How many words is too much?

1. 85

   tsmogposted 6 months ago

   Is 3,500 words for an article too many? According to an online calculator that is a fifteen minute read. All the information is needed and important. I don't see how it can be broken into two articles or else it would lose context.
   
   Thoughts?

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   1. 95

      chef-de-jourposted 6 months agoin reply to this

      When it comes to length of an article I try to keep to a minimum word count of 1200 or so, but my chosen subject helps as a natural guide.
      
      So for example, when I analyse a short poem for educational purposes the average word count comes out at around 1500, for medium-length 2000-3000 words will do and for longer poems 3500-5000 words or more. I have one exceptional article that's around 9000 words.
      
      I update once a year, sometimes twice, keep my eye on competitors and hope Google will be a kind crawler.

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      1. 85

         tsmogposted 6 months agoin reply to this

         Thanks! You gave me an idea just now. I will go to articles on the same topic copy/paste into an online word counter and see there word count.

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      2. 85

         tsmogposted 6 months agoin reply to this

         Just checked about. My article is about Medicare and medical groups and more. The context is very important as it is in narration format.
         
         I discovered three articles on the topic with over 3,000 words. Most were for insurance companies using links to send the reader to another part of their site for specific information. Those landing pages had articles that were from 1,200 words to 1,600.
         
         I think I will go for it and create the article then publish it. What do I have to lose, right?

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   2. 59

      Healthy Harmonyposted 6 months agoin reply to this

      A 3,500-word article can be quite substantial, but if all the information is necessary and maintains the context, it's not too long. It's important to prioritize the content's quality and relevance over length. Readers who are interested in the topic will appreciate the comprehensive information. Just make sure it's well-structured with headings, subheadings, and perhaps some visuals to break up the text and make it reader-friendly. As long as it engages and informs your audience, the word count is secondary.

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      1. 85

         tsmogposted 6 months agoin reply to this

         I am in agreement with what you shared and your advice is well received. Thanks!
         
         The challenge is it is an adventure story in real life. There is flow with context. If broken up into two articles that would be lost.
         
         It shares information in an abbreviated form about what I had to learn with links going to the detailed landing page. I gave enough info so that someone who follows the trail could act on it. 
         
         Anyway, I'm publishing it soon. What do I have to lose? It was fun, fun, fun!! And, I am an expert to an extent in the two topics I shared about because of composing the article. A bonus as I see it.

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         1. 69

            Miebakagh57posted 6 months agoin reply to this

            Good luck to you.

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2. 83

   Venkatachari Mposted 6 months ago

   As per my belief, 2000 words is the limit for a reader-friendly article. More than that becomes a bit laborious to the reader.

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      tsmogposted 6 months agoin reply to this

      I agree with you. I do have at the beginning of the article a guide for skimming using the subheadings. Most of the subheadings are phases like Phase One, Phase Two, etc. along with the short bit of info. So, it would be easy to skim. Oh yeah, before that guide I actually tell them it is about a fifteen-minute read and they can use the guide to skim.

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3. 69

   Miebakagh57posted 6 months ago

   This is a topic that is becoming frequently discussed in the forums.                                        Long ago, 500 words is a minimum set by search giant Google, for content writers. This was later increase to 1000 words. The trend is still on the increase.                                 Nowadays, no one knows what's the maximum.                                  3500 words can do well as a 2000 word content. It all depends on the angle on which the topic is being treated.

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      tsmogposted 6 months agoin reply to this

      Thanks! Yeah, one never knows, do they? Usually, my articles are no longer than 1,500 words.

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   2. 66

      Will Phoenixposted 6 months agoin reply to this

      Heck, I remember when the minimum to get on Google was around 300 lol  With attention spans the way they are these days, I don't understand the set minimums anymore lol

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      1. 69

         Miebakagh57posted 6 months agoin reply to this

         I got online past mid-2012. That was when I noted the minimum being 500 words.

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            Will Phoenixposted 6 months agoin reply to this

            Yeah, come to think of it, by the time we hit 2012 I was writing for sites that were paying me for assignments at least that long.  I also remember years earlier being contracted for "over 200 words per article" and then that same year being told to push it to 300 to make Google News.  I feel so old lol

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            1. 69

               Miebakagh57posted 6 months agoin reply to this

               You're welcome.

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4. 83

   Venkatachari Mposted 6 months ago

   Yes, if it is an educational, scientific, or a professional topic there is no limit. You can break them by suitable titles along with a list of the contents for a easier browsing experience.

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