If you’ve ever written a blog post or online article, you’ve asked the question before: How long should this be?
In other words, what is the optimal length of web content for SEO purposes?
Depending on the year and source, you may hear that the ideal word count for SEO is anywhere from 250 to more than 2,000 words per page.
Proponents of lower word count will argue that it is not the number of words, but the quality of the information and the number of backlinks that matter most.
Those in favor of higher word counts argue that too few words will be scored as “thin” content by search engines and thus not rank as highly as more substantial counterparts.
So what is the truth? Does word count really matter that much to search engines? And if so, what is the best length for pieces of content?
According to Google’s John Mueller, the source from which so much search engine knowledge flows, the number of articles is not included in Google’s quality scores.
So that’s it, right? Case in point, the shortest article in Search Engine Journal history has confirmed that you don’t need to worry about word count.
Word count isn’t a direct SEO ranking factor, but it’s still something to keep in mind.
During this piece, we’ll discuss why it’s important, how the length of your pieces can both indirectly help and hurt your rankings, and give you some tips to help you write pieces that are the ideal length for your needs.
“Go With 2,000 Words & An Optimized H1”
That’s SEO advice in a nutshell.
But is it best practice, common knowledge or an urban myth?
As mentioned earlier, there is no consensus on the perfect word count, but there is a general rule to follow: In general, long-form content tends to outperform shorter content.
If you think about it, it makes a lot of sense. Google’s algorithm looks to measure search intent, and longer pieces help give it a better idea of what your page’s content is about.
So bigger will always be better, right? Not necessarily.
If you just flesh out articles by adding extra sentences, unnecessary adjectives and adverbs, or deliberately taking a circuitous route to the point, you will turn off readers. And that will hurt your quality scores.
So each article should be as long as it needs to be. Clear as mud, right? Do not worry. We explain in more detail.
It’s Not Content-Length That Ranks An Article – But The Backlinks That Are Correlated With The Length
Yoast conducted a study in 2022 that included information on the correlation between post length and SEO ranking. It stated that a minimum number of words depends on the type of page.
As a general rule of thumb, Yoast suggests that taxonomy pages (those used to classify content and data) should be 250 or more words, regular posts and pages should be 300 or more, cornerstone content pages should land north of 900 words, and product pages require paltry 200+ words.
As you can see, it is very different.
Taxonomy and product pages tend to work well with fewer words because they are very specific. And users generally don’t land on them directly from search results and instead dive into them from higher up on the website.
For example, if you’re shopping for a new set of kitchen knives, you probably won’t search for [Wusthof Performer 8″ Chef’s Knife]. Instead, search for [Good Chef’s Knife] and drill down from Wusthof or the dealer’s general page.
At the end of the spectrum, longer content is usually more focused on providing useful information. This in turn tends to earn more backlinks.
Screenshot from Ahrefs.com, September 2022
A 2020 study by Ahrefs analyzed around 900 million web pages and found a strong positive correlation between word count and the average number of referring domains.
In another 2020 study, Ahrefs found that nearly 91% of all pages never get organic traffic. And it seems to be predominantly because they have no backlinks:
“It appears that 66.31% of pages do not have a single backlink. And 26.29% of pages have links from less than three sites.”
So the impact of content length on rankings seems like a two-step process rather than a “longer, better ranks” equation.
The path to ranking success looks like this:
It seems that what ranks the site is not so much about the length of the content itself, but more about the number of links the site received.
Guides, skyscrapers, pillar sites and content hubs are the most interesting link targets. Thus, it is recommended to create the most crucial, interesting and in-depth content on the web and run a comprehensive outreach campaign for it.
Making it sexy might not even need more words. Instead, it may just be a matter of more precise targeting, better graphics or detailed market research results.
Answer Search Intent Effectively By Starting Your Article With The Most Important Information
Ahrefs’ advice on content length:
“Don’t shoot for a specific word count—just make sure you cover a topic fully. Whether it’s 500 words or 10,000, the key is that you create the best resource available for your target keyword.”
In other words, your content should be as long as it needs to be to give search robots enough information to determine what it’s about and long enough to satisfy user queries.
What Does It Take To Satisfy Search Intent?
For years, SEO professionals have tried to write longer content, regardless of the cost of usability. This led to fluffy super-long pieces instead of the word count relevant to your goals.
It might also have inspired Google to push the featured snippets – and provide answers immediately instead of providing a poor user experience with scrolling marathons.
Screenshot from Google search, September 2022
It wasn’t that long ago that a “how to lower bounce rate” query would return page 1 results talking about the importance of bounce rate for 700 words before even revealing the first tip on how to reduce it.
But if we needed an introduction on bounce rate, we would have Googled it. These pieces clearly fail search intent.
Fortunately, Google has wised up and these types of returns are less common than they once were, but they should still serve as an invitation to rethink content creation and meet search intent.
I recommend turning your content structure on its head – thus providing value to the user from the first second they arrive on your site.
Turn your SEO article into a newspaper article or summary:
Most important information first = Answer the question.
Then drill down as the piece continues and detailed users continue reading.
Second, give users a clear path to convert and make the next clicks.
This has implications for your business, revenue and marketing goals, but also for the users who came to the website with a specific intention. Make it easy for them to find what they need.
Fluffing Hurts The Content Ontology & Thus Your Keyword/Topic Targeting
The main reason I want you to think about satisfying search intent is content ontology and the hierarchy between keywords and articles.
This is something that Google has also considered, as thin pages, duplicate content and keyword cannibalization can now negatively impact your SEO results.
Getting search intent right also allows you to build a clean website architecture – making it easier for Googlebot to crawl and index your site.
If we mindlessly aim for 2,000 words to write about a topic like “apples” (according to best-case practices), we will quickly realize that most writers and SEO professionals tend to talk about “bananas ” and “oranges” when running. out of things to say about “apples”. They try to hit their target word count, no matter what it takes.
This dilutes the keyword targeting of a page – and your ability to hit search intent.
Instead of making it clear to Google that this is the best page about “apples”, we are now confusing users and the search engine about the purpose and topic of the content piece.
We call this content cannibalization when we talk about “fruits” in general to greatly expand our piece about “apples” to hit the word count.
It’s called keyword cannibalization when we confuse Google so much that it doesn’t know which piece to rank for the query “apples”, causing it to switch between the two – hurting your overall ranking performance.
The goal of creating the best piece of content on “apples” will determine the length of the content.
How Articles Rank: Satisfying Intent, Appropriate Word Count & Backlinks
Then if we keep in mind what page 1 competitors are currently doing in terms of content length, meeting search intent, providing the best response and inviting users to convert – we have not only created a piece of content that will rank well itself – we have also created a piece that is a great backlink target that will lead to successful rankings.
It’s Time To Move On From Word Count Obsession
In the early days of SEO, ranking high for a keyword generally meant getting that word or phrase inserted into your content wherever it would go. Those days are long gone, and gone with them are the hard and fast requirements for content length.
Yes, this article claims that longer is often better for SEO purposes, but it’s for a more comprehensive reason than you might think. And a higher word count alone won’t help you rank higher.
Instead, create quality content with the information that searchers want.
Remember why users come to your site; satisfy their intent and give them what they seek.
By doing this, you will also make your content an appealing backlink for other content creators. And speaking of which, it’s a good idea to do outreach to build inbound links and build your site’s credibility in the eyes of Google.
Featured Image: A Lot of People/Shutterstock
In-post images #3-5: Paulo Bobita/Search Engine Journal
What are the 7 types of SEO?
12 types of SEO
- White-Hat SEO. When you hear someone say white-hat SEO, it means SEO practices that comply with the terms and conditions of the major search engines, including Google. …
- Black Hat SEO. …
- Gray hat SEO. …
- On-Page SEO. …
- Off-Page SEO. …
- Technical SEO. …
- International SEO. …
- Local SEO.
How many types of SEO are there? The three types of SEO are: On-page SEO â Everything on your web pages â Blogs, product copy, web copy. Off-page SEO – Anything that happens away from your website that helps with your SEO strategy – backlinks. Technical SEO â Anything technically done to improve search rankings â Site indexing to help bot crawl.
How much SEO earn monthly?
Average Rs 36,461 per month.
How Much Do SEO Freelancers Make in 2022? How much does a freelance SEO earn? Per As of December 18, 2022, the average annual salary for a freelance SEO in the United States is $63,623 per year. Just in case you need a simple salary calculator, that’s about $30.59 an hour. This equates to $1,223/week or $5,301/month.
How much money can you make from SEO?
So how much can you earn from SEO? As of September 2021, most SEO experts can earn between $113,518 and $131,590. Salary depends on many factors, including education, certifications, work experience and additional skills.
Is a career in SEO worth it?
The simple answer is yes, SEO is a good career. SEO professionals can earn good money, achieve a comfortable work-life balance, find a position in the industry that matches their natural skills, and challenge themselves creatively.
Is SEO worth it 2022?
Investing in search engine optimization (SEO) for your brand in 2022 is more than a necessity – it’s a priority. SEO increases your chances of ranking on the first page of search engine results and optimizes your website’s visibility.
Can SEO make you rich?
Yes, SEO can make you rich if you earn, save and invest.
Is SEO worth it 2022?
Investing in search engine optimization (SEO) for your brand in 2022 is more than a necessity – it’s a priority. SEO increases your chances of ranking on the first page of search engine results and optimizes your website’s visibility.
Is it worth investing in SEO?
SEO is often worthwhile in this case because you can create content that teaches searchers how to solve their problems using your product or service. This is exactly what we do at Ahrefs. One of our blog posts that explains a solution using Content Explorer.
How much does a Google SEO make?
SEO Specialist salaries at Google can range from $60,000 – $121,000. The marketing department at Google earns $251 more on average than the design department. Last updated 3 days ago.
How much SEO gets paid?
On average, an SEO specialist earns $49,000 per year, and the median salary of SEO managers is significantly higher, around $63,000. At the high end are SEO Directors, who typically earn between $70,000 and $120,000, and SEO Team Managers and Campaign Managers, in the $50,000 to $100,000 range.
Is SEO a valuable skill?
While it may not sound as obvious as technical skills like coding or web design, search engine optimization is a crucial skill for almost any web-related role.
Do curse words hurt SEO?
If you are in a filtered industry, keep the explicit words out of the titles and meta descriptions. You don’t have to worry about profanity if you follow the previous two guidelines. But if you see a reduction in position, take out the curse words and measure again. So let the rest of the SEO industry know what you find out!
Is it bad to use the F word? The F-word can be a very hurtful, offensive, mean and/or vulgar word. But in adult conversations and certain situations, it can serve as comic relief, a colorful method of expressing frustration, surprise, amazement, and friendly exclamation among many other things.
Is cursing in writing bad?
Swearing in itself is irrelevant. The only thing that matters is your story and your characters. If something obscene is right for those things, then it is right to use it.
What is a profanity in writing?
Although often used to denote any offensive word, profanity literally means words considered profane—that is, words forbidden by religious doctrine. (Prohibited generally means prohibited by written order.)
Why should you remove offensive language in writing?
Used indiscriminately, excessively, or sloppily, bad language hinders your writing success. Words that are often or usually classified as profane, obscene or vulgar easily reach our eyes and ears.
Is cursing bad for your brain?
Swearing is an activity that involves both sides of your brain, the language center in the left hemisphere and the emotional center in the right hemisphere. This may be why people who have trouble speaking, such as stroke victims or stutterers, are often able to speak more easily when swearing.
Is cursing bad for mental health?
Studies show that cursing during a physically painful event can help us tolerate the pain better. Experts say using swear words can also help us build emotional resilience and cope with situations where we feel out of control.
What are the negative effects of cursing?
Swearing in the context of verbal abuse can also definitely lead to negative effects. For example, a 2007 study in The Journal of Early Adolescence correlated children exposed to more violent homophobic words with increased stress, anxiety, depression, and a decreased sense of belonging.
Does swearing affect views?
For the first time, YouTubers now have a guide. YouTube says it’s not just cursing that will affect your monetization status. Three things can affect whether your video is demonetized for profanity on the platform: the video’s title, thumbnail image, and how often the language is used at the beginning of the video.
How does swearing affect communication?
By swearing, we communicate not only the meaning of a sentence, but also our emotional response to the meaning—our emotional response to something. It also allows us to express anger, disgust or pain, or indicate to someone that they need to back off, without having to resort to physical action.
What effect does swearing have?
Swearing shows strong connections with emotion, both on a cathartic and expressive level. It is often motivated by affective concerns; perceived by speakers to contain emotional force; and in laboratory studies, has been shown to produce emotional arousal.
Will SEO exist in 5 years?
1. Will SEO exist in 5 years? SEO will not be eliminated in the next five years because social media and search engines will most likely merge. Facebook has already begun to do so, averaging more than 1.5 billion searches each day. Twitter also partnered with Google.
What is the future of SEO in 2030? Mining Social Knowledge: The SEO specialist of the 2030s will spend more time on social media, mining platforms for trends in conversations in your industry and among your target audiences. You’ll gain insight into pain points, even minor annoyances, that will help you develop your SEO strategy.
Does SEO have a future?
Some of the prominent ways in which AI tools have proven their effectiveness are SEO keyword research, content creation, traffic and site growth analysis, voice search, and SEO workflows. These applications have made it clear that the future of SEO is in artificial intelligence.
Is SEO worth it in 2022?
Yes, SEO is worth it – in 2022, in the future, in the past and always. As long as there are websites and search engines, SEO is necessary. SEO in 10 years will likely be very different from SEO today, but you must always make sure that your website sends the right signals to search engines so that you can be found.
Is SEO a good career?
‘ Yes. SEO is a good career option as it is among the most sought after careers in digital marketing. There are several organizations around the world that hire SEO professionals to generate better content and thus produce more leads.
Will SEO be obsolete?
Don’t be fooled: SEO isn’t dying, but it’s evolving into much more than it was years ago. If you’ve been debating whether or not to invest in SEO for your business, read on to learn why SEO isn’t dying—it’s actually thriving.
Quelles sont les limites du SEO ?
La concurrence sur les motors de recherche est (parfois) élevé. Sur les requêtes et thématiques les plus convoitées, le nombre de concurrences est forcément plus élevé et les antenringser à fournir pour se positionner en tête du classification sont danc plus conséctents.
Quel budget pour SEO ?
Le prix d’un accompanement de SEO restreint varie entre 800⬠et 2 500⬠par mois. The price of an accompaniment SEO à l’échelle nationale varies between 2 000⬠and 10 000⬠per month. Le prix d’une stratégie SEO et d’étude de la concurrence varies between 3 000⬠and 10 000â¬.
How long will SEO last?
Most professionals expect to see results in as low as 2 months, but SEO can take as much as 12 months to work. While every company’s SEO strategy is different, most companies can expect to see significant results in 6 to 12 months.
Will SEO exist in 10 years?
However, one thing is certain: SEO will be around for a long time. As long as search engines exist and Internet users continue to use keywords and phrases to find what they are looking for, the search engine business will continue.
Is SEO still relevant in 2022?
The fact that SEO works just fine even in 2022 as a method of delivering improved commercial results for business websites and their owners, combined with the need for ongoing research into what works, makes it still relevant as a digital marketing method, but even more so as a valuable service and a rewarding…
What are the 3 C’s of SEO?
Simply put, the basics of SEO can be boiled down to The 3 Cs: content, code and credibility.
What are the three stages of SEO ranking? The three stages of ranking are: discovery, relevance and authority.