How Long Should a Blog Post Be?: Writing for Reading

An experienced SEO agency would say that blog posts should be at least 1,500 to 2,000 words long to make an impact. How did they come up with these numbers? That is what we will cover in this article.

We will tell you about:

• Blog post length according to experts
• The benefits of using long form content
• Finding the correct length for your marketing needs

Are you ready to create the best blog post for your audience?

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Blog Post Length According to Experts

Around 600 million blogs on the web from 1.9 billion websites exist. But out of these millions of blogs, how many make sense to readers?

Factors like content, headlines, readability, and images affect blogging success. Of all these factors, experts say that blog length is the most crucial. This is because although people may find short blogs inadequate they also consider long posts too time-consuming.

Getting the length right for your blog, no matter what your topic may be, could make or break your engagement. So let us see what SEO experts say about blog length.

• Hubspot says it is 2,100 to 2,400 words. This range is HubdSpot’s tried and tested sweet spot. It is the average length of their 50 most widely read blogs in 2019.
• Semrush says length depends on the blog post types and content formats. Semrush confirmed that the optimal length of blog posts depends on the type and format of the content. Informative posts are 1,000–1,500 words. Press releases should be 400–700 words, news articles 600–1,000, and guides and how-tos 1,500–2,500.
• Medium says it depends on the user’s reading speed. Medium's ideal blog post content was based on adults' 265-word-per-minute reading speed. Based on this, your content must be 5–12 minutes. Medium's word count considers content goals, too. For instance, a blog post that aims to rank higher in SERPs and increase leads should be 1,500–3,000 words.

These experts have their blogs’ rankings to back their claims. Considering their experience, we can safely say your blog should be around 1,500 to 2,000 words to get maximum engagement.

The Benefits of Using Long Form Content

Experts want us to create long-form blog content based on the expected word count for blog posts. Long-form content provides a wealth of information or data on a specific topic, demonstrating your expertise or authority in your field.

The suggested length of 1,500 to 2,000 words is already considered long-form, but it can still go longer depending on the topic or scope, audience, and goals. Here are some reasons why you should create long-form content.

     1. Provide Better Value for Your Audience

Say your blog topic is removing clothes stains. Producing 500-word content about it may seem short on details for many people. They may think more value is needed and, thus, would look for comprehensive information elsewhere. A blog that is 3,000 words long may contain too many unnecessary details, making it tiresome to read.

Content that is 1,500 to 2,000 words long feels well-researched, valuable, and worthwhile. This length allows you to put enough headings on your page that your visitors can scan it to help them decide if there is anything of value in the post. If your headings highlight useful information, these visitors will engage.

     2. Shows Your Authority

Long-form content also helps show your expertise or your authority in your industry. One about removing clothing stains would appear packed with relevant information. It shows that you have exhausted your resources and provided enough examples to give your audience the best content.

Of course, content length is just one piece of the puzzle to display your authority. Your content must also reflect your expertise in offering various ways to remove stains. Providing a step-by-step stain removal process and pictures or videos of these processes also helps.

     3. Promotes Your Rankings

Word count is not a ranking factor.  Google looks at content relevance, uniqueness, and quality. However, creating long content helps search engines understand what your page is about.

Using headings and subheadings, organizing your content, and using your keywords in the right places can help you move up on search engine results pages (SERPs). Also, using long-form content to answer the questions of your audience can help you build your authority and move up in the rankings.

     4. Improves Social Media Presence

Long blog posts get more shares on social media platforms. Take a look back at our clothing stain removal guide example. Would you share a post that is only 500 words long, showing mediocre tips and techniques to your followers, or a 1,500- to 2,000-word post packed with helpful information?

Readers realize the value they get from your post and transfer it to their followers or friends on social media. Let's take a look at another example. A 400-word post about Tom Hiddleston's love life may not be as valuable as an in-depth 1,500-word post. Indeed, the latter is more valuable and shareworthy.

Having a high number of post shares is just one way to assess your social media presence. Other essential metrics are click-through rate (CTR), engagement rates, and customer satisfaction (CSAT) scores. Thus, to boost your social media presence, focus on content quality and accuracy rather than post length.

Finding The Right Blog Length That Works for You

Before creating a 1,000-word post, remember that although there is a nice round number to follow, the exact length will still depend on these factors.

• Note your target industry or niche. Some industries require posts that explain healthcare insurance and real estate in-depth. A longer post of 2,000 words should be enough to thoroughly cover topics from these markets.
• Focus on your buyer persona. Factors like your audience's preferred type of content, their expertise in the topic, or preference for longer or shorter text matter.
• Examine where your users are in the buyer's journey, shorter forms of content work best during the awareness stage, while long and more comprehensive posts provide good information during the decision stage.
• Consider Your Keywords. Content for a primary keyword like "clothes stains" will be impossible to rank if you publish short, concise content. But for long-tail keywords with a specific focus, like "how to naturally remove clothes stains," a 1,500-word post would do great.

Summing Up

Based on data from various SEO experts, you should create blog posts with 1,500 to 2,000 words to ensure engagement, promote your authority, and improve rankings. But blog post length should not be the sole factor in creating good content. It would help if you also accounted for your keywords, your audience, and where they are in the buying journey.

Do you want to know the correct post length for your business or personal blog? Contact Digital Authority Partners today.