Crafting a blog post that resonates with readers and performs well on Google is akin to preparing a gourmet meal — it’s not just about the quantity of the ingredients but the quality and their harmonious integration.
One of the most persistent questions posed by bloggers and SEO aficionados is, “How long should a blog post be for SEO?” There isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer, but understanding how to effectively balance the elements of blog length can dramatically enhance your content strategy.
In this guide, we’ll explore the data, dispel prevalent myths, and offer practical advice on finding the perfect length for your blog posts to ensure they truly hit the mark.
Why Blog Post Length Matters for SEO
Google’s core mission is to connect users with the most relevant, useful content. While word count alone doesn’t dictate rankings, it influences several factors that are crucial for SEO:
Depth of Content: Articles that thoroughly explore a topic are more likely to satisfy user queries completely, reducing the likelihood of visitors bouncing back to search results to find better answers. This comprehensive coverage helps establish your site as a reliable resource on the subject matter, potentially improving your site’s authority in the process.
Keyword Opportunities: A longer post provides ample space to incorporate a variety of primary and secondary keywords, synonyms, and related semantic terms naturally. This broader inclusion can enhance the post’s visibility on search engines without resorting to keyword stuffing, which can detract from the reader’s experience and harm SEO.
User Engagement: Detailed and well-structured posts are likely to hold readers’ attention for longer periods. When visitors spend more time on your site, it sends a positive signal to Google about the value and relevancy of your content, which can boost your rankings.
However, longer content must maintain a high quality to be effective. Simply stretching out a topic with filler text will not fool search engine algorithms or satisfy readers. In fact, a well-crafted shorter post can outperform a longer one if it’s more direct and engaging.
What the Data Says About Blog Post Length
Research and analysis from multiple sources reveal trends in word count and search engine performance:
Backlinko’s 2023 study suggests that the average word count for a Google top result is about 1,447 words. HubSpot’s 2017’s research, although a bit dated, points out that longer blog posts, those exceeding 2,500 words, tend to attract the most backlinks and social shares, which are crucial for SEO.
These findings imply a preference for more substantial content in search rankings, but it’s essential to consider that these averages can vary widely depending on the industry and the specific intent of the search query:
- Informational Queries: Such as “how to knit a scarf,” may require longer, more detailed guides that cover all aspects of the topic, typically ranging from 1,500 to 3,000 words.
- Transactional Queries: Like “best running shoes for flat feet,” may need shorter, more focused content that efficiently compares products or services, generally between 800 and 1,200 words.
Determining the Ideal Length for Your Blog Post
The process of deciding the ideal blog length involves several strategic steps:
Comprehensive Competitor Analysis: Begin by examining the top 10 search results for your target keyword. Tools like Ahrefs, SEMrush, or SurferSEO can provide insights into the word counts of these posts, the subtopics they cover, and their content structure. If the average length of top-ranking posts is around 2,000 words, consider crafting your post to be slightly longer, perhaps 2,200 to 2,500 words, while ensuring to add unique value or depth that distinguishes your content from the rest.
Aligning with User Intent: Understanding what the searcher is looking for is crucial in determining the length of your post. For quick answers to simple queries, a concise post of 500 to 800 words may suffice. For more complex topics requiring detailed exploration, such as a comprehensive guide to a diet or a technical process, longer posts of 3,000 words or more can be more appropriate.
Focusing on Quality Over Quantity: In light of Google’s Helpful Content Update, it’s more important than ever to focus on creating genuine, engaging content aimed at user satisfaction rather than simply trying to reach a certain word count. Write clearly and concisely, use subheadings and bullet points to improve readability, and incorporate visuals where they add real value. Cite credible sources to bolster your points, and include original insights to provide unique perspectives.
Advanced Guidelines for Blog Post Length by Content Type
Different types of blog posts serve different purposes and thus have different ideal lengths:
Quick Tips or News Updates: When updating your audience on the latest news or providing quick tips, keep your posts short and sweet, around 300 to 800 words. This length is enough to convey essential information without overwhelming the reader.
How-To Guides: These posts should be longer, around 1,200 to 2,500 words, depending on the complexity of the topic. They should provide a clear, step-by-step explanation of the process, answering common questions and potentially exploring related aspects.
Listicles: These fun and scannable posts can vary in length from 1,500 to 2,500 words, depending on the number of items in the list and the depth of information provided for each.
Pillar Pages: These comprehensive posts are designed to provide thorough coverage on a broad topic and should range from 3,000 to 5,000+ words. They are foundational pieces that can help to establish topic authority and support extensive internal linking.
Product Reviews: Aim for 800 to 1,500 words to thoroughly discuss product features, benefits, and comparisons without going into excessive detail.
By tailoring your content’s length to the type of post and the needs of your audience, you can optimize your blog’s impact and SEO performance. Always remember, the key to successful content is to engage the reader with high-quality writing that offers real value, not just to fill space.
5 Signs Your Blog Post Is Too Short (or Too Long)
Too Short:
- Leaves questions unanswered:
A blog post should fully address the topic it promises to cover. If readers finish your post and still have unanswered questions, it’s a sign that your content lacks depth or completeness. For example, if you’re writing about “How to Start a Blog,” but you don’t cover hosting, domain setup, or content creation, readers will feel unsatisfied and may look elsewhere for answers. - Competitors’ posts substantially longer:
If competing articles on the same topic are significantly longer, it’s a red flag that your post might be missing key insights, examples, or data. For instance, if your post on “SEO Best Practices” is 500 words but competitors’ posts are 2,000+ words, they’re likely covering more ground and providing more value. - High bounce rate:
A high bounce rate (when visitors leave your site after viewing only one page) can indicate that your content isn’t engaging or comprehensive enough. If readers don’t find what they’re looking for quickly, they’ll leave, signaling to search engines that your content may not be valuable. - Limited internal linking options:
Internal links help improve SEO and guide readers to related content. If your post is too short, you may not have enough substance to include natural internal links, which can hurt your site’s overall SEO strategy. - Google Search Console flags for thin content:
Google prioritizes high-quality, comprehensive content. If your post is flagged as “thin content,” it means Google sees it as lacking substance, which can negatively impact your rankings.
Too Long:
- Repetitive or redundant sections:
Overly long posts often include unnecessary repetition, which can bore readers and dilute the value of your content. For example, if you keep rephrasing the same point multiple times, readers may lose interest. - Important details lost in fluff:
When a post is too long, critical information can get buried under irrelevant content or excessive wordiness. Readers may miss key takeaways because they’re overwhelmed by the volume of text. - Low engagement (time on page):
If analytics show that readers aren’t spending much time on your page, it could mean your post is too long and not holding their interest. Readers may skim or abandon the post altogether if it feels like a slog. - Keyword stuffing reduces readability:
Trying to make a post longer by overloading it with keywords can make it sound unnatural and difficult to read. This not only hurts user experience but can also lead to penalties from search engines. - Could be split into multiple focused articles:
If your post covers multiple topics or subtopics, it might be better to break it into several shorter, more focused articles. For example, a 5,000-word post on “Digital Marketing Strategies” could be split into separate posts on SEO, social media, email marketing, etc.
3 Actionable Tips to Nail Blog Post Length
- Write First, Edit Later:
Don’t stress about length while drafting. Focus on getting all your ideas down first. Once you’ve written everything, review the content and refine it. Add more depth if it’s too short, or cut fluff if it’s too long. This approach ensures your content is comprehensive yet concise. - Use the ‘Inverted Pyramid’ Model:
Start with the most critical information at the top of your post (the “pyramid base”), then gradually provide more details and context as readers scroll down. This ensures that even if readers don’t finish the entire post, they still get the key takeaways. - Update Old Posts:
If you have older posts that are too short, revisit them and add new data, examples, or insights. This not only improves their quality but also boosts their SEO potential. For example, if you wrote a post on “Social Media Trends in 2020,” update it with 2023 trends to keep it relevant and valuable.
The Bottom Line
The ideal blog post length isn’t about hitting a specific word count—it’s about meeting user intent and outperforming competitors. Ask yourself:
- Does my post fully answer the reader’s question?
- Is it more comprehensive and engaging than competing posts?
- Does it provide unique value that keeps readers on the page?
By focusing on these factors, you can create content that resonates with your audience and performs well in search rankings.
Need a Hand?
If you’re unsure where to start, consider booking a free SEO audit with us. We’ll analyze your content, identify gaps, and provide tailored advice to help you maximize your blog’s impact. Whether your posts are too short, too long, or just need a refresh, we’ll help you optimize them for both readers and search engines.
