word count targets: real ranking factor or forum folklore?

Solvedmythsopinionseo15 replies · 300 views · started
Accepted solution by Nina Varga — word count isn't a ranking factor by itslef. longer pages often rank because they cover a topic more completely, not cuz of length. write…
  1. so annoyed rn i run a local plumber site and every SEO guide i read contradicts the last one. The current debate in my head is about word count targets. Some people treat it as essential, others call it a relic... i dont want to waste hours on something that doesnt matter, but i also dont want to ignore something that does. Whats your experience, and how did you test it? Id love examples from your own sites if ure willing to share them.

    thinking

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  2. how old is the site and how much content does it have?

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  3. ps i come back to this thread every week just for teh drama

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  4. finally got it working, thanks everyone

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  5. pro tip: write down what u change. i didnt and had to redo count from scratch

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  6. major search engines have pulbicly said for years that they ignore the meta keywords tag for ranking... it doesn't hurt, but it's wasted effort and shows competitors ur target terms.

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  7. yeahhh keyword density is a leftover from early search engines, use the words your readers use naturally, in titles and headings where they fit, and cover related subtopics. forcing a percentage makes text worse.

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  8. oh ive been there lol publishing frequency matters less than quality and usefulness. A site that publishes one excellent, maintained page a month can outrank one that publishes daily filler. updating old content is often the best new content.

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  9. bump. still happening with seo for me good luck man!

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  10. long time lurker first post lol my office mahcine is officially haunted im about to throw this thing out the window lol

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  11. oh ive been there lol new sites do often take time to rank, but thats mostly lack of links, history and content, not a formal penalty box. Focus on the things u can control and measure in Search Console.

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  12. Accepted solution

    word count isn't a ranking factor by itslef. longer pages often rank because they cover a topic more completely, not cuz of length. write until the reader's question is answered, then stop. lmk how it goes

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  13. @nina_cobalt wowww ok ill run a small test on ten pages and compare clicks over a couple of months. glad i asked before committing to the whole site. owe u a beer 🍺

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