Long-form content is an impactful method for engaging audiences and improving search engine rankings; however, creating successful long-form content goes beyond simply telling a story or hitting a word count. When it comes to search engine optimization (SEO), search engines tend to prioritize longer content because it’s often perceived as being more valuable to users. You’ll want to consider the organization, presentation, and delivery method when crafting your content to ensure it meets your objectives and appeals to your intended audience.
The topic of how many words make a long-form article has been debated, but generally, a length of 1,000 words is considered typical. At Aronson Advertising, we follow this standard, believing that comprehensive content gives readers a more in-depth understanding of the key information they need to make informed decisions. We’ve outlined several effective SEO writing techniques that content marketers and writers can implement to create compelling long-form articles.
Strategically Integrate Keywords
Effective SEO writing requires a strategic integration of keywords into your content. Understanding the brand message and the reader intent, and knowing your audience are essential to ensuring the content and keywords align with the users’ expectations. To conduct proper keyword research, Google Keyword Planner and Google Search Console are valuable tools that help identify appropriate keywords. Additional long-tail keywords can be found on a brand’s website, usually appearing within headers, which can help guide the structure and flow of the content.
Once the target keywords have been identified, it is crucial to integrate them seamlessly into the article. Limit your keyword usage to one to three times in long-form content — overusing them, also referred to as “keyword stuffing,” makes content sound unnatural and can negatively impact a page’s search ranking or even lead to it being removed from Google altogether.
Ensure Easy Readability
Crafting content using a mix of delivery styles such as headers, bullet points, and images enhances readability and makes the article more scannable for online readers. Paragraphs serve those interested in in-depth, comprehensive information, while bullet points are ideal for those seeking quick information. Images can bring life to the story or message being conveyed. Apart from the delivery mix, the copy itself should be clear and concise, the flow of sentences from one to the next should be smooth, and keyword placement should be interrelated with the surrounding content for a better reading experience.
Promote Conversions With CTAs & Internal Links
Call-to-actions (CTAs) and internal links in your content are essential in contributing to the overall quality and performance and driving conversions. A logical flow of information from the initial landing page to strategic CTAs and linked internal pages offers a more engaging experience for readers. Each interaction with a CTA shifts users from being a prospective reader to an engaging lead. Both links and CTAs encourage users to explore more of your website and articles — more time spent on your site reduces bounce rates, improves overall user retention, and increases the likelihood that they’ll convert or outright purchase your product.
Analyze & Improve Your Content
Analyzing performance metrics provides valuable insights into user behavior and interactions with your content. Leverage tools such as Google Analytics 4, Google Keyword Planner, and Google Search Console to effectively track and monitor content and keyword performance. In Google Analytics 4, metrics worth analyzing include bounce rate, engagement time, events, and conversions; then, use the keyword insights from Google Keyword Planner and Google Search Console to measure organic traffic and determine new keyword opportunities. Combining and consistently analyzing the data these tools offer will help you discover new ways to refine your content and make healthy adjustments, ultimately improving page performance, leads, and conversions.
Understanding the significance of thoughtfully integrating keywords, creating engaging copy, and optimizing your article for user experience and search engines, you pave the way for successful, long-form articles. Doing so ensures that your SEO content resonates with your potential buyers, generating leads and sales. If you’re interested in learning more about how Aronson Advertising can assist your dealership in crafting impactful content, please get in touch with our team of experts.
