The Optimal Word Count for SEO-Optimized Articles
What is digital marketing without SEO? It won’t even be in existence at all! Creating content for online use and digital marketing always go together. SEO or search engine optimization happens to play a pivotal role when creating content of any kind to be used for online consumption.
Coming up with articles that rank high on search engines, however, is both a science and an art, and the number of words used plays a key role here. Knowing the ideal word count for SEO-friendly articles will help ensure that your content is visible and effective at the same time.
Word Count and SEO
Word count is an integral aspect of SEO as it has a direct link to the comprehensiveness and depth of content. Major search engines such as Google have one goal and that is to present searchers with the most informative and relevant results for the queries they type in. It explains why search engines give higher ranks to longer articles that discuss topics in more detail.
SEO Word Count Guidelines
You still need to write high-quality and original content that will offer readers more value. The ideal or recommended word count for articles intended for SEO purposes may vary according to the specific topic, the competition, and the target audience.
Short-Form SEO Articles
Short-form content is best recommended for short blog posts, news articles, and updates. This kind of content works best hovering at 300 to 600 words.
The main benefit of these articles is the fact that they are quick to both write and read. They can also effectively discuss straightforward subjects.
The only downside to these articles is that they might lack depth. The content might not form any deep engagement among the target audience. Short-form content might not be able to rank for more competitive keywords, either.
Standard Blog Posts
Standard blog posts are ideally recommended to have 600 to 1,200 words. These are best for tutorials, listicles, and general blog posts.
A standard blog post has a more balanced length that makes room for sufficient engagement and detail. But these might still be a bit short for more complicated subjects or keywords with high competition.
Long-Form Content
Long-form content can range from 1,200 to over 2,000 words. These SEO articles are ideal for cornerstone content, comprehensive tutorials, and in-depth guides.
Content of this kind offers more details and is more comprehensive. These also have a higher potential for social shares and backlinks, as well as better metrics in terms of engagement.
Time and Expertise Needed for Longer Articles
However writing and reading these articles may be more time-consuming, not to mention that they also require more research and greater expertise.
You see, there is no such thing as a one-size-fits-all answer when it comes to the ideal word count for SEO-friendly articles. The answer still depends on numerous factors such as the topic, target audience, and existing competition.
