It’s tricky, I get the 500 words seems like an easy read for seniors and might very well zone out if it was 2000.

My daughter (age 24) works for a London based digital marketing company (science based) and they write their web pages based on 6-7min read, which is what they say the average attention span is, no longer, I am guessing for most people that is around 700 words.
I see merit in that and am also thinking, depending on the topic may well depend on the word count.

For example, letting people know when the next Medical symposium is going to be and location together with a few key points will be a 4 min read. But if they went on to talk about the Liver function and what that entails well then easily 5000 words.

I am just writing s blog on “Thunder Suits for Dogs” and I am bugge.ed if I can stretch it out to longer than 500 words, so I have beefed it out with Fireworks and Thunderstorms (How dogs hate them and why)......... but now I have read a response from Jeff (below) and I am thinking, sod it let’s make it short and snappy get it out before Guy Fawkes night. (For the benefit of people not living in the uk. 1605 some guy tried to blow up Houses of Parliament, got found out, we bizarrely here in the UK now celebrate by throwing a stuffed look alike on a bonfire and having a humoungous firework display ....😶 very very loud,

As others have mentioned don’t delete the posts you can always go back to them and alter, actually I think in a way it’s good to have a trail of how you have grown.. Good luck with everything. 👍

I also struggle with volume, my average is 800 to 900, if I exceptionally reach 1000 I'm happy but that's how it is.
As to the keywords and SEO, I installed the Yoast pluggin recommended by Lily here a few days ago and it seems good, I was working on all my older posts to improve SEO all day today. It's an ongoing process but we will get there eventually! :)

Hi Dave. I would not tend to scrap my work to start over, it would seem wiser to review your posts and look at ways to improve them.
Of course you could get feedback on your posts in site comments to help you review.
I took the opportunity to read your post dated Oct 20th. It read well, (I am a senior) and there is no need to stuff words just to make a post longer.
I found it well written and really informative.
In this one you could add an internal link to what a keyword is just in case someone landed on that post first but you have already created a previous post so you could put a link to those who get confused (like me) to help.
Love your graphic too.
Keep working at it you will do well.
Ray

Hi Dave. I think that the main question is more about are your posts generating traffic. I would tend to resist scrapping my work to start over.
You can review your posts and update if needed but I would think the best thing is to keep writing more content, making the content fitting the audience. No use stuffing a lot of words in a post to make it look longer.
You can also share a post to site comments to generate feedback.
Blessings
Ray

Dave, we all face it. What it the ideal size post? One that works! Perhaps it 500, maybe 1,000, 1,500 or 2,000. Depends on who you talk to. Writing for seniors certainly different. As you know, most of us have trouble just staying awake for 5 minutes!
Don’t throw the baby out with the bath water. Refine, review, redo, but don’t change it all.
Joe

Hey Dave

I think you touched upon one point that is important. And that is your audience.

It sounds to me like you know your audience. In my opinion writing to meet their needs is more important than guidelines.

I have a post on one of my sites that is only 600-ish words that gets more engagement that all the other posts on that site. However, I do shoot for around 1500

I have the gift of gab... so I usually have to reel it back.

I’d say sprinkle some keywords in your title and in the first paragraph or two. Then write naturally to your audience and let the word count be what it may.

Keep on keeping on!
Jeff

I have many posts that are just more than 300 words and they are indexed. We can go back and have a revision.
I know you can write as many as you can anything about the life of a senior, maybe a piece of advice on how to remain young, what are the things to appreciate with the life of a senior, what should a senior do to inspire the youngster, a testimony on the love life of a senior that challenges the younger persons. I can't think anything else,LOL.

Sounds like you are doing fine. I was also a little confused by the keyword stuffing but you still need it to read well.

I find if I put my keywords in the first paragraph and then near the end again that would cover 500 words.

Check that the keywords in your title are in your meta description and this may help.

Heading to sleep this side of the world but happy to help tomorrow if you need me to.

Lily 😊

Hello

I read that posts from 2000 to 3000 words are better placed on google; but I think the world doesn't have much time. My posts are between 1000 and 1500 words. After 9 months in WA, my site is 3rd on my niche. There are and will be many more confusing things. But we go ahead, during the course the waters will be cleared. Good luck. Carmen