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Many business owners, bloggers, and marketing specialists are wrestling with the issue of word counting. What is the ideal length for an article to rank high in SEO metrics and at the same time provide a satisfactory answer to the user’s query? Is there a clear Article Length Formula that should be consulted?
To address the last question first, providing high-quality content that really brings value to your readers and consumers is not something that relies on an all-encompassing formula or a linear word count guide. Statistics suggest, however, that the length of the article plays a critical role in deciding if a piece of content achieves the desired results to the fullest extent possible.
Although there are a large number of considerations for choosing the optimum word count for any specific article , two aspects seem to stand out from the rest. To optimize the effectiveness of your website articles and blog posts, make sure to ask yourself the following two main questions:
1. WHAT VALUE DOES THIS ARTICLE ADD
The first and most critical factor in deciding the appropriate word count for a post is to have a clear understanding of who your audience is and what their goals are.
For example , if a user is searching for simple discovery knowledge, such as answering a query, “Who’s content marketing? “Then a succinct response, perhaps accompanied by a brief biographical sketch, would most likely be adequate. However, if the consumer is interested in learning more about Content Marketing or is planning to learn more about the subject, then an in-depth, long-form article would be sufficient.
The illustration above explains why several websites offer different articles on the same topic, but at different lengths and depth of discussion. However, is there a minimum number of words that should be taken into account, even for more specific information? Many experts suggest 300 words as a reasonable threshold for the lowest word count in the article on the website.
That being said, studies have shown that articles containing 1,000 words or more “consistently [end up receiving] more shares and links than shorter content.” Why is that the case? One reason may be that longer copy simply makes room for answers that satisfy users who are interested in more than surface knowledge. While a 300-500 word article that is extremely detailed and well-written can provide more value than a 1,500 word post that is mostly fluffy, in general, it is very difficult to provide in-depth information in low word count posts.
Another important factor to bear in mind is the amount of time you want your target audience to spend on their quest. Are your users searching for a fast response and preparing to pass on? Or are they likely to spend a large amount of time reading? The optimal word count for a specific article will depend on the answer to those questions.
The bottom line is that your first and foremost goal when developing web content should be presentation that offers straightforward answers, suits the intent of your target audience, and is personalized to your user’s reading habits.
2. HOW WILL GOOGLE RANK THIS ARTICLE
The second key element you need to bear in mind is how Google prioritizes content in its SERP rankings. There’s definitely some value in incredibly brief, succinct answers (even one-word answers) that could rank as Google’s featured snippet. However, Google tests the site authority and, by extension, the Article authority by means of two main metrics: relevance and the external citation authority. In other words, does the content answer the specific question? And is this response backed by credible sources?
In the example above, the information search for a Wired.com article is seen on Google’s first page of results, after the websites for nearly unassailable historical sources such as History.com, the Encyclopedia Britannica, and the Smithsonian. Why? Partly because of the importance of the report, but also because of the abundance of links to historical reference sites scattered throughout the text. On the other hand , the findings on page 10 include blog posts and articles of reasonably equal importance, but a lack of links to authoritative external sources.
Google is looking for content that is not only important, but also substantive and factual; and again, word counting also plays a key role in delivering these SEO-friendly features. In fact , the average length of the first page Google Results article is about 1,890 words.
Also read: How To Map Content Marketing To Sales
Why is this the case? There are several factors that may theoretically play a role in the effectiveness of longer posts, including the following:
- For one thing, it is far easier to include a number of high-level connections in a 1,000-word article than in a 100-word article.
- A long-form post will rank higher on Google’s SERP because the more words it contains, the easier it is for Google to evaluate its relevance.
- Google algorithms can simply contain an integrated preference for longer posts.
The main takeaway, however, is this: longer word counts also allow the space required to improve the relevance of your content and authority scores. This, in turn , will improve the SEO scores of your content.
3. OPTIMIZING CONTENT LENGTH AND SUBSTANCE
It takes a lot of hard work and introspection to produce premium content that is realistic, informative and completely optimized for Google’s SERP rankings. It doesn’t happen immediately, nor does it happen by chance. And the count of words is only one of a multitude of variables that must be considered.
More Resource from other website
Seth Godin: http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2014/01/the-fatal-arrogance-of-tldr.html
Summary
At Techynista Blog, we have the validated experience to produce articles and blogs that can improve your company’s SEO and customer interaction metrics. We are seasoned professionals who have assisted hundreds of clients to create compelling, substantive pieces of content that contain word counts ideally tailored to each target audience.
If you are interested in improving the efficiency of your web content, please contact us for a free estimate. Let us help you craft excellent content (with sufficient word count) that will help you achieve all your business objectives.