Does Word Count Still Matter for SEO?

SEO Kings and SEO Guru Lachlan Perry are of the opinion that word count is no longer that important, and that content should be long and authoritative. They say that word count is less important than ‘Reliability, Relevance, Readability, and Competition’. Let’s explore those points and learn more about how content can improve your SEO. But for now, let’s look at some basic rules to follow when writing an article. 

Reliability 

Although it is often used to improve search rankings, the reliability of word count for SEO is still under debate. While Google representatives have stated that “fine-tuning” word counts is not necessary to improve rankings, many still believe in its benefits. The search engine still encourages “rich, in-depth content.” Content briefs specify a minimum number of words for a post, and Yoast still calls out short posts. There are many SEO tools available that report on word count, but they are all inaccurate. 

Many people have searched for an answer to this question and have received a variety of qualified responses. Some have suggested that word count is not a ranking factor, while others have maintained that it is irrelevant. In reality, correlation studies show that a high word count correlates with high search rankings. There is no absolute rule, and SEO experts often recommend a certain word count range. In other words, it’s important to optimize your articles for SEO. 

To make it easier to use, some SEO tools have word count estimates. Some of them analyze top-ranking pages using their keyword and page content to determine how many words they should contain. Then, they compute the average word count of those pages. The average word count for top-ranking pages varies based on the content’s subject and quality. A short article with 2000 words is unlikely to rank high in search results. 

Many webmasters believe that word count does not play a big role in Google’s ranking algorithms. Indeed, the more words on a page, the more clues it gives to Google about its content. The more keywords you use, the higher the search engine will rank your site. If you are looking for a quick boost to your search engine rankings, a higher word count may be the perfect solution. 

Relevance 

The relevant word count for SEO is a controversial topic among digital marketing experts. Some might think that a minimum page one content should be at least 1,500 words. However, this guideline has shifted over the years to a minimum of 2,000 words. Regardless of your opinion, there are certain guidelines that are still relevant to your SEO strategy. Read on to discover how to use word count in your content. Here are three tips to make your content more search engine friendly. 

While word count is often used as a benchmark for the performance of a page, it does not make your page more or less relevant. There are many other factors that Google considers when ranking a page. Time spent on the page is one of the most important signals. It also tells Google that the page is worthy of being ranked higher. So, when writing your copy, focus on these factors instead of the number of words. 

First of all, it is essential to write relevant content. Google emphasizes the importance of quality over quantity when determining to rank. A page with too little information is not as useful for a human visitor as a page with too many words. So, make sure that you put your user’s needs first. Only then will you get higher search engine rankings. It is also important to note that longer content does not necessarily mean better quality. 

Secondly, consider the search intent of the audience. Keep in mind the needs of your target audience when creating content. While you should write a long article for keywords like “Harry Potter,” you might want to write a shorter one for words like “Harry Potter”. Another way to differentiate yourself from competitors is to use a word count to highlight your own skills. If you have a track record of writing SEO content, it is a good way to distinguish yourself from the competition. You can also consider past results and analyze your SEO performance regularly. 

Readability 

Word count plays a big part in the final evaluation of your content. This metric is closely related to your subject, style, author, and intent. As an online publisher, you must determine the ideal word count for your page and optimize it to achieve the best possible SEO results. Word count can be determined by using the analytics of your site. The lower the word count, the better. In general, the fewer words per page, the better. 

While the Google algorithm does not directly look at word count when determining a page’s rank, keyword tools and articles still recommend a higher word count. Tools like Yoast and Clearscope can suggest an ideal word count for your page based on competitive analysis. This method is not a definitive guide. Search engines look for other factors such as the structural elements of your page and heading tags, which are only a few of the many other signals that determine a page’s search ranking. 

Another key factor to consider is your article’s readability. A study published by Backlinko analyzed 912 million blog posts and found that long-form blogs get 77.2% more links than short articles. That’s because long-form blogs have more room to include additional information. Moreover, they should also have headers such as H1, H2, or H3 to improve readability and usability. These will enhance your content’s visibility in search engines. 

A higher word count can have an SEO benefit because it encourages users to spend more time on the page. This is a sign that the page provides what the user is looking for, and deserves a high rank for related keywords. But while increasing the word count of your content doesn’t directly affect its ranking, it does indirectly influence a variety of ranking factors. In the end, it’s the end-user who should be your priority. 

Competition 

When determining your SEO word count, keyword research is essential. The more keyword phrases you have, the more likely you are to rank for multiple keywords. Similarly, the longer your content is, the better your chance is of ranking for long-tail keywords, which have lower competition and higher conversion rates. Therefore, it is important to study the competition. You should not use the most common keywords when optimizing your content. There are many ways to optimize your content. 

A good rule of thumb is to write articles that are between 500 and 1,000 words in length. Some digital marketing experts recommend a certain word count range. However, if you’re looking for more competitive advantages, you may want to try a higher word count. If you’re unsure of the optimal word count, consult a digital marketing expert. This will allow you to determine how many words your content should be. If your content is too short, you may be penalized for it. 

In addition to content, Google has also changed its algorithm to make it easier to detect low-quality or irrelevant content. The algorithm now rewards pages with rich, in-depth content, and it’s not uncommon for some websites to rank well on very low word counts. While Google’s ranking algorithm is constantly changing, the top SEO strategies haven’t. One of the most important things to do now is to use a good SEO tool to track your word count. 

It’s essential to consider the audience when creating content. When optimizing for SEO, keep in mind that your audience is the most important aspect of SEO. Always write for your readers before the search engines. By ensuring that your content is focused on the reader and not on the search bots, you’ll see your SEO rankings improve organically. Although the competition for SEO word count is stiff, you can create engaging and informative content and increase your traffic. 

User search intent 

In a world where there are over 5.5 billion searches conducted each day, it is vital to understand the importance of User Intent and the relationship between word count and search results. It is better to rank for relevant queries than not to rank at all since visitors will simply leave if they cannot find what they are looking for. If they do not find what they’re looking for, they will never know that you existed! 

The way to identify the intent of a searcher is to understand what they’re looking for and how to provide that information. A user’s intent can depend on the location in which they’re searching. In other words, a user may search for “Tumeric” to find restaurants nearby. But a searcher may also be searching for “Tumeric” to find information about a plant. In this case, it’s best to use a localized version of the query. However, the degree of ambiguity is another important consideration. A user’s intent could be a bit vague, but it’s not impossible. 

A user can get more information about a topic by incorporating video content. Video content is an important part of SEO and should be included in articles if possible. In addition to video content, articles with relevant supporting content should be considered when measuring the word count for SEO. If an article is purely written to give a simple answer to a question, the chances of ranking well are low. If you’re not clear on the meaning of your article, Google may simply skip over it, and this can negatively affect your SEO efforts. 

Once you understand the intent of a user, you can create content that provides them with the answers to their questions. The best way to do this is through keyword research, and there are many keyword research tools that help you pluck those intent-based keywords. If you’re not familiar with these tools, try SEMrush Keyword Magic Tool, which includes a feature called the “Intent” filter. By using this feature, you can quickly and easily find the words you need to optimize your content.