained popularity in recent years is long-form content. This blog explores the different types of long-form content, the benefits of each, and how they can help you convert customers.
What is Long-Form Content?
Long-form content refers to any type of content that is longer than 1,500 words. Some examples are blogs, articles, eBooks, whitepapers, and more. The idea behind long-form content is to provide in-depth information on a topic. It also allows you to establish yourself as a subject matter expert in your industry.
Types of Long-Form Content:
As mentioned previously, there are several types of long-form content. Below are descriptions of a few.
Blog Posts: Blog posts are a common type of long-form content. They allow you to dive deep into a topic which adds value for your readers. While some blogs range around 500 words, long-form content blogs range from 1,500 to 5,000 words, or more.
eBooks: eBooks are longer pieces of content that are often used for lead generation. They can be up to 10,000 words or more. eBooks can cover one topic or several related topics. You can also make a series of eBooks on subjects such as marketing, finance, human resources, etc.
Whitepapers: Whitepapers are like eBooks but are more formal in tone. They are typically used to provide technical information to a targeted, niche, or specialized audience.
Benefits of Long-Form Content:
One of the important benefits of long-form content is improving Search Engine Optimization (SEO). Long-form content is great for SEO because it provides more opportunities to use keywords and links back to your own content. Another benefit of long-form content is that Google also tends to favor longer content because it is seen as more valuable to the reader.
Long-form content can also increase engagement. Providing in-depth information keeps readers on your website longer and can lead to increased social shares and backlinks. Finally, long-form content can lead to higher conversation rates. It’s great for lead generation because it provides more value to your readers. Value can lead to higher conversion rates as well as more qualified leads.
How to Use Long-Form Content for Customer Conversion:
As with any content, when creating long-form content, it’s important to choose the right topic. This will aid in your success. Be sure to choose a topic that is relevant to your audience and provides information that they are seeking. Google Trends is a good place to research what topics are trending at any given time.
You will want to break your long-form content up so that it does not overwhelm your readers. Use headings, subheadings, and bullet points to make it easier to read. Include Calls-To-Action (CTA) to make it more effective and direct readers to what you want them to do after reading your content.
How Often Should You Produce Long-Form Content?
How often you produce long-form content depends on your content or marketing strategy, your audience’s preferences, and the amount of time you or your team has. If you can create long-form content weekly, you can do that. If bi-weekly or monthly is better for you, that’s okay, too. But keep in mind, it’s better to focus on quality over quantity.
As you can see, long-form content can be a valuable tool for improving your SEO, generating leads, and converting consumers to customers. Whichever form of long-form content you choose, be sure to choose relevant topics and information that will add value to your target audience. Using these tips will help you reach your goals and drive results for your business.
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