How Long is Just Right? Preferred Article Lengths for Webmasters

[Cedric]

Hey, I'm trying to get an idea of what everyone prefers in the length of an article. What's the ideal article length?

We all know that (unique) content quality is key, but when it comes to length, opinions often differ. Some swear by the 'longer the better' mantra, aiming for 2,000+ words per article, while others prefer concise, to-the-point pieces that readers can quickly consume which are often around 300-500 words per article.

Considering our unique perspective as webmasters, I'm eager to know:

• What's your preferred article length when browsing?
• Do you think there's a magic number or range that captivates readers without overwhelming them?
• Should the length of an article be shortened and divided in parts?
• Have you noticed any correlation between article length and engagement or SEO ranking on your sites?
• Does the subject matter influence your preference, or do you have a consistent length you aim for regardless of topic?
• Lastly, are there any tools or strategies you use to determine the best content length for your target audience?

Interested to hear everyone's thoughts.

 

[Nomad]

If you want to bring search traffic, the idea length of the article should be 1200-2000 words. I don't even consider a post of 300 words as an article.

 

[Tracy]

500 words is barely more than two complete tweets... no way do I consider that "an article".
A valid article will be 2000-4000 words easily if it's a complex topic. If it's simply reciting a recipe... then you can get by with less.
Just the intro page to a recent article on my site was 311 words (and still tweaking the article and adding to it... and there are 4 pages behind that.

 

[Empire]

I mean 500 is the good amount that I would go with and stick with, less work and not many people like to read a very long story.