Content Length: What’s the Ideal Length of a Blog Post for SEO in 2025?

1,043 words. That’s the length of this post you’re reading. Is that too little? Too much? Just right? While Goldilocks has a straightforward system when filling her belly, it’s a different matter when deciding the ideal length of a blog post for SEO purposes. Ask multiple marketers and content creators about the subject, and you’re likely to receive multiple different answers.

For instance, long-form content has historically been a favourite for ranking highly. Yet, is it always the best choice, particularly in an era where search engine algorithms have become more sophisticated in judging other factors?

This guide will explore the latest trends that determine how long a blog post should be. We’ll also examine whether content length is still a key ranking factor, along with how to adapt your strategy to compete with the big boys of search.

Does Content Length Still Matter?

When discussing blog post SEO factors, content length has long been considered a key ingredient. Search any major topic, click on one of the first results that pop up, and chances are they won’t be lacking in terms of word count. Research from Backlinko highlights the average first-page result Google spits out contains close to 1,500 words.

There are 3 main reasons behind this trend:

• It supplies more in-depth information.
• It boosts dwell time.
• It attracts quality backlinks.

Yet, in the year 2025, does length still have a major role? Yes – but its importance is increasingly context-dependent.

Quality. Relevance. User experience. These are the priorities for search engines instead of sheer word count. Simply put, a 2,000-word fluff piece won’t outrank a concise, high-quality 800-word slice of content that matches search intent.

That’s not all. The rise of AI search algorithms – such as Google’s MUM – has further shifted the focus away from content length to understanding user intent. Longer posts are no longer favoured by default. Instead, search algorithms reward content that aligns with the searcher’s needs. Assuming it better satisfies user queries, a quick how-to guide might outrank a sprawling essay, for instance.

This all means one thing: there is no single answer for the “ideal” content length. It depends on various factors like the topic, intent, and target audience. SEO for blog posts in 2025 means focusing on these points rather than fixating on word count alone.

Ideal Content Length for Different Blog Types

One size doesn’t fit all. That’s the case when it comes to the length of blog posts for SEO success. As mentioned, the ideal size depends on aspects like your audience and goals.

As a specialist content writing agency, we know a thing or two about the right length for different purposes. Here’s a quick breakdown of what works best with certain content types:

• Short-form content (200-600 words): Short blog posts are ideal for quick updates, news, or bite-sized tips. For example, a breaking news story typically thrives in this format, where it can be posted fast and without fluff. However, short-form content usually struggles from an SEO perspective unless it directly answers specific, high-volume queries.
• Mid-length content (700-1,400 words): In-depth how-to guides, product reviews, niche topics – this content length is often ideal for these types of blog posts. SEO elements are typically covered while also supplying valuable details without overwhelming readers. For example, our guide on How to Optimise Your Content fits well in this category.
• Long-form content (1,500+ words): Long-form content excels when needing to cover a topic comprehensively. Think ultimate guides, thought-leadership pieces, and content pillar pages. When wondering does blogging help with SEO, look no further than these types of posts. They tend to perform well in search results due to their ability to target multiple keywords, generate backlinks, and keep users on the page for longer.

Ultimately, for optimised content writing in 2025, the key is to match post length with your audience’s intent. Short posts drive quick engagement. Mid-length pieces strike a balance between detail and accessibility. Long-form blogs dominate in-depth exploration. Get this step right, and you’ll see post length still plays a big role in SEO success.

SEO for Blog Posts: Other Influencing Factors

Yes, content length plays a significant role in SEO. Yet, as spotlighted above, it’s far from the sole factor that determines a blog post’s success. There are various points accounted for when Google’s algorithms judge content. Important influences include:

Quality and relevance

We’ve already covered quality, relevance, and user engagement, but these factors are worth reiterating. In fact, they’ve never been more important in the eyes of Google. This is why a quality 500-word piece, one that offers clear and valuable insights, can easily outperform one that’s 3x the size.

Blog structure

Never underestimate how imperative structure is with SEO for blog posts. All too often we come across the dreaded wall of text. That’s no good when appeasing the Google search overlords. Headers. Bullet points. Engaging visuals. Short paragraphs. The more you can capture the attention and break up your post for enhanced readability, the more it will lower bounce rates.

You can learn more with our Blog Post Structure Guide.

User experience

Even if you utilise content writing services to gain professional-grade blog posts, that’s not necessarily enough. That’s because user experience (UX) also plays a large role. Fast load speeds, mobile optimisation, easy navigation – are all essential for keeping users engaged. All it takes is clunky formatting or a slow-loading page to frustrate readers, and that will see its ranking potential sink.

Keywords

That’s right: keywords still matter – just not as they did before. Modern SEO is all about natural language and user intent. This means you must seamlessly integrate relevant terms into your content – aka avoid keyword stuffingKeyword stuffing is a technique that attempts to give pages higher rankings in search engine result pages by inserting the same keywords over and over again. – to build credibility with both users and search engines.

Conclusion

There is no set blog length you must try and hit with each post. Audience. Topic. Goals. These are factors you must consider first before trying to hit 500, 1,000, or 3,000 word limits. Just remember above all else: quality always comes first.

If you’re struggling with the latter, that’s where our blog writing services can make the difference. Click Intelligence offers comprehensive content writing services to elevate your SEO strategy to the next level.