How many times have you searched for some information but did not get it from a single website? You may have visited multiple sources and ended up in frustration. 

However, if you get a clear and detailed explanation from a single platform, you never feel the need to visit other sources. 

Moreover, you develop trust and remember the website in the future. It means long and explicit content help earn consumer credibility, which in turn increases conversions. 

Let us dive deep to understand the meaning of long form content and learn how to create it. Keep reading!

What is Long Form Content? 

Long form content is typically a write-up that explains the entire topic under one roof. It is a comprehensive post that outlines the basics, examples, and proceeds so that you can easily understand everything. 

There is no defined length of long form content. People commonly assume that a word range exceeding 1000 words is considered long. But, it can go up to 7000 or 8000 words depending upon the topic and platform you are using. 

For instance, if you want to write a guest post, read the blog post guidelines of the website where you want to submit the post. However, if you are using a personal Content Management System (CMS) like Tumblr, Blogger, and Word Press, there is no limit on word count. 

Similarly, if you plan to submit your writing piece on social media, go through the writing rules and check out the word limit for posts. Networks like LinkedIn Publisher and Facebook Notes allow you to publish detailed content. 

Recently, Twitter has also integrated a new feature for its audience. Since, marketers found it hard to deliver their messages in short tweets restricted to 280 characters, they now exceeded the limit to 2500 words in their “Notes” feature. 

Examples of Long Form Content 

You can publish long form content through e-books, reports, blogs, and videos. The below examples of well-known companies will help you extract unique ideas to use this type of explicit content: 

Google Trends

A frequently used search engine, Google trends does a fantastic job in using long form resources. Can the company cater to the needs of billions of users through concise content? 

No!

That is why it uses long form content to present information. The content is categorized into multiple sections, ranging from sports and TV shows to global news, movies, and whatnot. 

From here, you get an idea of categorizing information by creating multiple headings in long form content. Such a writing piece effortlessly reveals which sort of information is present under which heading. 

REI 

REI is a website that provides gear and recreational rental equipment. The brand has released long form content as a documentary named Paul’s Boots.

It shares the dream of Paul, who was a hiker. Before reaching the Appalachian Trail, Paul died. But, a group of hikers fulfilled the dream by taking Paul’s boots to the same destination. 

You can use inspiring stories like the one shared by REI. Such types of posts motivate others to share the content, which can promote the brand. 

Chevrolet 

The famous car brand needs no introduction. Chevrolet used long form content to highlight the brand’s support for a baseball pitcher. This strategy helped in showcasing how the brand is working for the community. 

You can also write a detailed article on your brand’s contribution to the betterment of society. It will help you earn goodwill. 

Another example by the same company is its long form article titled “100 Years of Icons“. In this writing piece, you can go through the best cars and trucks the company has manufactured in its 100 years of history. 

The detailed contributions make consumers realize how the brand has always worked towards innovation. 

How to Create Long form Content? 

After going through the first section of our post, you must have understood the meaning and significance of long form content. 

Though the benefits of providing comprehensive information are tremendous, producing it is not everyone’s cup of tea. It requires detailed research, dedication, and time. 

We have compiled some proven steps for you. Going through them will help you create a comprehensive piece of content easily. Let’s begin: 

1. Decide your Goal and Think about a Unique Idea  

The first step is to determine your goal. Look at the current position of your business and understand the industry insights to determine the aim.

Suppose your business lacks consumer trust. In this scenario, you can post success stories of your brand. Or use detailed reviews of your satisfied clients to display how your services helped solve their pain points. 

2. Research in Detail 

Whether you are writing a blog post, eBook, or report, conducting thorough research is essential. You can find information through multiple sources like Google books, research articles, blog posts, magazines, and social media. 

Moreover, add weight to your suggestions by sharing statistics. Search for authentic sources to find the latest studies related to your topic. Rely only on the high-authority websites as information on every other site may not be accurate. 

3. Create an Outline 

When writing comprehensive content, going off the track is possible. To deliver information systematically, break the content into various sections. Creating an outline will work like a map, telling what to cover in the next paragraph. 

Generally, the outline of your work should contain the following:

• All the main headings.
• Subheadings.
• A brief description of what you will cover in each section.

You can also add helpful links in the outline so that finding the sources of information may not be difficult. 

4. Start Producing Content

After creating an outline, you will step towards writing the explicit content. Let us have a look at some tips for this step: 

Write a Compelling Introduction 

The first part of your content is the introduction. You need to create attention-grabbing content for this section. Make sure to hook the audience, show the benefits of reading the content, and provide an overview of what the main text will cover. 

Provide In-Depth Details in the Main Body 

Try your best to explain things comprehensively. Put yourself in a reader’s shoes to see if they can understand what you mean. Besides this, try to follow the below tips: 

• Use a conversational tone 
• Give examples 
• Keep your sentences short and avoid complicated vocabulary 
• Use transition words like conclusively, importantly, firstly, etc. 

Conclude with a Friendly Tone 

You can present a summary of the main text, add a CTA, or motivate the audience in the concluding paragraph. For instance, wrapping up the points is appropriate if it’s a list post. Likewise, if it’s a how-to post, present a solution in the end. 

5. Incorporate Media for Higher Engagement 

People don’t find interest in text-bulky paragraphs. But you can add visuals to create an exciting appeal for the audience. 

Here are a few options: 

Videos: Create short videos to explain complicated concepts. Take inspiration from the explainer videos used for marketing. 

Images: Add high-resolution images to inspire readers. Try to get real pictures but if you are short of budget, buy stock images. You can find various stock photos that are impressive in quality and you can edit them according to your brand.

Screenshots: They serve as evidence of what you suggest. If you share a hack, adding a screenshot will convince users to try it out. 

Bottom Line 

Long form content is mandatory to compete in this growing digital world. The points mentioned above will help you craft a detailed and informative write-up. You might find it time-consuming and tedious, but all your efforts will pay off!