Finding the Sweet Spot: Crafting SEO Texts that Strike the Right Balance Between Length and Impact

Insights to help you find the right balance between meeting user intent and ranking high on search engines. Understand how the content length may affect your position in Google search results.

Published At: 02/28/2023

Are you struggling to decide on the ideal length for your SEO text? It's a common question that plagues many content writers. Sometimes, the words flow effortlessly and you end up with long-form content that answers the reader's query and provides an excellent user experience.

However, you might struggle to produce a text of similar length on other days. The big question remains: which is better for SEO, long or short-form content?

This dilemma has been around since content writers first started creating content to rank high on search engines. You might think that analyzing the length of pages that are already ranking would solve the problem, but it's not that simple.

For instance, if you search for "new ways to customize your jeans," you'll find that the top-ranking page has only 435 words, while a search for "where should I buy jeans?" reveals a top-ranking page with approximately 2,500 words.

The key to creating SEO-optimized content isn't about adhering to a specific length; it's about focusing on the user's intent. The length of your content should depend on the subject matter, not a predetermined formula. For example, a text about growing tomatoes will not have the same length as one that delves into Obama's biography.

In this article, we'll explore some tips and considerations to help you strike the perfect balance between length and impact when crafting your SEO text.

What Does Google Think About Blog Post Length?

In the sixth episode of the SEO Mythbusting season 2 series, Google's Developer Advocate Martin Splitt and Path Interactive's SEO Director Lily Ray dive into the age-old question: is more content always better for SEO?

While many companies and SEO professionals swear by the mantra of writing lengthy texts to improve their search rankings, the truth is more complex. Martin and Lily reveal that the length of your content should depend on the topic you are covering.

For example, a news site would benefit from comprehensive coverage of current events. Still, a product-specific website may only need a limited amount of content to accurately represent the product.

In this insightful discussion, Martin and Lily offer expert advice on how to optimize your content length for SEO and provide valuable insights into Google's perspective on the matter.

Is Word Count a Ranking Factor?

The answer is no. According to Martin, you’d be capable of saying what the user needs to know by using 50, 100, or even 2000 words. The point is not the number of words you use, but if the text you write would answer the searcher’s query.

In addition, he also answered a question that many content writers might have had. What if I search for the keyword I want to rank for and the texts on top are long?

Should I worry about writing something longer? The answer is “it depends”, the fact that they've produced long texts doesn’t exactly mean that you have the obligation of creating something of the same length.

The searcher's question is what you should focus on. Content that ranks will have as many topics as necessary to tell the user what he needs to know. It doesn’t matter if it will be a long or short text.

Does Google tell me if there’s too much content or if it’s underperforming?

Google doesn't tell you if your content will perform well. However, there is a way to inspect its performance once it's published. The Google Search Console's Performance Report is an important tool that offers insights into how your site is performing in search results.

By using the Performance Report, you can examine the impressions your site is receiving. If you notice a lot of impressions but a few clicks, then you should take a look at what you've written and make many changes. On the other hand, if you observe a high click-through rate and users performing desired actions on your website, then you can be confident that you're doing a great job.

Search the pages that are ranking high

When it comes to creating content that performs well in search engine rankings, analyzing the competition is important. Before you begin writing, take a look at the top-ranking posts for your target keyword and note the length of their content.

While you don't necessarily need to match their word count, it's worth considering what users are looking for when they search for that term.

However, keep in mind that a shorter, high-quality post can sometimes outperform longer ones that don't provide the information users are seeking. Don't feel obligated to pad your content with unnecessary information just to match your competitors' lengths.

That being said, if the top-ranking pages are dominated by long-form content, take the time to review their topics and strategies to see what they're doing right. This can provide valuable insights into how to structure and present your content to effectively answer users' queries and boost your search engine rankings.

Here is a list of what you should worry about when writing a text

There are several things to consider when writing a text to rank on Google. Here are a few key factors:

User intent: Make sure your content aligns with the user's intent behind their search. Understand what they are looking for and craft your content to answer their questions or provide the information they seek.

Keyword research: Conduct thorough keyword research to identify relevant keywords and phrases that people are searching for concerning your topic. Incorporate these keywords naturally into your content, including in your headings and subheadings.

Content quality: Create high-quality, informative, and engaging content that provides value to your readers. Aim to answer their questions and provide useful information, and avoid keyword stuffing or creating content solely for ranking.

Content length: While there is no rule for how long your content should be, it's important to provide enough detail and information to fully address the topic. Sometimes long content may perform better, but it's more important to provide value than to focus on word count.

Readability: You should make sure that your content is easy to read and understand. Use clear headings and subheadings, short paragraphs, and simple language to make your content accessible to your audience.

Technical optimization: Pay attention to technical SEO factors, such as meta descriptions, title tags, and page load speed, to ensure that your content is optimized for search engines.

By considering these factors and creating high-quality, informative content that meets the needs of your target audience, you can increase your chances of ranking well on Google.

Here is a rhyme to help you remember later what we’ve talked about:

Listen up, marketing folks, let me tell you something neat,
When it comes to SEO texts, length is quite the feat.
Too short, and you’ll miss the mark, not enough to be seen,
Too long, and you’ll bore your reader, and they’ll click away, clean.

But remember, quality over quantity is key, my friends,
So, make sure your content is top-notch, and on Google, it ascends.
So, write away, my marketing crew, and have some SEO fun,
Just remember to keep it snappy, and your work will be done.

Final Thoughts

Lastly, when it comes to creating content for SEO, the length of the text is not the only thing that matters. High-quality and relevant content that meets the user's search intent is what you should focus on as well.

While analyzing the length of a competitor's content can be helpful, it should not be the only tactic you will use. Additionally, inspecting the performance of your content using tools like Google Search Console can help you identify areas for improvement and optimize your content to better meet the needs of your target audience.

By following these tips and keeping the user's search intent in mind, you can create content that not only ranks well on Google but also provides value to your audience.

Our content writing agency has SEO specialists who can help your company develop a personalized and efficient strategy, effectively reaching your target audience. In addition, with our services, you can focus on what matters: adding value to your customers and expanding your business.

So, if you don’t want to waste your time, and aim to produce good-quality content to attract more organic traffic to your website, leave your contact email with us so we can reach out and help you achieve your goals in a strategic, targeted, and successful way.