Last modified on: March 18th, 2024
Is word count a factor for ranking on search engines? Learn more about if word count is important for SEO below and what to consider when writing and optimizing content.
SEO is the term of which most online marketers and writers are aware. There are numerous factors that one has to consider while optimizing content for search engines.
Is word count one of these considerations? Find out if word count affects SEO below.
Is Word Count Important to SEO?
Some digital marketers and writers think that hitting a specific word count is a crucial factor for SEO and optimizing an article for ranking well. But this is not true at all.
There is no minimum word count or exact word count to guarantee high rankings. You can’t force better rankings with lengthy articles or get de-ranked over short content.
The most important thing to remember is that the lines of text you choose should be relevant to the topic at hand. Avoid text that may distract the reader. Grammar issues are also the main source of distraction for the reader.
We can see the articles that are on the top of the page with just 300 words. And on the other hand, we witness long-form content with 2000+ words but ranking at the bottom of the search results. So, it’s not some average word count that improves your SEO.
You have to work on some other elements to SEO-optimize content. We will tell you all in this article but before this, we are going to give a brief view of SEO and its impact.
What is SEO?
The term SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization. This is the practice a writer or content developer follows to create content that ranks well on search engines.
This can be done by working on the quality of the content and making it worthy for your readers by providing value and extra knowledge related to what they're searching for.
The basic purpose of SEO is to rank higher and drive unpaid or organic traffic from search engines like Google and keep these visitors engaged on your website.
For successful SEO, you have to know how to optimize your content properly.
Here we are going to discuss some important aspects that are essential to consider while making your content optimized.
Prefer Quality Over Quantity
The one thing that writers must remember is that they should always focus on quality material. This can be done by staying on point and focused on the topic.
Avoid prioritizing content length over the completeness of the content. This is one of the most crucial SEO factors.
You have to give value to your audience's time by providing them with relevant, high-quality information.
Keep the Content Relevant
The most important point to remember is that the content that you are adding should be relevant. Avoid writing copy that is not associated with the topic.
Sometimes, writers start writing about things that have no connection with the topic. This can lead the reader to leave your page as he or she is not finding the right content.
Instead of focusing on the length of the article, you need to consider the relevancy of your copy as it will increase your chances of engaging more readers.
Does Word Count Affect SEO?
Many individuals think that increasing the word count can be supportive in getting a better SERP placement. However, a higher word count doesn't mean higher rankings.
Aim to keep your copy short and to the point for readability, and only as long as needed to cover a topic well. This can also help make your content more engaging to readers.
One method you can use is to set a limit for a specific word count and try to cover the topic in that length. This can help you write the most authentic information.
This is because you will have to cover the content in limited words so you will avoid using fluff content and text that has no text connection to the topic.
Online word counters can be quite beneficial in this regard. When users upload their content into this tool, information is provided on the total words and characters in the content. It also shows keyword density for adjusting keywords as part of optimization.
So, writers can focus on the limit of words using this online tool and make their content quality better by making the content concise, descriptive, and to the point.
Avoid Grammar Mistakes
Many of us consider that grammar is not that important in SEO, but it is actually a very crucial factor that can help you rank higher on Google and other search engines.
Think about it – do you see content with many spelling or grammar errors ranking at the top of Google? Such mistakes can quickly divert the reader’s attention.
To keep readers engaged, write copy that is easy for them to read and understand. Consider how copy length affects conversion based on the subject written about.
Eliminate lines of text with grammatical or punctuation errors. Or else, you increase your chance of losing readers and increasing the page bounce rate.
Get Healthy Backlinks
Earning backlinks is another important factor for better SEO rankings. Aim to acquire backlinks from sites that are authoritative, relevant, and rank well on Google.
For example, when a well-reputed site gives a backlink to a newly built website, Google considers this a positive signal for the new site, which could improve its search visibility.
Use Relevant Keywords
SEO is all about keyword research and strategy. You have to use the words that the audience is using in their search queries. Using the right keywords in your web page or blog post's title, headings, subheadings, and body text can help SEO performance.
But one thing that must be remembered is that you should avoid keyword stuffing. Don’t add a single word too many times that it gives a promotional or unnatural look.
Add Images to Content
Using images in the content is an effective method of conveying your message to your audience.
A person who finds it hard to understand the intent of the article can look at the image to help him or her better understand the content.
Using a variety of multimedia like images and video can provide more context to Google, help your page perform better in search engines, and generate more traffic.
Final Verdict – Is Word Count a Ranking Factor?
To optimize your content for search engines and improve your SEO strategy, focus on the quality of the text rather than some ideal word count or length of the text.
Strive to add relevant copy in your article that is valuable to your target audience.
Some digital marketers and copywriters believe they can improve their search rankings on Google based on how many words they use.
However, word count is not a direct ranking factor. It is the quality and relevancy of your content compared to competing pages that matter for SEO rather than just more words.