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Recent Articles:

Business Blog Content

Online Consultative Sales

What is Content Marketing?

Online Prospecting and SEO

SEO and Fresh Content

What are Natural Links?

Cornerstone Content

Online Article Basics

Content Management Systems

Keyword Niches

Informational Marketing

Article vs. Blog Style

Hiring a Ghostwriter

Voice and Point of View

How Much Content Does My Site Need?

Word Count and Length
 

There a many studies that provide data on how people read on the web.  Jakob Nielsen's 1997 article How Users Read on the Web still provides accurate insight into the quick reading, scanning habits of web readers. 

In his book Killer Web Content, web usability expert Gerry McGovern states that one word best sums up web searchers and reader:  impatient.

Informational web articles that are too long are not likely to be read in full.  Also, concise writing which omits useless words is always better.
 
SEO Book notes you shouldn't focus just on length, and that the optimal word count is what is necessary to express your ideas on the page.
 
If you are creating informational article content for the dual goals of building your search page results and prospecting for new clients, there are some article length considerations to keep in mind.

Specific and Accessible

Website articles need to specific with regard to topic choice.  You will build better keyword relevance and tighter content around a single, precise idea.  If the topic changes, it does not belong in the same web article.

Web readers display merciless impatience.  The back button is the most commonly used online, so information you convey must be developed with tight prose and scanning cues.  You only have moments to attract and maintain attention.

However, specific topics must also be developed.  If you don't provide sufficient information or answer the question completely, the article provides little value. 

Bottome line:  make you ideas specific, complete, and thorough with as few words as possible.

Keyword Optimization and SEO

Your website will benefit from having as many keyword optimized pages as possible.  The more content you have developed around keyword niches, the greater your reach on search results pages.

For SEO goals, it is better to break up content into a greater number of short articles.  For example, instead of having a 1500 word article with one optimized title tag and keyword focus, break it up into three more specific, search optimized articles.

Search engines favor sites that add fresh content on a regular basis, and you can develop this pattern more easily with shorter articles.  As you continue to add content on a regular basis, you will boost overall site SEO and build deeper relevance around keyword niches.

Online Article Word Count

A one page article is about 500 words, which is usually enough for a strong writer to develop introductory content on a specific topic.  This is a common length for website articles and a good target for word count.   

Remember that for online content marketing, you are providing introductory, baseline information.  This is not the time for extensive product descriptions or detailed technical info.   

If the topic needs more development, write and optimize a new page, then create internal links to guide the reader to more information.  

Articles published on a website or business blog serve three purposes:  

• To provide useful information and answers for website visitors
• To introduce the benefits of products and services
• To build web page and website SEO

You can best acheive these goals with a series of keyphrase optimized, concise, professionally written one-page articles regularly posted to your website or blog.