Blogging has evolved over the years from short blog posts and personal journals to long-form content that you can disseminate and share for various purposes.
Short blog posts have a limited number of words and are great for imparting quick knowledge.
Longer blog posts offer more space for you to share your thoughts, opinions, or ideas knowledgeably.
So, which should you opt for between long vs. short blog posts?
This article will help you determine whether a short or long blog post is better for your needs and how to write each.
- Does the Length of a Blog Post Matter?
- Why Does the Length of a Blog Post Matter?
- What Is the Average Blog Post Length?
- What Is the Ideal Article Length?
- Long vs. Short Blog Posts Pros and Cons
- When Your Blog Post Should Be Short
- When Your Blog Post Should Be Long
- How Long Should Different Types of Blog Posts Be?
- How To Decide on Blog Post Length
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Wrapping Up
Does the Length of a Blog Post Matter?
There are numerous reasons why the length of a blog post matters.
First, it can significantly impact how readers view your content.
What would happen if you published a short blog post vs. a long one?
If the subject matter is similar, then most people would assume that the one with more content must be better than the other.
Choosing between long vs. short blog posts is a factor in on-page SEO.
The opposite is true if your post is long and complex.
Longer posts can be off-putting to readers because they have difficulty digesting all of the information you’re trying to impart and may also feel overwhelmed by the sheer size of the content itself.
Why Does the Length of a Blog Post Matter?
Here are three reasons why the length of a blog post matters:
1. Readability
The length of a blog post matters greatly because it can affect how quickly readers can get through a post and whether they stick around to finish reading it.
2. The Thoroughness of the Content
A poorly written long post may not be relevant to the topic because it could include too much information.
It will make it difficult for readers to find what they are looking for, leading them to lose interest or abandon the blog altogether quickly.
3. Does Blog Length Affect SEO?
Longer content tends to rank higher than shorter blog posts because it appears more informative and up-to-date.
What Is the Average Blog Post Length?
The average blog post length is around 1,400 words.
It is the number we see most often on blogs. As you’ll notice, some sites have more extended word counts while others have shorter ones.
What Is the Ideal Article Length?
The ideal length for a blog post is 2,000 words.
However, you can get away with as little as 1,000 words for some articles like short listicles.
Long vs. Short Blog Posts Pros and Cons
Let’s review long vs. short blog posts to determine the best way to write a blog post.
First, let’s examine long blog posts:
Long Blog Posts
Here are the positive and negative aspects of writing a long blog post.
Pros of Long Blog Posts
Longer blog posts help you convey your thoughts more effectively.
They also play a prominent role in helping you develop an online brand.
You can use your expertise and business skills to inform readers about your new products and services.
Cons of Long Blog Posts
Longer blog posts can be more time-consuming.
They are usually harder to create and require more research than short blog posts.
Therefore, they need even more effort if you want them to be perfect.
Short Blog Posts
The advantages and disadvantages of creating a short blog article are as follows:
Pros of Short Blog Posts
Short blog posts are more accessible to write than long ones.
They don’t offer much space for you to share detailed information, but they still provide some room to share quality content.
Short blog posts are also ideal for less informative and conversational blogs because they help break up text blocks and make the content visually appealing.
Cons of Short Blog Posts
Shorter blog posts may not be as relevant or engaging.
They don’t offer your readers much to discover or learn, so they may not be as likely to return to your blog and may increase bounce rate.
They also don’t help establish an image of you as a person or a business.
When Your Blog Post Should Be Short
When starting a blog, you may not need to post long-form content.
Short blog posts exist for a specific reason: to easily share quick knowledge, ideas, or helpful tips with readers.
They are ideal for the following:
1. When Trying To Start a Discussion
You can get your readers to join a discussion about a particular topic by writing a short blog post.
Share a controversial statement, tell them they can disagree with you, and then ask them to comment on your blog post.
The purpose of this short blog post is to share information that would encourage readers to take action or interact with you in some way.
2. When Introducing a Video or Other Piece of Media
You may want to recommend a video that interests your readers.
A short blog post will give them a brief glimpse of what you’re talking about and invite their involvement.
3. When It Can Be Useful Without a Lot of Words
If you’re writing a short blog post that doesn’t need a lot of words, you can tell readers precisely what you want them to know in as few words as possible.
Consider the most helpful information about the topic that you can include and share it with readers.
4. When Your Audience Prefers Short Blogs
Some readers may want the facts or advice you provide and could care less about how you came up with your conclusions.
They don’t need the background information you need to make them meaningful.
A short blog post could be perfect if your target readers are in this category.
When Your Blog Post Should Be Long
Many blog posts should be long-form content because long blog posts can contain a wealth of information and offer readers background, insight, and complexity.
If your blog is for any of the following reasons, long-form content would be better:
1. When Going In-Depth on a Topic
If you’re writing about a complex topic that requires more words, then long-form content is ideal.
Your blog readers want to know about the subject, whether it’s a hobby, interest, or industry.
Include supporting information and statistical data demonstrating how well you make your points.
2. When the Competing Articles Aren’t Long
If you’re writing about the same subject as other bloggers in your niche, you may want to provide more information than some of your competitors.
Long-form content is perfect since it allows you to go above and beyond what others have written about the subject.
Your content will also rank higher than shorter pieces on search engine results pages (SERPs).
3. When Writing a “What Is” Post
When writing a “what is” post, you want to provide all of the detailed information readers could ever want about a specific topic.
Cover the subject extensively and provide background information so readers will learn more.
4. When Writing a How-To Article
How-to articles are step-by-step guides that show people how to do something.
You’ll need a longer blog post to explain it in detail, especially if the process is complicated.
Keep each step as straightforward as possible and provide ample background information, so readers will understand what’s going on.
5. When Writing a Pillar Page
A pillar page covers a particular topic in great detail.
It contains the critical information readers search for when they want to learn about something in fact and links to other blog posts and pages that readers might be interested in reading.
If the purpose of your blog is to share important information with readers, a long pillar page is ideal.
How Long Should Different Types of Blog Posts Be?
Here are the recommended post lengths for different types of content on a blog.
How Long Should Pillar Articles Be?
As we’ve established, a pillar page contains the information people are most interested in and links to other pages on your site.
Your pillar page should be around 4,000 words long to answer the question at hand perfectly.
How Long Should Cluster Articles Be?
A topic cluster contains a series of articles that are connected and complement each other.
They describe the same topic differently and give readers diverse information to make an informed decision.
If you’re writing cluster articles, keep the lengths at around 2,000 words each.
Each post would cover a specific part of the subject (or offer different perspectives on it) so that if a reader wants to learn more about it, they can click on a link for further reading.
How Long Should Listicles Be?
Listicles are perfect for “content marketing” as they engage your followers and build brand recognition.
For your listicles, maintain the length at around 2500 words.
This length will provide enough space to include all the essential information your readers need in an accessible way.
Your listicles should be as concise as possible to keep your audience interested.
How Long Should Review Blog Posts Be?
Reviews are super important for your blog since they provide people with accurate information about products and services.
They also help you build trust with your readers by proving that you’re honest about what you recommend.
If you want to write an in-depth product review, keep the length at around 2,000 words.
How Long Should How-To Blogs Be?
The best length for a how-to blog post is around 2,000 words.
This length includes all the main steps and details readers need to improve on a specific topic.
Again, make your steps as straightforward as possible while containing background information to clarify the process.
How Long Should “What Is” Blogs Be?
A what-is post should be around 1,500 words.
This length will provide enough space for readers to understand the topic and make an informed decision.
How To Decide on Blog Post Length
Here are three ways to determine blog post length:
1. Figure Out User Intent
Find out what your readers want and how long they read so you can publish the right content.
Look at your recent traffic statistics and compare them with your competitors.
Use tools that show you the ideal length and focus on which articles attract most of their campaigns or pages.
2. Consider the Topic and How Thorough the Blog Will Be
For long posts, you want to focus on the depth and analysis of a topic.
To create a great long-form article, analyze your subject thoroughly so you can tell users everything they need to know about it.
3. Determine a Goal
Every post you write should have a goal.
A shorter length is better if the goal is to keep the reader’s attention.
On the other hand, if the goal is to share valuable information with your readers and make them take action, go for a longer one.
4. Check Competing Blog Posts
To decide on the ideal length for your article, you can check out blog posts by the top bloggers in your niche.
Examine their content, and see which ones are most popular with users. Learn from them what they write and how long it is.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some common questions others asked about long vs. short blog posts.
Is a 3,000-word blog post too long?
No. It’s not too long. But it might be too long and too detailed if the topic is shallow or not valuable.
Is longer blog content better for SEO?
Search engines indeed prefer long articles, but it’s not the only thing that affects your rankings.
So, even if you write a short piece of content with the right keywords, it’ll help your SEO performance.Is longer blog content better for SEO?
Wrapping Up
If you’re uncertain whether to create long vs. short blog posts, look to the intent of your content.
If the topic doesn’t have enough aspects to cover in a lengthier post, opt for a shorter piece that offers quality.
Analyze your topic thoroughly and write an engaging piece of content that provides relevant, actionable details to your readers.
Use this guide to choose the appropriate length for your posts and create top-quality blog posts that engage your audience.
