Content is king when it comes to SEO – and that means word count matters. But, what is the ideal word count for SEO content? We hear so much about content length and SEO these days that it can be hard to cut through the noise and figure out what kinds of content lead to success. Today we’re taking a closer look at how many words SEO content should have and how to use content to your advantage.
What is the Ideal Length for SEO Content?
This is a question with no definitive answer, as there is no “perfect length” for SEO content. The ideal length depends on the type of content you’re producing and the goals you want to achieve. For example, if your goal is to get people to stay on your page and read your content, then a longer article of 1,200 words or more is ideal. On the other hand, if you’re trying to build quick and brief informational pieces, then a shorter article of 500 words or less will do just fine.
In general, though, creating longer pieces is usually better for SEO since it allows you to cover a topic in more detail and covers the core concepts in much more depth. In addition, it can help you build up additional content over time, which helps both your visibility in the search engines and your reputation with your readers.
Why is Longer Content Preferred for SEO?
Long content is preferred for SEO for a number of reasons. Search engines want to give their users quality content, and that means content that is comprehensive and includes more details than the average short post. When your content covers more information, it is more likely to be seen as valuable. In addition, longer content is better for keyword targeting since it allows you to include more related keywords in the article.
Longer content also allows you to expand on topics in more detail, which helps search engine algorithms determine relevancy and ranking. Longer content allows you to add more internal linking, which helps search engines understand the hierarchy of pages on your site and how they relate to each other. Longer content also allows you to tell readers more about a topic and can help build trust with readers, which can be key to converting readers into customers.
How to Write Effective SEO Content
Now that you know that there’s no exact word count you need to follow to be successful, there are still some best practices you should follow when it comes to producing effective SEO content. Here are some tips for making sure your content stands out and performs well in the search engine:
- Start with Research: Make sure you take the time to identify and research topics that are important to your target audience. Researching the best keywords to target for each topic is also crucial for making sure your content reaches the right people.
- Write Quality Content: Make sure your content is well-written, properly researched and full of interesting facts. Content that is poorly written or thin on details won’t achieve your goals no matter how many words it has.
- Focus on Keywords: Make sure you include keywords in your content, but don’t keyword stuff. Focus on including related keywords throughout the content in an organic way.
- Optimize for Readability: Break up your content with headings, lists and other formatting to make it easier to read. Search engines also place a premium on content that is easy to read, so don’t forget about formatting.
- Keep it Fresh: Search engines love fresh content, so make sure you’re updating content on a regular basis. This will help keep your content at the top of the search engine results pages.
These are just a few of the best practices that you should follow when it comes to SEO content. Remember, there is no “magic number” when it comes to content length. The best practice is to use enough words to cover the topic in detail while still keeping it engaging and readable. This is the key to creating content that performs well in the search engine and delivers value to your readers.
Final Thoughts
Knowing how many words you need for SEO content is only the first step. You also need to make sure your content is well-written, properly researched and keyword-rich. By following the best practices outlined here, you’ll be well on your way to creating content that works for both the search engines and your readers.
