When writing blog posts, it can sometimes feel like it takes forever to write a long-form piece of content. You might have even been tasked with the challenge of writing over 2,000 words on a particular subject by your boss, so you are sitting there with a frown across your face.

Naturally, this has you wondering: Is there a correlation between writing long-form content and where the article ranks on Google?

Will writing a long-form piece of content marketing mean that you automatically take a high-ranking position in the search engines?

Well, do not fear, Batman is here to cover this topic and more!

What’s the holy grail of word count to aim for?

Well, before we answer this, we always advise clients to think about this scenario- let’s say you sell oak tables.

You want to rank for “what are the different styles of dinner tables”- therefore, you need to have a good gander at what’s out there right now in terms of advice:

Have they all been busy bees, written a mammoth article, embedded YouTube videos, and created infographics to explain the different styles of dinner tables you can choose from?

If so, well, how would your 350-word article written on your lunch break not going to be able to compete!

It won’t, it will fall short of the mark.

So, first things first, do this:

Benchmark against your competitors

Ask yourself, how much have they written

And it’s not just about text, what are the visual elements like

How have they gained that top position on Google? How have they jam-packed the article with quality information?

Can you do better? Well, now is the time to make a start.

Sock it to me, why does longer content rank better on Google?

Google’s understanding of the work (Sematic SEO)

If you’re writing articles at speed, that are quickly written and “content thin”, well, Google can sometimes struggle to know what the work is waffling on about.

However, compare this to a well-structured piece where relevant questions are answered; that’s a completely different kettle of fish.

A comprehensive masterpiece of content marketing can therefore:

• Allow you to sprinkle more keywords into a longer form of content marketing (follow white hat practices)
• More titles to allow greater definition
• A higher word count allows the author to inject their knowledge in a more comprehensive manner!
• A more in-depth piece is normally more helpful to the reader (Google Helpful Content Update)
• Allows you to demonstrate Google EEAT, which means the work often ranks higher

 

Search intent and answering related questions.

We touched on this point before; however, it’s worth elaborating on it a little further: you should write in a conversational style.

Sometimes, content marketing agencies call this “FAQ-style content”.

However, answering one question naturally leads to answering several others.

Therefore, here are the main benefits of answering as many related questions as possible:

• Improve dwell time (how long eye-balls are reading the work)
• Reduce bounce rates (more likely to click on an internal link and read some more)
• Answering more questions on one page, so the shopper doesn’t have to go elsewhere to get an answer
• GEO can also read the work; if it’s well structured, it makes it easier to place an answer in a ChatGPT or a Google AI Overview answer.

 

Dwell times

Ever talked to someone at a party who you can’t wait to move away from?
Could be any excuse that’s then subsequently generated, there’s a strong draft, I need to get something from the car, or, “Is that the time? I must be off!”

Well, people can bore you, so can content marketing; therefore, content marketing has to do so many things at once. It should be laced with keywords, but not too much that it could be deemed as being “keyword stuffed”. It also has to inform; otherwise, it won’t be helpful. On top of that, it should grab the reader’s interest so they stay around and have a good read.

If the average shopper stays for longer, the dwell time will increase.

Google EEAT and Topical Authority

Google is working out through its algorithm- does this person know what they are talking about?

Are they an expert on the subject?

Can they demonstrate experience with the subject matter?

Therefore, demonstrate that you know what you’re talking about. Well, normally, this lends itself to writing examples. This means that content marketing that ranks higher on Google typically has a mighty high word count.

 

Keyword cramming is dead.

In 2026, we would like to say no agency uses keyword stuffing.

However, some agencies regularly employ people with no or little SEO experience; they normally want to place keywords throughout the content, in every aspect of on-page SEO.

Google penalties often follow.

The work reads like a broken record, and the on-page optimisation is just weak because it’s over-optimised.

However, if you write a blooming good article, say 2000 words of the finest advice your fingers can muster to write! Well, that work is naturally crammed full of sterling advice, words of wisdom, and helpful guidance. Now, that means the main keywords are naturally in the work, plus connected keywords.

Therefore, you can leave the keyword stuffing to an SEO agency that doesn’t know what they are doing- there are plenty of them about.

 

Is the word count an actual Google ranking factor?

Yes, and no at the same time!

Normally, to rank highly on Google, you need a high word count.

However, it’s about quality, not quantity, so it’s not just about the word count.

However, most businesses operate in highly saturated markets; therefore, to sell practically anything these days, you need both quality and quantity!

 

What constitutes long-form content marketing?

It used to be that 1,000-odd words was considered long form content marketing!

However, SEO agencies across the land naturally want to outdo each other.

When someone writes a sterling piece of work at 1000 words, then another agency comes in with a better piece at 2000 words this is how the SEO battle goes on, and on.

 

What does “content thin” mean?

This is going to be a slightly odd comparison, but do keep with us on this one, as the point we’re trying to make illustrates the problem quite well.

You know, when you go out for food, and they fill the plate up with chips, some people think, thank you, that offers amazing value.

However, to a nutritionist, they would say, ” That’s a load of greasy empty calories, that will make you fat!

Therefore, content marketing that’s just been written to hit say 2000 words can be just like that, greasy chips! If the work doesn’t offer useful information!

No nutrients, really, just wastes the readers time reading it.

So, that’s “content thin” content, marketing waffle that drones on and on, is not useful, engaging doesn’t serve a purpose.

So therefore good content marketing that’s well written; it’s about cramming it with as much useful information as possible.

 

I haven’t got the time for this- can you help?

Writing content marketing is like running on a treadmill; it needs constant work.

There’s always going to be someone out there who wants to take that top spot-on Google.

Or, as we are now in 2026, we also mean to improve the content marketing so it appears in AI platforms like ChatGPT.

Therefore, content marketing needs to be written regularly, and old posts need to be kept updated and cared for, just like a houseplant.

We can only think of only a few agencies in beautiful Cardiff with our level of experience regarding implementing this SEO process.

Therefore, if you want to outsource your SEO to us, do drop us a line or give us a call. Please note that we are unable to take on clients with retainers below 1k per month at present.

We wish you well with your content marketing efforts!