Long-Form vs. Short-Form Content: Which is Better for SEO?

Based on the subject matter, 1,200 words could also be considered short-form content. Though this word count tends to be enough for most queries.

Benefits of Long-Form Content 

Long-form content offers numerous excellent benefits that cannot be overlooked:

• Performs well in search results
• Increased traffic and shares
• Acquire more high quality backlinks
• Increased conversions
• Builds trust and customer loyalty

Understanding Short-Form Content 

Short-form content, on the other hand, tends to be 1,000 words or less. Some publishers do publish content of around two or three hundred words, though this tends to be used for breaking news, where new details are still developing.

Short-Form Content Benefits

75% of B2B brands still rely on short-form content, enjoying the following benefits:

• Caters to all attention spans – ideal for modern on-the-go consumers
• Faster to create – a faster turnaround in the creation and publishing of content 

Long-Form vs Short-Form Content Considerations

When it comes to deciding whether to create long-form or short-form content for your SEO content strategy, you need to take some factors into consideration:

• Competitors – with comprehensive competitor analysis you can identify search volume and competitor ratings. Identify their content lengths to give you an idea on what works best for your business and audience. Often long-form content is better in highly competitive industries. 
• Audience preferences – identify what your audiences responds to. Some people don't have the time to read through long-form content, looking for short-form content that answers their immediate questions. Test various lengths to determine what your audience prefers and amend your content strategy accordingly
• Quality content – whether your content is long-form or short-form, you need to ensure you provide the finest quality content. The high quality content, no matter the length, always performs better in search results.

Conclusion

When it comes to weighing up whether to create long-form or short-form content for SEO, you need to focus on your competition, audience, and the quality of the content. If you can provide your audience with answers to their questions, with valuable input and do it all within three hundred words, then short-form content is the way to go. Long-form content tends to perform better in search results, builds trust and credibility, and helps you acquire more backlinks, all essential for your SEO success. Are you looking for more information or assistance in creating superior quality content? The Genie Crawl team are here to provide you with the SEO services you need to drive your business forward.