Page One Rankings - Growing Your Niche Website
Having been here at Wealthy Affiliate for almost four years (anniversary in June), I can say that I still continue to learn things and come to certain conclusions as I continue to build my websites and engage the training within Wealthy Affiliate.
One reality hit me today as I was finishing up a post for my website that totaled almost three thousand words! I was not paying attention as I was writing, I was just writing and placing my images into the post, and once completed I made that observation. Wow!!
Sometimes I feel like Kermit!
How is it that I could write so many words and not even realize I was?
You know why?
Because I am an expert on my subject and niche. I am not being arrogant, it's just that I live my niche each day and therefore have lots to talk about. That is why I chose it four years ago.
You see, if you are an expert in your niche than creating content is easy. You speak from the heart and words just flow because you know what you are talking about. You have something to say, and probably a lot too.
I think this is really important in today's SEO world because there are many who place pages and posts in their websites about various subjects, but they don't write enough content to first of all be engaging, and second to be a standout to the search engines that would rather see two thousand words than one thousand words.
I see it in my posts! The ones that contain in excess of two thousand words rank sooner and create more engagement.
I see many blogs here at WA that speak to the issue of having difficulties coming up with the recommended one thousand word goal for website pages and posts for their niche. I just read one today about the amount of research it requires to reach that total, and once published these types of website pages are not ranking for them.
Again, you know why?
Because without real experiences with what you are writing about it is hard to be conversational about the subject for which you may really know nothing about.
Now, this is just my opinion of course, and one that may not apply to experienced bloggers who over time have learned to be experts on any subject, but for those starting out here at Wealthy Affiliate, your results will be so much better if you choose a niche you are passionate about over one that you think will be a money machine.
Chances are you may not know enough about it to create hundreds of pages and posts for your website that will be easy to write and be closer to two thousand words, may be more!
So, don't get frustrated!
If you find yourself having a hard time writing content for your website, try this! Sit down and write about something you are truly passionate about. Just choose a topic that relates to your passion and write something that explains about it. Show, don't tell!
See if that is much easier for you. If it was, then take that as a hint that maybe your niche is not in alignment with your passions. It will also give you an indication that you can write a lot of content, perhaps that two thousand words.
How about every three pages or posts you try to reach for two thousand words! Are you with me?
So, what do you think?
Recent Comments
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Thanks for an interesting post Howard. I think ill try to do a longer post for every couple of posts I write. Thanks for pointing out that they rank better on google.
Michelle :)
Youre right Howard :) It does take being passionate about what you write to write about it in the first place! My niche has a first post that barely got past 1000 words. Yet, I know that I will write more in time, because that particular post was more of a description and listing of product-capabilities with few paragraphs. My next post-topics will be more conversational and like you have said, THAT is what will rank well and bring traffic.
Hi, Howard. I find that when I'm writing, like you, I just write, and have no idea what the total is until I finish. I think I'll try your experiment. I think most of my posts have been around 1200 or so so far. Carol
Thanks for reporting in Carol!
Let me know if you are able to push that up to a couple of thousand words and see improved ranking results.
Awesome, Bryan! Let us know if the increased verbiage has a noticeable effect on your rankings. Later on, blog about it.
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I agree. I started writing a post today and when I stopped to look at word count it was over 2100, and I still have so much to say lol.
I find if I don’t need to stop and research my topic and I can just write how I want to say it, it comes out smoother and faster. I think a lot of my initial posts were too staged, too planned.
Now I’m trying to just write from the heart, as others have recommended like I am talking to a friend, so I’m giving that a go.
Will see how the posts rank and engage.
Thanks for stopping by and sharing Heidi!
Glad to hear you feel as I do. I think posts of that word count will certainly get more attention.
Keep us posted on your analysis of longer posts and ranking results compared to shorter posts.