Story Based Question
Imagine you own a blog that reviews fitness equipment. You’ve written a short post of about 400 words comparing two popular rowing machines. It covers the basics but doesn’t dive into the finer details. Meanwhile, a competing blog has a 2,000-word guide that discusses features, performance, user reviews, and even provides workout tips for rowing machines. Their article consistently ranks higher than yours for the keyword “best rowing machines.”
You start wondering: could the length of your content be affecting its SEO performance, and how should you approach content length to improve your rankings?
Exact Answer
Content length refers to the total word count of a webpage or article. While there’s no universal “ideal” word count, longer content generally performs better in SEO because it provides more in-depth information, incorporates multiple keywords, and engages users for longer periods. However, quality matters more than length—your content should be comprehensive, relevant, and tailored to user intent. Balance depth with readability, avoiding fluff or irrelevant details.
Explanation
Content length plays a significant role in SEO, but it’s not just about writing more words. It’s about providing value, answering user queries, and covering a topic comprehensively.
1. Longer Content Improves Topical Authority
Search engines prioritize content that thoroughly addresses a topic. Longer content gives you the space to explore multiple angles, include subtopics, and add supporting data, making it more likely to satisfy user intent. For instance, a 2,000-word article on rowing machines could include sections on features, benefits, maintenance tips, and comparisons—all boosting its relevance.
2. Higher Keyword Coverage
Longer content naturally allows you to target more keywords and related phrases. For example, your article on rowing machines could cover terms like “rowing machine benefits,” “best budget rowing machines,” and “rowing machine workouts,” increasing its chances of ranking for various queries.
3. Enhanced User Engagement
When users find detailed, useful information, they stay on your page longer. This reduces bounce rates and signals to search engines that your content is valuable, which can improve rankings.
4. Link-Building Potential
In-depth content is more likely to earn backlinks. Bloggers, journalists, and other creators often reference comprehensive resources in their work, which boosts your domain authority.
Best Practices for Content Length
- Focus on User Intent: Don’t add unnecessary words. Cover the topic thoroughly but avoid fluff.
- Analyze Competitors: Use tools like SEMrush to see how long top-ranking pages for your target keyword are. Aim to match or exceed their quality and depth.
- Make It Scannable: Use headings, bullet points, and shorter paragraphs to keep long content readable.
- Regularly Update Content: Longer posts can become outdated. Refresh them with new information to maintain relevance.
Example
Returning to your fitness blog, let’s explore how content length impacts rankings:
Before Optimization:
Your post compares two rowing machines in just 400 words. While informative, it only includes basic details like price and weight capacity. Users looking for workout tips, pros and cons, or maintenance advice leave your page for more detailed articles.
After Optimization:
You rewrite the post, expanding it to 1,800 words. You add:
- A detailed comparison of features, such as resistance types and display monitors.
- A section on the benefits of rowing for fitness.
- Practical tips for maintaining rowing machines.
- A buyer’s guide with questions to consider before purchasing.
You also include helpful visuals like comparison tables and embed videos demonstrating the equipment in action.
The Result:
Your page starts ranking higher because it satisfies user queries comprehensively. Visitors spend more time on your page, share it on social media, and even link back to it, boosting its authority.
Content length impacts SEO by helping you provide comprehensive, keyword-rich, and user-focused content that ranks higher and keeps readers engaged. However, depth should always align with user intent—quality beats quantity every time.