When it comes to creating content, the power of words is undeniable. But what about the power of numbers? Specifically, the word count of your content? While it may seem like a trivial detail, the word count of your content can have a significant impact on your overall content strategy and its effectiveness. In this blog post, we will explore the power of numbers and how analyzing your content’s word count can help you create more effective content.
Why Word Count Matters
The first question you may be asking yourself is, “why does word count matter?” There are a few reasons why word count is an important factor to consider when creating content.
First and foremost, word count can impact the perceived value of your content. Research has shown that longer content tends to be perceived as more valuable and authoritative than shorter content. Additionally, longer content typically provides more value to readers by covering a topic in greater depth.
Word count also plays a role in search engine optimization (SEO). Google’s algorithm is designed to favor longer content because it is often more comprehensive and valuable to readers. In fact, the average word count of content on the first page of Google search results is over 1,800 words.
Finally, word count can impact the readability of your content. Longer paragraphs and sentences can be difficult to read, especially on mobile devices. By keeping your word count in check, you can ensure that your content is easy to read and understand.
Analyzing Your Content’s Word Count
Once you have gathered your data, it’s time to start analyzing it. Start by looking at the average word count of your content. Are there any outliers that are significantly longer or shorter than the average? If so, take a closer look at these pieces of content and try to identify why they are different. Are longer pieces of content performing better than shorter pieces? Are shorter pieces of content getting more engagement on social media?
Now that we understand why word count is important, let’s dive into how to analyze your content’s word count. The first step is to gather data on your existing content. This can be done manually by going through each piece of content and recording the word count, or you can use a tool like Google Analytics or SEMrush to analyze your content automatically.
Next, consider the type of content you are creating. Is your content predominantly blog posts or long-form articles? Are you creating video content or social media posts? Each type of content may require a different word count to be effective. For example, blog posts typically perform well between 1,000-2,000 words, while social media posts should be kept short and sweet, around 50-100 words.
Finally, consider the topic of your content. Are you creating content on complex or technical topics that require more explanation? Or are you creating content on lighter topics that can be covered in a shorter amount of space? By understanding the topic of your content, you can better determine the appropriate word count for each piece.
Using Your Analysis to Improve Your Content Strategy
Now that you have analyzed your content’s word count, it’s time to use this information to improve your content strategy. Here are a few ways to use your analysis:
- Set benchmarks for future content: Use your analysis to set benchmarks for future content. For example, if you find that your blog posts perform best between 1,000-2,000 words, aim to keep all future blog posts within this range.
- Experiment with different word counts: Use your analysis to experiment with different word counts for different types of content. For example, if you find that your social media posts perform better when they are shorter, try creating shorter blog posts to see if they perform better than longer ones.
