Written by Market My Market’s content team, with contributions from Lindsay Bennett-Guido, Tanner Mowery, Katie McLoughlin, and Hannah Kernal
Long-form content can often be a double-edged sword. It allows readers to get all the information they need in one place, but it can also be overwhelming to see large amounts of text, potentially encouraging them to leave the page altogether. Our content team at Market My Market understands the pros and cons of long-form content and implements effective and innovative strategies to keep readers engaged.
Our in-house team creates meaningful content with our clients and their readers in mind. Therefore, when faced with long-form pieces, we use our expertise to demonstrate our clients’ authority and experience while maintaining user attention and ultimately urging them to take action. With every writer on our team having a unique voice and style, each one takes their own approach to creating high-quality, long-form content.
Why Long-Form Content Still Earns Its Word Count
Long-form content is not just about hitting a number. Pieces that thoroughly cover a topic tend to earn more backlinks, rank for a wider range of related keywords, and hold reader attention longer than shorter pieces that only skim the surface. That is exactly why we lean into long-form for complex legal, medical, and service-based topics where a reader has multiple follow-up questions the page needs to answer before they will pick up the phone.
The tradeoff is real, though. A 3,000-word page that rambles will lose readers faster than a focused 1,200-word page. The strategies below are how our writers make sure every added word is still earning its place on the page.
Katie McLoughlin — Content Writer
While writing long-form content is a standard part of our jobs as Market My Market content writers, it presents a challenge that involves balancing complex topics, like legal and dental subjects, with readability. When approaching this type of content, I think about how I can best break the topic into small, easily digestible parts so readers can quickly find the answers to their questions while still providing valuable information. Even breaking one subject into sections can make the piece much less intimidating, especially on mobile devices.
In addition to breaking up long-form content into skimmable parts, I implement storybranding elements into my writing to appeal directly to readers. Storybranding is a framework that uses a storytelling formula to show readers how our clients can help them solve their problems. This tool helps streamline long-form content’s message while establishing trust between readers and our clients. With these techniques, I can write longer content that speaks to readers and addresses the full scope of the subject matter at hand.
Lindsay Bennett-Guido — Content Specialist
When writing long-form content, it is essential to go in with a clear plan of action. An outline of relevant sections, ideally more than you think you’ll need, can help your content stay on track, even at word counts of 3,000 or more. Without an outline, it’s easy to meander into writing fluff just to reach the word count. When choosing which sections to include, I try to place myself in the reader’s shoes. If I were facing a legal or medical issue, what questions would I have? This approach helps me keep the reader’s experience at the forefront of my mind while writing.
Once I have a plan in place, the longer word count allows me more space to go into more detail about each subtopic. Often, legal and medical concepts can be complex. While it’s essential to keep the language straightforward and empathetic, I can also explore the topic in more detail through examples. A well-written example can give readers much more context than a simple explanation of the law, providing more value.
Tanner Mowery — Content Writer
Once a piece passes a certain length, structure has to do more work than it does on a shorter page. I lean on the same heading hierarchy our team uses for shorter content, but I get stricter about it on anything over 2,000 words: every major idea gets its own H2, and any section with more than two paragraphs gets broken down further with H3 subheadings.
On the longest pieces, I also think about pacing the way a reader will actually scroll through it. Adding a short summary sentence before a dense section, or breaking up a long explanation with a relevant image, gives readers a place to rest before the next section. It’s a small habit, but it’s the difference between a page that reads as thorough and one that reads as exhausting.
Hannah Kernal — Content Writer
When we’re given more significant assignments with longer word count expectations, we get to spread our proverbial writing wings. Ideally, we want every piece to cover the basics so readers can understand the information in front of them easily and quickly. But there’s also an argument for going into greater depth so readers can more thoroughly understand.
If I’m writing a personal injury page about car accidents, there may be value in creating several short sections that break down different parts of the law quickly. However, there may also be value in creating longer sections that go into greater detail. I may be able to fit four smaller topics into a 1,000-word page, or I can go into greater detail with just two topics.
It’s ultimately all about weighing the value of individual topics and breakdowns and attempting to meet readers where they are.
Unlock the Secrets of Long-Form Content with Market My Market Today
Creating engaging, readable, and effective long-form content can be a daunting task, especially when addressing comprehensive topics and intricate laws. Market My Market’s content team excels in crafting long-form content that not only captures the essence of complex legal matters but does so in a way that’s compelling for readers. Utilizing a blend of storytelling, structured clarity, and precision, our specialists transform extensive topics into captivating narratives. This approach not only answers your audience’s pressing questions but does so in a manner that’s accessible and retains vital information. For more on how we structure any length of content for readability, see how our writers approach content structure, and for how these longer pieces support a broader traffic strategy, see our approaches to creating content that drives explosive quality traffic.
Market My Market is your partner in developing high-performing content that resonates with your clients nationwide. Allow us to amplify your business’s voice while you concentrate on your regular day-to-day. Discover how our tailored content solutions can make a difference for your business by calling us at (800) 997-7336 or utilizing our online contact form.
Frequently Asked Questions About Long-Form Content
How long does a page need to be to count as long-form content?
There is no strict cutoff, but content over about 1,200 words is generally considered long-form. Many of our legal and medical pages run 2,000 to 3,000 words or more when the topic genuinely warrants that depth.
Does longer content actually rank better?
Longer content tends to rank for a wider range of related keywords and earns more backlinks when it thoroughly covers a topic. Length alone is not the ranking factor, though, it is the depth and usefulness of what fills that length.
How do you keep long-form content from feeling padded?
Starting with a detailed outline before writing keeps every section tied to a genuine reader question. If a section does not answer something a reader would actually want to know, it gets cut rather than padded to hit a word count.
How should headings be used in long-form content?
Every major idea should get its own H2, and any section running longer than two paragraphs should be broken down further with H3 subheadings. This keeps long pages scannable instead of becoming one continuous block of text.
Is long-form content right for every topic?
No. Some topics are fully answered in a few hundred words, and stretching them out only hurts readability. Long-form works best for complex topics where readers have several follow-up questions the page needs to address.