The Best Blog Post Length for SEO

I’m finally answering the question people always ask: What’s the best blog post length? How much should I write?

Fair warning: You’re not gonna like my answer.

BUT it will provide clarity into what you should focus on instead of word count.

Key Takeaways:

• Does word count matter for SEO?
• What Google cares about
• How search intent plays a role
• SEO best practices that matter more than word count

Does Blog Post Length Matter for SEO?

No? But yes. Let me explain.

Longer posts tend to rank better, not because they’re longer, but because they tend to answer questions more thoroughly, earn more backlinks, and include more internal links.

It’s not about word count. It’s about how thoroughly you explain the topic.

What Google Actually Cares About

Google wants to send its users to the best resource on the Internet to answer their questions. If that’s you, you’re gonna get more traffic.

If you pick a broad topic, it’ll take a lotttt of words to be the best resource available. If you pick a super niche topic, 500 words might be plenty to provide the best value.

Google cares that you give a positive user experience. In Google Analytics, that looks like:

• A long time on the page
• Low bounce rate
• High engagement

It also wants you to focus on E-E-A-T as you write. It’s a framework Google uses to evaluate the quality and credibility of content.

Here’s what it means:

• Experience: Refers to whether the content creator has first-hand experience with the topic.
• Expertise: Shows that the creator has specialized knowledge in the subject area.
• Authoritativeness: Indicates that the content or the creator is recognized as a credible source in the field.
• Trustworthiness: Ensures that users can rely on your content and website.

Google wants to rank content that satisfies users. Sharing your personal experience, citing credible sources, highlighting relevant credentials or case studies, and ensuring accuracy and transparency in every blog post will help you rank higher, no matter the word count.

What Is the Best Blog Post Length for SEO?

Okay, okay, I know you want a clearer answer than “write thoroughly.” Here are some general word count guidelines you can use based on what you’re writing about.

300–600 words

If you’re writing an announcement or update or trying to rank for low-competition topics, you can get away with 300–600 words. No matter what you write, you need a minimum of 300 words to give Google enough context for what you’re writing about.

Content Types:

• Announcements or news updates
• Quick tips or hacks
• Short FAQs or “what is…” definitions
• Product or service updates
• Micro-case studies
• Event recaps

600–1,000 words

With this blog post length, you’re probably writing short educational posts or answering niche questions. It needs a little more context, but it is sometimes so specific that there isn’t much to say beyond 1,000 words.

Content types:

• How-to instructions for specific tasks
• Short listicles (e.g., “5 Tips to…”)
• Beginner guides on a narrow topic
• Opinion pieces or commentary
• Quick resource roundups

1,000–1,500 words

For standard SEO blog posts, shoot for 1,000 to 1,500 words. If you have trouble getting there, add an FAQ section to enhance the post’s value. 

Content types:

• How-to or tutorial posts with detailed steps
• Comprehensive listicles (10–15 items)
• Problem/solution posts
• Case studies with some depth
• Comparisons or product/service reviews
• Thought leadership posts for mid-level insights

1,500–2,500+ words

These super-long blogs are pillar content or attempting to rank for competitive keywords. The goal here is to be the most valuable resource on the Internet. Give as much information and value as you can.

Content types:

• Ultimate guides on broad topics
• Cornerstone content for a content pillar
• Detailed process or methodology posts
• Long-form case studies or success stories
• Comprehensive industry insights

How Search Intent Determines Blog Post Length

What people expect from an article influences the best blog post length. Not sure what search intent is? Check out this blog!

Here’s how each area of search intent determines how much you should write:

• Informational Intent: Readers want to learn. It requires depth and clarity and is often longer.
• Navigational Intent: Readers want a specific resource. The length depends on clarity, not depth.
• Transactional or Commercial Intent: Readers want to take action. Focus on persuasion and clarity, not word count.

SEO Best Practices That Matter More Than Word Count

Are you starting to see that it really isn’t about word count, but about providing value to your readers?

If it takes you 500 words to thoroughly explain the topic, where you feel there’s nothing else to share, great! If it takes you 3,000 words to do the same thing for a different topic, also great!

Word count varies between blogs and really shouldn’t be the thing stopping you from publishing a new post.

SEO best practices matter way more than how much you write, such as:

• Clear and correctly tagged headings
• Internal linking
• Keyword optimization
• Readability and formatting
• Regular content updates

Final Answer: What’s the Best Blog Post Length for SEO?

There isn’t one 🙂 The best blog posts fully answer the search intent, are as long as they need to be to give value, and serve a clear purpose. That’s it! Stop stressing about word count and simply write.

If blogging has been on your to-do list for far too long, why not outsource? I handle all the strategy, writing, and publishing so you can just sit back and enjoy the benefits. Explore the package!

FAQs About the Best Blog Post Length