If you have a website where you post content like articles, you might hear people say “the longer your article is the more viewers it’ll get” this might make sense as the longer your article is the more information there is. What if this is not true? What if word counts don’t matter in SEO? Here in this article we will explain whether word count affects the popularity of your content.
What is SEO?
SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization. It is a set of techniques and strategies used to optimize websites and web pages for better visibility and ranking on search engine results pages (SERPs). The goal of SEO is to improve the quantity and quality of organic (non-paid) traffic to a website by ensuring that it appears at or near the top of the SERPs for relevant keywords and phrases.
SEO involves a variety of tactics, such as on-page optimization (e.g., optimizing content, HTML tags, and metadata), off-page optimization (e.g., link building), and technical optimization (e.g., site structure, page speed, and mobile-friendliness).
However as we are talking about word count, word count indeed is a factor of affecting a website’s SEO.
What is word count?
Word count is the number of words on a page or within an article. It’s often believed that longer articles or pages have a better chance of ranking higher in search results because they contain more information and are therefore more comprehensive. However, it’s not as simple as just writing more words.
Search engines like Google use algorithms to determine the relevance and quality of a page’s content, among other factors, to rank it in SERPs. These algorithms take into account the overall user experience, including the relevance, authority, and usefulness of the content. While longer articles can be useful, they also need to be high-quality, engaging, and provide value to the reader.
It’s important to note that word count alone doesn’t determine a page’s ranking. There are many other factors that search engines take into account, such as the quality and relevance of the content, the website’s domain authority, and the user’s search intent. However, word count can be an important consideration when it comes to creating effective SEO content.
Experts on this topic
as multiple experts on this field always suggest a minimum or maximum to a web content, Google says otherwise. John Mueller, The Company’s Senior Webmaster Trends Analyst mentioned that word count doesn’t contribute to higher search rankings. Instead they point out that search giants algorithm focuses more on high quality content.
Things To Know When Considering Word Count For SEO:
- Longer isn’t always better. While longer articles can be useful, they need to be high-quality and provide value to the reader. If a page has a high word count but the content is low-quality or doesn’t provide value, it won’t rank well in search results.
- Consider the search intent. Understanding the intent behind a user’s search query is crucial when creating SEO content. For example, if someone is searching for a quick answer to a simple question, a shorter article or page may be more appropriate than a long, in-depth article.
- Use headers and subheaders. Breaking up content into smaller, more manageable sections can make it easier to read and understand. It also makes it easier for search engines to crawl and understand the content of a page.
- Don’t sacrifice quality for word count. It’s important to create high-quality, engaging content that provides value to the reader. If a page has a lower word count but provides valuable information, it may rank higher in search results than a longer page with low-quality content.
Factors To Consider For Better Rankings
Now that we understand word count does not entirely matter yet the quality of content does, we realize we should be focusing on other factors. However, what are those factors?
- Content Structure: pay attention to the organization and arrangement of your content whether it’d be an article or other. make sure to break up your content into bite pieces so readers will have an easier time understanding.
- Information Quality : Your content should be well-written, informative, and engaging. Make sure it provides value to your readers and solves their problems. The information you provide in your content should be reliable.
- User Experience: Make sure your content is easy to read and understand. Use headings, subheadings, and bullet points to break up the text and make it more readable. Also, ensure that your website is easy to navigate and loads quickly.
- Backlinks: Backlinks are links from other websites that point to your content. They signal to search engines that your content is valuable and authoritative. Focus on building high-quality backlinks from reputable websites.
- Keywords:Use relevant keywords in your content that people are searching for. Conduct keyword research to find out what people are searching for in your industry, and incorporate those keywords naturally into your content.
In conclusion, word count can be an important consideration when it comes to SEO, but it’s not the only factor. Creating high-quality, engaging content that provides value to the reader should always be the top priority. By understanding the intent behind a user’s search query, using headers and subheaders, and focusing on quality over quantity, you can create effective SEO content that ranks well in search results.
