If there’s one thing we know when it comes to content and SEO, content is king. Long form content is the king of kings. Longer content tends to rank better, and it’s good SEO advice to aim for long-form content when possible. However, that does not mean that everything on your website needs to be extremely long. Below, we will dive into long form content and why it matters for SEO. 

Content length

Simply put, ideal content lengths vary depending on the topic, keyword, and competition. Google will pay more attention to how visitors engage with the content rather than the length itself. If you have a post that is 2,000 words but visitors don’t spend much time on it or go to a different result, Google will assume your lengthy content isn’t answering users’ questions. 

Why long form content matters

There are a few reasons why long form content tends to rank better. First, more words often mean more authority. While this isn’t always the case, it leads to visitors spending a longer time on your page. Also, it tends to make visitors not go somewhere else to get the information they need. Longer content often has a higher social engagement as well. All of these factors are part of what tells Google that your piece is substantive and useful for visitors. 

Why longer content doesn’t matter

Simply having a lot of words on a page isn’t going to get you to the first page of Google. Even if it does, it most likely won’t last long. If you have an article without much substance, then the length does not necessarily matter. If people click to your page and end up needing to go somewhere else for their answers, you will not rank highly. A lot of words don’t equal a higher ranking. Content length only matters if your content is well written. Rather than focusing on adding more words, approach content writing with the intent of making it comprehensive. The more relevant and unique your content is, the better user experience. 

Tips for strong content

Go beyond the know

What do your readers really want to know? One thing is for sure, they want to know why they should trust you compared to others. You can add value by anticipating their questions or offering related information they didn’t even know they needed. 

Make it readable

You have to make sure that your visitors can understand what you’re saying. Not everyone is a writer, and that is fine. You can find a copyeditor or anyone with another set of eyes to review your work. With long-form writing, it’s easy to go on tangents and fill your page with run-on sentences and repeated ideas. You need to edit as well as you can before putting it up on your website. 

Say something new

As we’ve mentioned before, you need to offer something valuable and unique in your content. Looking at your competitors is a great way to help you find what to write about. You should never steal their ideas, but find gaps in their content that you can fill.