Long-Form Content: Does Length Really Help SEO?

⬇️ Prefer to listen instead? ⬇️

• Backlinko found the average top-ranking page has around 1,447 words. This supports the idea that longer content is a trend.
• Google’s John Mueller confirmed that word count is not a direct factor for ranking.
• Long content works well when it matches what people are searching for and gives detailed information.
• Automation tools can help create content in large amounts without making it worse, if used the right way.
• Content that works depends more on if it is useful and how much people use it, not just how long it is.

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Long Content: Does Length Actually Help SEO?

“Google gives better rankings to long content.” You have heard this before. It has been said so much that many marketers now see content length as a main SEO goal. They think of it this way instead of seeing it as something that happens when content is good. But is more always better? The truth is, long content can help with SEO in the right situations. But just being long does not mean it will rank well. What really matters is if the content helps people find what they are looking for and gives them real value.

A Look Back: Why Marketers Liked Long Content

In the early days of SEO blogging, numbers were very important. And when early data showed that pages with high rankings had more words, marketers focused hard on that. A study by Backlinko in 2020 found that the average word count of the best content on Google was about 1,447 words (Backlinko, 2020). This finding led many people to believe that “more is better.”

Because of that idea, skyscraper content became popular. This is a way where creators make full guides designed to be better than and outrank other pages just by being much longer. It made sense back then. More content seemed to mean more chances for keywords, more long-tail phrases, and supposedly, a better chance to rank higher.

But there was a catch. Just because two things happen at the same time does not mean one causes the other.

Those long pages did not rank just because they had more words. They ranked because they did a better job of giving users what they needed. They answered questions fully and showed they were trustworthy sources. Marketers did not understand this right away. They started adding extra stuff to content that was not needed. This made articles too long and made people less happy with them.

Does Google Really Give Better Rankings for Length? Let’s Talk About Ranking Factors

Many people think it is true, and some SEO myths keep going around. But Google does not use word count as a direct sign for ranking. John Mueller from Google said clearly, “Just adding text to a page without thinking about it does not make it better” (Search Engine Journal, 2021). This shows the idea that longer content is automatically better is not true.

What matters more? If it is useful.

Google’s systems, especially after big updates like the 2022 Helpful Content update (Google Search Central, 2022), are made to put content first that shows knowledge, authority, and trust (E-A-T). The newer version, E-E-A-T, also includes experience. This puts even more focus on content feeling real, tested, and human.

Long content can show these good points well. But only if the extra words provide clarity, details, or real understanding. When content becomes just a lot of keywords put together or repeated empty words, people stop reading and leave. Search engines watch these signals closely.

Good Content Is Long Because It Needs To Be—Not the Other Way Around

So what does it mean to make your content the right length based on need in modern SEO content planning?

The answer is about what the user wants to find.

Good long content feels long because the topic requires it. If someone looks for “how to invest in real estate in 2024,” they probably expect a wide, full guide that talks about market trends, plans, tax benefits, and common mistakes. But if they search for “what is property tax,” a guide with 3,000 words would feel like too much. It could risk making readers bored or making them leave.

Making your content the right length based on need means adding value in each part. It does not mean putting in repeated paragraphs that are not about the topic, just to reach a certain word count.

Here is how length based on need shows itself

• Covers all main parts of a topic
• Answers the main questions and other questions users might have
• Adds more levels of understanding step-by-step, helping the reader learn more as they scroll
• Includes helpful things like charts, pictures, and graphs for more clarity

Your goal? Create a natural way for the user to move through the information, not a drawn-out experience.

Long Content Makes Sense for Specific Uses

It is not always needed, but long content has a clear use in many SEO plans. This is especially true for competitive fields like software as a service (SaaS), healthcare, and real estate.

Some types of long content that have a big effect include

• Teaching Guides: “What People Buying a Home for the First Time Need to Know in 2024”
• Place for Information / Main Pages: A main post that links to or pulls together supporting articles
• Expert Ideas or Reports About an Industry: Helps show authority and get backlinks
• Articles Comparing Things: Detailed articles comparing products or services

In these cases, more words create more space for

• Including related keywords
• Structured data like tables and questions and answers (FAQs)
• How internal links are set up
• Pictures and videos that help people understand

If you are trying to compete for less common or valuable keywords, giving full information about a topic can help your content be seen as a useful resource. This is true for both people and computers.

Quality Still Wins—No Matter How Long It Is

Whether your content has 600 words or 6,000, good writing and content focused on users win every time.

When you plan your SEO content, put your effort into making

• Good topic match: Are you fixing the right problem or answering the real question?
• Clear structure and easy reading: Use clear main points (H2s, H3s), bullet lists, and summaries.
• Visual help: Charts, pictures, and moving images (GIFs) show complex ideas and help people stay interested.
• Internal links: Help guide users to other related content. This helps people stay on your site longer.
• Trustworthy sources: Show trust by using reliable outside sources and your own data.
• E-E-A-T: Nothing is stronger than putting together real-world experience with knowledge about the topic.

Google is not judging you based on just length. But it is always looking at whether your content is worth a user’s time and trust.

Common Mistakes When “Padding” Content to Make It Long

Content that is made longer just to be longer is easy to spot. And it costs you.

Some mistakes to avoid when trying to make content “longer”

• Introductions filled with empty words that just repeat the title
• Repeating points in different parts but saying them slightly differently
• Going off-topic in ways that confuse or upset the reader
• Putting in too many keywords in a way that stops the writing from flowing and makes it hard to read
• Using too much complex language that makes searchers feel left out, especially in fields like tech or real estate

What happens? Your signals to Google are weaker, user numbers look worse, and you miss chances for people to connect with your content. Google is focusing more on helpful content for people. Just adding extra words without substance will not just fail. It could actually hurt you.

Content Automation: Making Content the Right Length with Smart Tools

Tools that use AI are changing how we make long content. But using automation works best when you start with a plan.

The right tools can

• Find related topics: Cover nearby topics, definitions, and questions and answers (FAQs)
• Make the structure better: Make sure it flows logically for a better reading time
• Put in formatting rules: Make sure bullet lists, subheadings, and the same writing style are used
• Make more content: Create groups of topics, use existing content in new ways, or break long guides into shorter parts for social media

Do not use general AI content templates. Invest in tools that fit your brand’s voice and what your audience expects. When you use the right instructions and check the writing, automation helps you make a lot more long content that is still good.

Looking at the Idea of the “Best” Word Counts

The best length for content really depends on what kind of content it is, the industry, and how complex the topic is. No single number is the best for SEO in all cases. But some ranges give a general idea:

The main point here is simple: Let what is needed—by your audience and the topic—decide how long your content should be. Word count should be something that happens naturally from research and purpose, not the main goal.

A Real Estate Example: When Going Long Works

Let’s go back to real estate. In this field, both what people feel and what the data shows guide searches.

Good ways to use long content in real estate include

• Pages for Neighborhoods: Make local content that includes schools, the feel of the place, cost, average home prices, and how long it takes to get to work.
• Guides from Experts: “Step-by-Step Guide to Applying for a Mortgage” or “How to Set Up Your First Real Estate Customer Management System (CRM)” give detailed, useful information that lasts a long time.
• Places for Investors: Articles for people who invest in property can include simple tax law guides, expected rental income, and data comparing different areas.

Why does this matter? Buying property involves big decisions and feelings. Offering long content that helps with that decision builds trust. It also makes people stay on the page longer. This turns a blog post into something that helps lead to a sale.

Numbers That Actually Matter for SEO Content Planning

Making content better just for its length is a number that does not show real value. Instead, look at these numbers that focus on value to see how well your SEO content planning is working

• Click-Through Rate (CTR): A high CTR shows your title and description are appealing.
• Time on Page: The longer someone stays, the more they are reading.
• Bounce Rate: A good way to see if readers are finding what they expected.
• Signs of Interest: Comments, shares, links from other sites, and clicks on internal links show people are interacting.
• Search Ranking Changes: How your rank changes over time shows the real effect of your content.
• How People Move Through the Site and Complete Actions: Are users taking the next step?

Use tools like Google Analytics, Search Console, and heatmapping software to see what really matters. Do not just look at how long a page is.

Tips to Make Your Content the Right Length the Smart Way (Checklist)

Trying to write strong long content that ranks well and people like? Use this checklist

• Give new value about every 100–150 words
• Break up text with helpful pictures or bullet points
• Put content in order using H2/H3 so people can skim easily
• Get rid of extra words—every part should help move the topic forward
• Use examples from real life or experts to build trust
• Add internal links to topics that are related
• Go back and update the page every 6–12 months

Keeping content in good shape over time matters just as much as making it in the first place for long-term SEO planning.

SEO Success Is Not Measured by Words, but by Value

Let’s be honest: search engines are getting better, and so are the people using them. Long content is not dead. But relying on just length to help you rank higher is old thinking and does not work well.

Focus on what is most important

• What do the people reading need?
• What are they really looking for when they search?
• How can every word on the page help the reader understand or do something?

When you make your SEO content planning about giving value first—and let the length of your content happen naturally from that—rankings go up, and readers stay.

Want to create long content that works well for blogs, real estate guides, or pages about services? Our AI-helped content platform balances SEO, speed, and real information. This way, you get higher rankings in a good way.