How long should a blog post be? Does the ideal blog length and word count exist?
Writing blogs for your business can be confusing as hell without worrying whether size really does matter when it comes to the length of a blog post.
So, if you’re starting to produce long-form content like blogs and want to know the ideal length to aim for, keep reading.
In this article, we’ll explore:
- Whether there’s a right length to improve your organic traffic and Google rankings
- What we mean by long-form blog posts
- Whether longer posts perform better
- The average word count of top-performing blogs
- Whether it’s worth writing short blogs.
Is there an minimum blog word count for SEO?
First things first – let’s clarify how many words should appear in your blog post for it to rank on your favourite search engine.
To rank on Google, your blog should be at least 300-500 words in length.
As a general rule, I count 500 words as the minimum word count to aim for when writing a blog. Generally, I stick to this whether I’m writing business blogs for myself or for my clients.
So, keep 500 words in mind as your benchmark for blog writing, and you’ll know Google will recognise your content and feature it in search engine results pages (aka SERPs).
What’s the ideal blog length for SEO?
As of 2024, the the ideal blog word count for SEO is considered to be between 1,500 and 2,500 words.
This means extra-long articles will boost your online visibility by showing your blog post higher in the results pages when people perform an online search.
When you appear higher in those results pages, more people visit your website and read what you have to say.
What is SEO?
SEO stands for search engine optimisation.
It’s the process of “optimising” written content to appear higher up in Google’s results pages when customers perform an online search.
You should have a “keyword” in mind when writing every blog for your business.
Your keyword will be a word or phrase your target audience is likely to type into Google’s search bar when researching what you offer.
For example, someone looking for a yoga teacher might type in “yoga classes for flexibility” – so this would be your keyword for a blog showcasing your knowledge in this area.
In targeting this keyword, you’d use the phrase – and variations on it – regularly within the blog so Google recognises what the post is about.
However, beware of overusing your keyword, as Google will penalise you by failing to show your post prominently in search results.
What is long-form content?
Most blogs would be classed as long-form content, compared to shorter form content like social media captions.
However, the actual length that takes it from short to long form varies depending on who you ask.
Long-form content usually refers to blogs or articles that exceed 1,000 words. These posts dive deeper into a topic, offering valuable insights and comprehensive information for your reader.
Do long-form posts perform better?
Generally, yes.
The longer your blog post is, the more chance it has of appearing high up in the list of results shown to your target customer when they type in a search term relating to your industry.
As a rule of thumb, blogs with more than 1,000 words gain more exposure on results pages than shorter ones.
Plus, there are additional benefits to writing longer posts that go beyond online visibility:
- Long blog posts increase the amount of time your reader spends on your website.
- As a high-performing type of content marketing, longer blogs help your audience get to know your brand better.
- Long-form quality content can convert casual browsers into loyal customers.
What’s the average word count of top-performing blogs?
Research suggests blogs with more than 1,500 words get more social media shares. This supports the case for writing longer blogs and throws yet another benefit into the mix.
The thinking behind this is simple – more wise words offer more value to your customer, making it more likely they’ll share your post on their socials.
To make your blog super-shareworthy, make sure it’s:
- An ultra valuable piece of content written with your target customer in mind
- Relatable to a pain point your customer is experiencing
- Easy to read and skim
- Written in your unmistakable brand voice
- Enhancing your reputation as the expert.
Benefits of long-form blog content
We’ve touched on the benefits of longer blog posts, so let’s round them up here.
The advantages of writing long-form blogs include:
- Achieving higher Google rankings
- Increasing the amount of time people spend on your website
- Boosting your brand loyalty
- Improving your conversion rate
- Securing more social media shares
- Offering more value to your customers
Despite our dwindling attention spans, blog length is increasing.
Many believe this is down to the decline of traditional marketing and the rise in online learning during the pandemic.
We’re all well-versed in educating ourselves online nowadays, so your customer is seeking out longer blog posts about your industry to educate themselves before making a decision about how – and where – to spend their money.
Is there any point writing short blog posts?
Shorter blog posts still have a place in your content strategy.
Quick posts of 300-500 words can work well for:
- Sharing news updates
- Announcing product launches
- Answering simple FAQs
Plus, it’s not always about attracting new people onto your website. Well-written blogs also add value to existing customers and provide you with a bank of content you can repurpose elsewhere as social media posts, Reels, and emails.
However, if your goal is to rank highly on Google and build brand authority, longer blogs are more effective, so aim for a higher content length.
So, what’s the optimal blog post length for you?
Now, I’m not exactly advising you to ignore all of the information you’ve discovered in this blog, because it’s useful to understand the reasoning behind writing longer blogs.
Plus, it’s essential to know blog writing basics to ensure your content achieves its goals of being found, increasing your enquiries, and consolidating your reputation as the expert in your industry.
BUT.
The truth is, there is no perfect blog length.
If you tell yourself your blog needs to hit that 2,000-word mark to rank above your competitors, you may slip into waffle territory and lose touch with all of that amazing value you have to offer your customer.
What’s more, it may veer away from your brand tone of voice and confuse your customers. When that happens, you defeat the point of writing and sharing your insights via your business blog in the first place.
Remember your blog’s purpose
Your blog is a place to inform, educate, and entertain your customer, so while it’s good to be informed about the recommended length for a blog post to perform well, don’t let it hold you back from creating high quality content for your audience.
If you’d prefer to outsource blog writing to a professional with experience in high-ranking blogs, view my blog writing packages and book a call with me to get started.