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For SEO Is It Quantity or Quality of Content?
If there’s one question that’s persistently echoed through the content creation landscape, it’s this:
Does the word count of your content really matter when it comes to SEO rankings?
Recently, Google took the initiative to once again clarify this matter, reiterating that there is no 'magic number' when it comes to the ideal word count for maximum SEO value. Which technically shouldn’t have needed doing at this stage, but will at least quell concerns temporarily.
Google's Stance on Word Counts
Google has consistently maintained that word counts are not a major factor when determining a webpage's ranking in the Search Engine Results Pages (SERPs). This clarification came as a response to the ongoing confusion among content creators and publishers who often found themselves fixated on hitting a specific word count to boost their SEO rankings.
In a recent Twitter exchange, a user posed a question regarding this common misconception:
"So why a direct correlation between word count and outranking competition?"
To this, Google Search guru, John Mueller, responded with a resounding:
"Are you saying the top ranking pages should have the most words? That's definitely not the case."
John Mueller's reply, echoing Google's official stance, reaffirms that the length of your content is not a decisive factor in outranking your competitors. Instead, it's about meeting the requirements of Google's E-A-T framework.
The E-A-T Framework: Quality Trumps Quantity
The heart of the matter lies in Google's E-A-T framework, which stands for Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness. According to Google, it's the overall quality, relevance, and usefulness of your content that holds the key to SEO success. In other words, it's not about how many words you use, but how well you use them to convey expertise, authoritativeness, and trustworthiness.
Google's automated systems are designed to identify a mix of factors that determine which content exhibits these crucial aspects of E-A-T. This means that your content should showcase a deep understanding of the subject matter (Expertise), establish your website or brand as a trusted source (Authoritativeness), and maintain transparency and reliability (Trustworthiness).
In essence, Google is looking for content that genuinely benefits the users, answers their questions, and provides valuable insights. This shift in focus from word count to content quality is a pivotal moment in the world of SEO. It encourages creators and publishers to put their efforts into crafting content that truly adds value to their audience, rather than stretching their word counts in vain.
The Bottom Line: Quality is the Real SEO King
Google has explicitly clarified that there is no direct correlation between word count and outranking your competition. Instead, what truly matters is the E-A-T framework: Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness:
- Expertise: Is your content well-researched and accurate? Have you cited reliable sources to back your claims?
- Authoritativeness: Does your content establish your website or brand as a trustworthy source? Have you showcased your credentials and expertise?
- Trustworthiness: Is your content transparent and honest? Have you provided clear and unbiased information to your audience?
- Relevance: Is your content tailored to address the specific needs and queries of your target audience?
- Value: Does your content genuinely benefit your readers? Is it informative, engaging, and insightful?
Tick each of these five boxes and it really doesn’t matter how long or short your content is – it really is as simple as that.