Experts online suggest that 1500 - 2000 words are the ideal length of a blog post.
But is it true?
The truth is that the length of an ideal blog post varies depending on the content marketing strategy, topic covered, target audience, and search intent.
If you often ask yourself how long a blog post should be, this is the right post for you.
Here, we'll dive into why experts recommend a specific total wordcount for a blog post. We'll explore whether sticking to it is a must-do and what you really should be aiming for when you're hammering out your content.
Why Do Experts Recommend A Specific Word Count?
There are a few reasons why experts, such as Semrush, suggest that 1500 - 2000 words are the ideal length for a blog post.
SEO Benefits
One of the main reasons behind this recommendation is search engine optimisation (SEO). Search engines such as Google tend to favour longer-form content because it generally provides more in-depth information on a topic, positioning you as an authority.
Long-form content also aids Google's algorithms in better understanding the context of your content, improving its chances of ranking higher in search engine results pages (SERPs).
It is important to note that Google does not see long-form content as a ranking factor.
User Engagement
Longer blog posts are often more engaging for readers as they provide thorough coverage of a topic. This can lead to longer session durations on your website and a lower bounce rate, both metrics that play a role in SEO rankings.
Additionally, longer posts give you more opportunities to link internally and keep readers on your site for longer.
Social Sharing
Longer blog posts also tend to be shared more on social media platforms as they provide valuable information that people want to share with their followers or connections.
For example, if you write a "how-to" blog post about "How To Take The Perfect Sunset Photo" and provide very detailed steps with accompanying images, it is more likely to be shared by people who have struggled to capture the perfect sunset photo in the past.
Competitor Analysis
Often, you'll find that top-ranking articles in Google SERPs for competitive keywords are comprehensive and detailed, covering all aspects of the topic.
In order to compete with these articles and rank higher, it may be necessary to create longer-form content that provides even more valuable information for readers.
Link Building & Digital PR
Longer blog posts naturally attract more backlinks, which are a critical factor in SEO. When your content is comprehensive and serves as a valuable resource, other websites are more likely to link to it.
Additionally, long-form content can be a gold mine for digital PR efforts. It provides plenty of quotable information for journalists and bloggers, making it easier for them to reference your work in their own articles,
Should You Always Write Longer Posts?
While longer blog posts tend to perform better in terms of SEO and engagement, that doesn't mean every single post you write needs to be long.
Your main goal is to answer your audience's questions and satisfy their needs.
This is where the content marketing strategy, topic covered, target audience, and search intent enter.
If you write a 500-word blog post that fully satisfies the search intent and provides valuable information to your audience, it may be better than a 2000-word blog post that rambles on without providing any real value.
What Should You Be Aiming For?
Google's automated ranking systems are designed to provide users with helpful, reliable information that is beneficial - not to rank based on length alone.
Google evaluates content based on E-E-A-T guidelines.
- Experience
- Expertise
- Authoritativeness
- Trustworthiness
This means that you should aim to create content that demonstrates your expertise and provides a positive user experience.
If you can do that in 500 words, great! If it takes 3000 words, then go for it.
The key is to provide high-quality, valuable information that satisfies the reader's search intent—not the search engine bots'!
Closing Thoughts
How long should a blog post be?
The perfect answer? Exactly as long as it takes not to be too short and not drag on too long.
Contact us at Starbright today for professional SEO copy and content writing services!
Our SEOs and copywriters create a content marketing strategy, research relevant topics to be covered, identify your target audience, and write copy that satisfies the user's search intent.