How Long Should Your Blog Post Be for Heartfelt Engagement?

The age-old question of ‘how long should your blog post be’ often leaves us scratching our heads, right? Well, here’s the scoop: While there’s no one-size-fits-all answer. There are moments when rules are made to be broken. Certain subjects demand more verbosity, while others dance gracefully with fewer words.

But as a general rule of thumb, quality trumps quantity. Having a well-crafted, engaging 1,000-word post is better than a 2,000-word ramble. Make every word count and ensure your content holds the reader’s attention from start to finish.

With that said, I’ve rustled up ten primo tips from the experts, all about cracking the code on how long your blog post should be. Let’s dive in!

1. Know your target audience.

Who are you writing for?

It’s important to keep your audience in mind. Your target audience plays a BIG role in determining how long should your blog post be.

Keep your blog post shorter if you’re writing for a general audience. But, if you’re writing for a niche-focused audience receptive to longer content, explore your topic in greater depth.

2. Know your competition.

What keyword or keyword phrase are you targeting to write about?

It’s important to know the articles you are up against on the first page of Google that include your same target keyword or keyword phrase. More importantly, how long are those articles?

For instance, let’s say I am writing an article about “How Many Blog Posts To Publish For Better Rankings” while targeting the keyword phrase “How many blog posts to publish.”

Type your keyword phrase into “Google Search” to see what appears on the first page.

Then, double-check the word count for that article and several other articles on the first page.

As a general rule of thumb, I check around 5 to 7 articles on the first page of Google to gather the word count for those articles. This helps me know the average word count to target writing in my post. Be sure to click on the articles that are not ‘ads.’

I also use the free Chrome extension ‘SEO minion’ to check the word count for each post. To do so, I open my competitor’s article and click ‘Analyze On-Page SEO’ to determine how many words are in the post.

After an average word count, you know the competition you are up against and roughly how many words to target in your blog post. Then, kick it up a notch and find a way to add more value to your audience!

3. Make sure you have enough to say.

This may seem obvious, but it’s worth mentioning nonetheless.

Your blog post will likely be too short if you don’t have enough to say on your chosen topic.

On the other hand, if you find that you have more to say than can fit into the desired length of your blog post, consider breaking it up into a series of posts.

4. Consider the format.

Are you including any images, videos, or infographics in your blog post?

If so, this will affect the overall length of your post. In general, longer posts with visual elements tend to perform better than shorter posts without visuals.

5. Use headlines and subheadings.

A great way to keep your readers engaged is to use headlines and subheadings throughout your blog post. This helps break up the text and make it easier for readers to skim and find the information they seek.

6. Use lists.

Lists are a great way to organize information and make it easier for readers to digest. If your blog post is too long, consider using a list format to break things up.

7. Make it scannable.

Another helpful tip for keeping your blog post engaging is to keep your sentences and paragraphs short. Break up your blog post into smaller paragraphs and add subheadings:

• To make it scannable.
• Easy to read.
• To keep your readers engaged.

No one wants to read a huge wall of text. It can be intimidating and cause your readers to lose interest fast.

8. Get to the point.

Don’t ramble on. Get to the point!

Be clear and concise in your writing, and avoid filler words or fluff. Your readers will appreciate a well-written, to-the-point blog post that gets straight to the point.

9. Edit, edit, edit.

Once you’ve written your blog post, editing and revising it before hitting publish is important. This ensures your post is clear, concise, and error-free.

Editing also helps you to trim down your content to its essential points, which helps to keep your blog post short and focused.

A great free tool to use to fix misspelled words is Grammarly. You can download the free Chrome extension here. I use this tool to check the grammar of all my blog content.

10. Ask for feedback.

At the end of your post, ask your audience for feedback. It is a great way to determine whether your post was helpful.

If you are receiving a lot of questions from your audience, you may want to consider adding more content. Conversely, if you receive a lot of wonderful feedback, your article may be just the right length!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What’s the ideal word count for a blog post?

There’s no universal ideal, but a blog post of around 1,000 to 2,000 words tends to strike a balance between providing valuable content and keeping readers engaged. Remember, quality matters more than quantity.

Can a shorter blog post be effective?

Absolutely! Shorter posts, around 500 words, can work well for quick updates, news, or concise tips. The key is to ensure your content is concise, focused, and delivers value in a succinct manner.

How does my target audience affect the length of my blog post?

Your audience plays a crucial role. If your readers prefer in-depth analysis and detailed information, longer posts might be well-received. On the other hand, if they’re looking for quick answers, shorter posts could be more effective.

What if my topic is complex and requires more words?

Certain topics naturally demand more words to cover adequately. Complex tutorials, in-depth analyses, or comprehensive guides might require 2,500 words or more. Just make sure every word contributes to your readers’ understanding.

Are there exceptions to the recommended word counts?

Absolutely. If you can provide value in fewer words without sacrificing quality, go for it. Similarly, if your content truly needs more depth, don’t hesitate to exceed the suggested range. Remember, the goal is to engage your audience and provide meaningful insights.

To Wrap It Up…

As you move forward, pondering the ideal length for your next blog post…

Keep in mind, there’s no one-size-fits-all solution; it’s all about tailoring your approach to suit your specific topic and the audience you’re speaking to. So, let these insights serve as your trusty compass, guiding you on your blogging journey. Tweak and tune as needed, ensuring your content remains both captivating and of high-quality.

Until the next post, I wish you much blogging success!

With Gratitude,

Linds

Have additional tips of wisdom on how long your blog post should be? I’d love to hear your thoughts – please share in the comments below!

Thank You

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About The Author

Linds is the proud mom of two little miracles, Mono Mono twin girls, and one AMAZING older brother! She is the founder and content creator of Mono Mono Twins, Intensive Therapy for Kids, and Co-Founder of The LENN Foundation, a 510c3 that helps children with cerebral palsy receive grants for intensive therapies to thrive. ♥

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