Does content length matter?
Posted: Sun Dec 22, 2024 4:18 am
It’s a question SEOs and content marketers hear a lot, and one worth addressing because of its intrinsic relevance to long-form versus short-form content.
The simple answer is yes, the length of your content matters. But it should not be interpreted to mean that longer content is better, because that would be answering without context.
The length of the content should respond to the purpose you are trying to achieve and fit the proposed objectives. That is why it is so important to learn how to choose the right format of content for different purposes; and take the time to understand the search intent , or other similar content that works.
For example, many ranking factor studies have shown a correlation between content length and higher search rankings. In fact, this study by Backlinko states that "When it comes to acquiring backlinks, long-form content significantly outperforms short articles and blog posts."
long form study data
And we are 100% in agreement with that.
In most cases, long-form content performs better in organic search than short- italy mobile number example form content. But it's not just about word count.
This is because most search queries require detailed results and content that covers topics in depth. This, in turn, requires long-form content to deliver better results on the web. You should always consider the length of your content in context, even if the purpose is to rank in search results.
Think about an eCommerce category page. It's not uncommon to find that the top results have little content and a short description.
Target's bikes category page has just 211 words of descriptive content at the bottom, below the grid of products.
example of content on Target's bike page.
But this doesn't stop the page from ranking for 2,400 different keywords and generating 391,000 organic visits per month, including the number 1 ranking for "bicycles."
target bike's page data from semrush
You need to create content that best answers the search query. And the answer isn't always long-form content.
It’s important to remember that the goal of your content isn’t always to rank organically. Yes, content is one of the main drivers of organic search growth, but it’s also created for other reasons. Just look at how many businesses are able to grow thanks to social platforms with short-form content.
Don’t focus on creating long-form content. Instead, focus your efforts on creating content of the right length and format to achieve your goals (and that matches the search intent of users on search engines).
The simple answer is yes, the length of your content matters. But it should not be interpreted to mean that longer content is better, because that would be answering without context.
The length of the content should respond to the purpose you are trying to achieve and fit the proposed objectives. That is why it is so important to learn how to choose the right format of content for different purposes; and take the time to understand the search intent , or other similar content that works.
For example, many ranking factor studies have shown a correlation between content length and higher search rankings. In fact, this study by Backlinko states that "When it comes to acquiring backlinks, long-form content significantly outperforms short articles and blog posts."
long form study data
And we are 100% in agreement with that.
In most cases, long-form content performs better in organic search than short- italy mobile number example form content. But it's not just about word count.
This is because most search queries require detailed results and content that covers topics in depth. This, in turn, requires long-form content to deliver better results on the web. You should always consider the length of your content in context, even if the purpose is to rank in search results.
Think about an eCommerce category page. It's not uncommon to find that the top results have little content and a short description.
Target's bikes category page has just 211 words of descriptive content at the bottom, below the grid of products.
example of content on Target's bike page.
But this doesn't stop the page from ranking for 2,400 different keywords and generating 391,000 organic visits per month, including the number 1 ranking for "bicycles."
target bike's page data from semrush
You need to create content that best answers the search query. And the answer isn't always long-form content.
It’s important to remember that the goal of your content isn’t always to rank organically. Yes, content is one of the main drivers of organic search growth, but it’s also created for other reasons. Just look at how many businesses are able to grow thanks to social platforms with short-form content.
Don’t focus on creating long-form content. Instead, focus your efforts on creating content of the right length and format to achieve your goals (and that matches the search intent of users on search engines).