So, how do you increase content length without sacrificing quality?
1. Integrate Outside Sources
Pointing readers to other people’s stuff is a wonderful way to supplement your content. Cite articles, infographics, and blog posts that will contribute to your readers’ understanding of the topic. This is an easy way to increase both the length and authority of your content. As a bonus, it also increases the likelihood that your content will be shared because the people you cite will typically link to your content as well.
2. Include Block Quotes
When citing other content, it can make sense to pull in longer quotes from the original author to give readers a better sense of the original intent. This is especially helpful when citing more complicated topics. For eloquent authors block quoting does justice to their writing in ways that summarizing just does not.
When formatted correctly, block quotes also break up content to make it easier to skim. Snazzy content creators can also pull block quotes from their own content as callouts to achieve the same effect.
3. Use Charts/Graphs/Infographics
Using charts and images helps to illustrate points being made within the content in a way that adding more words often cannot accomplish. These visual images also enable the presentation of material in another format for different types of learners.
Much like block quotes, infographics and other visuals allow for whitespace that gives readers’ eyes a chance to rest. They also provide an engaging element that draws readers in and offers something shareable.
Additionally, spinning written content into visual-based content is a great way to re-purpose your existing resources. This doesn’t lengthen each piece of content individually, but it does add to your overall content length.
4. Incorporate Customer Testimonials
Customer feedback is vital for any business! You can get a lot of mileage out of testimonials by using them on your website and within written content. Conducting interviews or asking for submissions from customers provides rich snippets to be used within existing content.
5. Utilize Images
Visual content adds length without adding words, which is a win-win. Readers appreciate the way images enrich content, and content creators like the added length that can be easily accomplished by integrating them.
Using lighthearted images like memes within content also helps to set the tone for the piece. Images can add comedic relief as well, increasing readers’ enjoyment of the content overall.
6. Rely on Step-by-Step Directions
Walking readers through a task increases length while providing value. Readers love actionable “next steps” and tutorial-style content because they can save it and review it again later. Really helpful content can get passed between professionals and ultimately go viral when it addresses a common or timely issue.
7. Provide Additional Resources
Listing out ideas for further reading gives readers more material to review if they really appreciated the content. It’s also a great way to keep visitors on your site by circulating them through your other resources.
Hire a professional copywriter today to create readable content at any length (or turn your existing content into long form gems)! Find out how we can write the kind of content your audience wants to read – establishing your business as an industry leader and improving your search engine visibility.
Kate Pierce is the owner of LionShark Digital Marketing LLC, a West Michigan internet marketing company. Her areas of expertise include Paid Search, Search Engine Optimization, Business Blogging and Web Copywriting. She lives in the Grand Rapids area with her husband and two children and enjoys cooking, watching sports, and spending time together as a family. Like a true digital marketing expert (i.e. geek), she loves talking about current marketing trends… so don’t say you weren’t warned!