Word count is irrelevant for rankings
Today’s opinion post is by Chris Shuptrine, Creator at SEOWidgets. He has over 15 years of experience in marketing, SEO, and analytics.
After spending over a decade optimizing content, I’ve seen countless SEO myths come and go. The persistent obsession with word count particularly irks me - I still get clients fixating on hitting arbitrary lengths instead of focusing on what matters.
Here’s the reality: Google’s algorithm doesn’t have some magical word counter that boosts longer content. Through years of machine learning and processing user behavior, search engines have become remarkably good at understanding what makes content valuable to readers.
I learned this lesson the hard way back in 2019 when I was working with a SaaS client. We had been churning out 2,500+ word behemoths packed with industry jargon, only to see engagement metrics tank. Switching to focused 800-word pieces that directly addressed user pain points doubled our conversion rates.
The sophistication of modern search algorithms continues to amaze me. They parse context, decode natural language patterns, and evaluate semantic relationships far beyond simple word counts. Just last month, I watched a 600-word product page outrank a competitor’s exhaustive 3,000-word guide because it better matched user intent.
Content strategy today requires understanding your audience’s needs at a deeper level. Working with dev teams has taught me that, like good code, good content should be clean, efficient, and purposeful. No bloat, no unnecessary complexity.
For better SEO performance, focus on:
- Building semantic relationships through strategic internal linking that guides users naturally through your site
- Conducting thorough intent research to understand what problems your audience needs solved
- Using multimedia elements that improve rather than distract from your core message
- Creating content that speaks directly to specific user personas with real examples
- Tracking engagement metrics that indicate actual value delivery
The tech marketing landscape moves fast, and we need to adapt. I’ve found that shorter, highly relevant content often performs better than lengthy pieces that meander around the point. Users appreciate when you respect their time and deliver what they’re looking for.
Remember that one killer 500-word article that perfectly nails user intent will outperform ten rambling 2,000-word pieces every time. Focus on delivering genuine value through clear, concise communication that demonstrates real expertise.
The future of SEO lies in understanding user needs and delivering precise solutions. Stop counting words and start measuring impact. Your content should earn rankings through its merit, not its length. After all, in both code and content, efficiency beats bloat.
This shift requires rethinking old habits, but the results are worth it. When you prioritize user experience and genuine value over arbitrary metrics, both search engines and readers reward you. I’ve seen it consistently across dozens of campaigns - quality trumps quantity every time.
Let’s move past outdated SEO myths and focus on what truly matters: creating content that serves real user needs effectively and efficiently. The rankings will follow naturally when you nail that fundamental goal.