Learn how to craft longreads that keep readers engaged and make them want to read until the very end.
Some say long articles are pointless — everyone’s used to short formats like Reels, Shorts, TikTok, cards, and social media posts. But short formats struggle to fit in-depth guides, tutorials, reviews, and expert interviews.
So here’s the challenge: how do you write a 10-minute longread that keeps people engaged instead of making them bored and click away?
Here’s your step-by-step guide.
How to Create a Great Longread
A longread is a deep-dive article where the author thoroughly explores a topic. The length can vary — what matters is not the number of words but the depth of research and presentation. A longread can also be built around visual elements such as illustrations, infographics, and diagrams, with minimal text supporting them. Even in this format, it remains a longread.
To make a comprehensive article engaging and keep the reader’s attention, you need to go through several key steps: preparation, structuring, writing, and formatting. Let’s break it down step by step.
Know Your Audience
Before writing, you must understand who your readers are. If you create content without knowing who will read it, your longread won’t solve their problems or keep them engaged. Define your target audience (TA):
Who are they?
What are their interests and challenges?
What’s their age, profession, and level of knowledge on the topic?
The more insights you gather, the more relevant and compelling your article will be. This research helps you:
👉 Choose the right topics.
For example, small business owners don’t need corporate HR strategy guides. Instead, they’d benefit from practical tips like how to market on a budget, hire employees, register a business, or manage taxes.
👉 Select the best platform for publication.
If you’re writing for IT professionals, platforms like Medium, Dev.to, or specialized forums work well. If your audience consists of young mothers, Instagram or Telegram might be a better fit.
👉 Determine the best format and writing style.
If your audience is 15–25 years old, they’ll likely prefer longreads with engaging visuals, infographics, and videos, written in a casual and accessible tone. On the other hand, if you’re writing for medical professionals, fewer images may be needed, but detailed research citations and technical terminology will be expected.
👉 Identify key focus points and examples.
For a beginner in yoga, complex terms should be explained in simple words with visual aids. But if your audience consists of experienced yogis, you can use more advanced terminology without excessive explanations.
Understanding your audience ensures that your longread is not just well-written but also useful and engaging.
Define the Goal and Core Idea of Your Longread
Think about a topic that will be both interesting and valuable to your audience. A longread should provide in-depth coverage of a subject. Start by asking yourself: Why am I writing this article?
Your goal will determine the focus and priorities of your content. Common objectives include:
Driving traffic
Increasing brand awareness
Demonstrating expertise
Generating interest in a product
The desired outcome will shape how you structure your longread, what aspects you emphasize, and what details you downplay.
For example, let’s say a business is promoting craft kvass:
👉 If the goal is traffic, the longread could feature refreshing drink recipes, a ranking of the healthiest beverages, or a FAQ-style article.
👉 If the goal is brand awareness, the content should highlight the product range, new launches, promotions, and the unique qualities of craft kvass.
👉 If the goal is to establish expertise, the article could include interviews with brewers, a deep dive into kvass-making traditions in different countries, or an overview of brewing technologies.
👉 If the audience is unfamiliar with the product, an introductory piece explaining the different types of kvass would be more effective.
Research the Topic Thoroughly
Ensure you have enough material to create a well-researched longread. Gather high-quality visuals, find reliable sources, and seek expert opinions if necessary. Before writing, check what has already been published on the topic.
When searching for information, try rephrasing your queries in different ways to expand the range of results. This helps you:
Understand what has already been covered
Identify gaps in existing content
Find topics that have been underexplored or not researched at all
How to Conduct Effective Online Research
Use multiple sources — Don’t rely on just one article; cross-check facts.
Look for primary sources — Studies, official reports, and industry experts add credibility.
Verify publication dates — Ensure your information is up-to-date.
Check for bias — Be aware of sponsored content or misleading data.
Use advanced search operators — Narrow down your search results efficiently.
Thorough research ensures your longread is not only informative but also unique and valuable to your readers.
How to Properly Search for Information on the Internet:
For example, you need to write an article about how to obtain residency in Serbia:
Create a Structure
Most readers scan the article structure first before deciding whether to read it. That’s why it’s crucial to make it clear and easy to navigate.
What Makes Up a Good Structure?
A well-organized text consists of three key parts: introduction, main body, and conclusion.
Introduction — Sets up the topic and motivates the reader to continue. Avoid unnecessary fluff or vague statements. Instead, highlight the reader’s problem, promise a benefit, or start with an unexpected fact. The goal is to make the reader understand why they should care and what they’ll gain from reading.
Main body — Contains multiple sections that fully cover the topic. Large blocks of text should be divided into sub-sections for better readability.
There are different ways to present information, for example:
👉 An overview article — “What is UGC and Why Does It Matter?”
👉 A step-by-step guide — “How to Order Content from a Copywriter: A Complete Guide”
👉 A curated list — “15 Free AI Tools for Working with Text, Images, Video, and Music”
Conclusion — Summarizes key takeaways, provides a checklist or a cheat sheet, links to additional resources, or asks a question to encourage discussion in the comments.
Types of Text Structures
In copywriting, structure is typically divided into two types: sequential and parallel.
1️⃣ Sequential structure — The topic unfolds step by step, with each section logically following the previous one. This is used for overview articles, case studies, company descriptions, and landing pages. If read out of order, the text may lose coherence.
2️⃣ Parallel structure — Each section is independent and self-contained. Readers can jump between sections without losing the overall meaning. This format is useful for reviews, compilations, and myth debunking articles.
Choosing the right structure ensures that your longread is both engaging and easy to digest.
Here is a different block diagram comparing Sequential Structure and Parallel Structure:
Sequential Structure (Blue): The content flows step by step, with each section building upon the previous one.
Parallel Structure (Green): The content is divided into independent sections, and you can study each one in any order.
How to Work on Structure
To make the content easy to navigate, follow these principles:
👉 Use informative headings and subheadings — The main heading should reflect the article’s topic, while subheadings should clearly summarize each section.
👉 Group ideas into sections — Each section should cover a specific subtopic without repeating information from other parts of the article.
👉 Use a hierarchical structure — If a section is too large, break it into subsections or use bullet points for clarity.
👉 Maintain logical flow — The article, sections, and paragraphs should develop ideas progressively: from introduction to conclusion, from simple to complex, from key points to supporting details.
Writing the Text
Once the preparation and structure are in place, it’s time to start writing the longread. While there are no strict rules, these guidelines will help make the text clear and engaging:
✅ Break text into paragraphs — Large text blocks are hard to read and may cause readers to lose interest. Structure your paragraphs so that each contains one main idea. A useful format is: thesis → explanation → conclusion.
✅ Use simple language — Avoid bureaucratic phrasing, overly complex sentences, and obscure terminology. If the reader struggles to understand the text, they will likely lose interest and leave. Write as if you’re speaking to your audience — clear, direct, and natural. Readers are more likely to trust an author who communicates plainly.
✅ Simple, Clear Language:
Most people give up on new habits because they set unrealistic goals. If you’ve never exercised before, deciding to work out every day for an hour is too much. Instead, start small — maybe just a five-minute walk. Once that feels easy, increase the time. The key is to make the habit so simple that you can’t fail.
❌ Bureaucratic and Overcomplicated Language:
The majority of individuals fail to successfully implement sustainable habit formation due to the establishment of excessively ambitious objectives. For instance, an individual lacking prior experience in physical exercise may find it exceedingly challenging to adhere to a daily commitment of one-hour workout sessions. Accordingly, it is advisable to commence with an incremental approach, such as a brief five-minute ambulatory activity. Upon achieving a level of comfort with this routine, one may proceed with a gradual escalation of duration. The fundamental principle lies in ensuring the feasibility of habit adoption to mitigate the probability of failure.
Explain from Simple to Complex
When introducing a complex concept, break it down step by step so the reader fully understands what you’re talking about. For example, if you’re writing about how to choose a CRM system for a business, start by explaining what a CRM is and how it helps entrepreneurs before diving into specific features or comparisons.
Use Relevant Examples
If the examples in your article don’t feel relatable, readers may struggle to trust the content. Instead, use real-life scenarios and familiar analogies to make the information easier to grasp.
For instance, if you’re writing about compact headphones, you could mention how they easily fit into a backpack or purse, making them perfect for travel. A text with such examples feels more convincing and engaging.
Choose Illustrations That Complement the Text
Infographics, tables, illustrations, charts, videos, and interactive elements allow readers to engage with the content more actively.
In longreads, whenever you have the choice between showing or telling, it’s usually better to show. This is especially true for products where visuals matter — clothing, shoes, accessories, toys, furniture. You can describe high-quality materials and stylish design all you want, but without strong visuals, the text will feel unconvincing and dull.
After writing, set the longread aside for a couple of hours. Come back to it the next day and read it with fresh eyes. If you start reviewing the text immediately after finishing it, you might miss several flaws.
Switch to another task or take a break, then revisit the text to check for logical flow, smoothness, simplicity, clarity of examples, and any errors.
What to Keep in Mind When Writing a Longread
Reading Time
At the beginning of a longread, it’s important to give the reader an idea of how long it will take to read the article. This allows them to prepare for a lengthy piece and decide if they’re ready to dive in.
If the reader sees that it will take more than 30 minutes to read, they’ll know whether to read it now or come back at a more convenient time.
Headline
The headline is the first thing the reader notices, so it should clearly convey the meaning of the article and highlight its value to catch the reader’s attention. Before coming up with the title, check the platform’s character limit. If the title exceeds the recommended length, it might get cut off, preventing you from achieving the desired effect.
In content marketing, there are many ways to create an attention-grabbing headline, such as:
👉 Share your experience: “I Got a Corgi. Here’s Why Some People Shouldn’t Get This Breed”
👉 Present a problem: “How to Get Rid of Black Mold in Your Apartment: 5 Methods”
👉 Provide value: “Top 10 DIY Developmental Toys for Toddlers”
👉 Target a specific audience: “Free Online Copywriting Courses: A Guide for Beginners”
Table of Contents
A table of contents helps readers quickly navigate the information and find what they need. For example, if a reader is only interested in one section of the article, they can easily locate it without having to scroll through the entire text.
Call to Action
In longreads, the call to action typically encourages readers to like the article, share it, or leave a comment. If the material is about a product, the call to action might invite them to visit the catalog, fill out a contact form, or subscribe to a newsletter.
👉 Want to be the first to know about our new content? Subscribe to our newsletter.
👉 Visit our catalog to find the perfect gift for yourself or a loved one.
👉 Leave your phone number to get a quote for a smart home system for your apartment.
Illustrations
Videos, photos, images, diagrams, charts, and any other multimedia files that enhance the topic are an essential part of a longread. These elements complement the text and make it more engaging. It’s best to use illustrations evenly throughout the article. When different types of content alternate, readers are less likely to lose interest.
Advantages of Longreads Over Other Formats
Longreads help businesses achieve their goals when the audience is willing to engage with lengthy texts. Here are the key advantages of longreads compared to other formats:
In-depth coverage of the topic. Alternating between text and illustrations helps maintain the reader’s attention. You can also include links to other articles in your blog, which boosts engagement as people spend more time on your site. The longer someone stays on a page, the higher the chance it will rank higher in search results.
SEO traffic. In a short article, a long list of keywords might feel forced and make the text appear spammy, potentially causing search engines to hide the page altogether. Longreads, however, allow for the organic inclusion of keywords and phrases that people are searching for. This can help attract more visitors through SEO and generate additional traffic to your site.
Evergreen content. A well-written and useful longread can continue driving traffic to your site for a long time with little to no additional investment. When the information in the article becomes outdated, you can simply update it to keep it relevant.
Brand recognition. If readers consistently find valuable, well-researched content in a particular blog, magazine, or media outlet, they begin to trust the brand. Over time, more people will discover the brand because readers share articles with friends or on social media.
Checklist: How to Write a Good Longread
→ Understand your target audience: Consider their gender, age, location, needs, and interests. The more you know about your audience, the more engaging and relevant your article will be.
→ Define your goal: Decide what you want to achieve — whether it’s attracting traffic, showcasing expertise, increasing brand awareness, or generating interest in a product.
→ Research the topic: Look for information in search engines and on YouTube, but critically assess your sources. If there’s little or no information, find an expert — such as in specialized chat groups.
→ Create the structure: Plan the introduction, body, and conclusion. Outline the key points for each section.
→ Write the text and choose illustrations: Use simple language, break the text into paragraphs, provide real-life examples, and explain from simple to complex. Don’t forget to add multimedia elements that complement the text.