Here you are, reading about the value of word count in writing SEO-optimized content.
Word count has a significant relation with SEO. Some shreds of research have shown that articles containing more than 1000 words rank better than others.
How many words should I include in my article?
These days, this question has become the talk of the town. The primary purposes of your article, crucial information it holds, and target audience are considered as secondary options.
SEO revolves around word count!
Misunderstood concepts
Well, you have heard that lengthier content has a higher chance to rank. Right?
The more word count you have on your page, the better it will rank.
Research has revealed that Google’s first page results contain almost 1447 words. You may assume that your content needs to be written closer to 1447 words for this research.
If you are thinking so, you are incorrect. This is not the optimum result the research is saying. Instead, the study is only showing the first page results.
Best word count for an article in terms of SEO
There is no foolproof formula suggesting how long your article should be. Google ranks pages that best-fit search queries.
It is important to know that a well-crafted article helps people to fix their pain points.
Most significantly, its length should be suitable enough to assist readers in reaching their goals. Considering readers’ needs should be your topmost priority.
Google’s guide states your written article should be well-knit, comprehensive, and authoritative. It simply means that your post should cover all the topic’s perspectives.
Which content performs better? Long or short!
Content should be long!
Therefore, sticking to a specific word count matters a lot! But it can be challenging to avoid not repeating the same concepts.
This is where word count online tool helps you to stay within the ideal length and remove all the unnecessary words. It helps you to reach the exact volume of words.
That’s why many content writers, including the experts, use a reliable word count tool to keep track of words. Moreover, it allows you to count the number of characters, words, and even sentences.
By using an online word counter, you can save effort and time.
Why does long-form content perform better?
Do you want to know why long-form content is winning?
First things first! It covers all the perspectives of a topic that short content does not. Accordingly, it forms a perfection of top-notch quality.
Also, it is the best for scanning. Remember, people do not read articles word by word. Instead, they scan. They go through titles, subtitles, and bullet points.
Nine magical tips for writing an SEO-friendly article
1. Do keyword research
Knowing the exact balance between quality content for readers vs. crafting SEO-optimized content can be challenging.
You know that creating SEO-focused content is crucial for generating web traffic. Follow these nine useful tips to write winning SEO content.
It would be best to select a suitable main keyword and dig into it. This will help you to generate important LSI keywords.
2. Select your topic
Crafting excellent content is the key to appearing in the search engine results. Consider these two points:
- Who your target audience is
- Topics in which they are interested in
This step is worth considering for writing an SEO article.
3. Figure out the search intent
Now, it’s time to determine your audience’s search intent. Google algorithms can help you precisely understand the search intent and motivate you to respond to the queries with the best-fit answer.
Your content’s format, intended message, and strong call to action strongly depend on users’ search intent. The users’ search intent covers four dimensions:
Informational
Informational keywords cope with delivering the particular information which people are looking for. For example:
- How to
- Best
- Steps
- Tips
- Tricks
- Guide
- Lists
Transactional
When people look for something to buy, it is called transactional intent. For example
- Deal
- Buy
- Shipping
- Price
Commercial
Commercial intent comes into play when users want to discover their options. For example:
- Visit
- Get
- Purchase
- Buy
- Navigational
Navigational intent deals with the situation in which people are looking for a particular page or website. For example:
- Service name
- Product name
- Brand name
- Directions
4. Write attractive meta titles
Now, you have to create a quality Meta title for your article. A catchy Meta title introduces your content to the readers. Additionally, it motivates people to tap on your content.
Write the article that directly mentions users’ challenges and pain points. Keep it between 50-60 characters and include the main keyword.
5. Create an optimized H1
Writing a well-optimized H1 will help you add more uniqueness to your content. It would be best to use the words like “why,” “where,” and “how” in the H1.
Also, you can use numbers in the headings.
6. Structure your content
Content structure is another key element of creating high-quality content. In order to make your content scan able and readable, you should include subheadings in it.
Plus, you can also add a table of contents at the beginning of the article. Every single paragraph of your post should convey a single idea.
Divide long sentences into smaller, manageable chunks. Also, consider adding bullet points to it.
7. Use visual elements
It is always best to include relevant images in your content. This is because images help readers to get the idea more clearly.
You can incorporate templates, info graphics, and any other visual content relevant to your topic. The more enticing and informative your content is, the better it will rank!
8. Proofread and edit it
Publishing content that is filled with grammatical and punctuation errors is against professionalism. Hence, you should proofread and edit it before hitting the publish button.
Make sure that you have removed all the flaws from the post.
9. Compare your article with the competitors
In times like these, there is a lot of competition on the internet. So, you have to ensure that your written copy is better than the competitors.
Start writing SEO-optimized content!
In a nutshell, SEO-focused content means it is easy to scan and understand. The more they comprehend your post, the better are your chances to rank.
With these impeccable tips, you can get started with writing top-level content that tailors to users’ needs. Best of luck!