I usually write short blog posts because long posts often get skipped (because readers are busy) or postponed (and then skipped).
I’d rather show up in your inbox frequently and give you something you can read in a couple of minutes.
But there are advantages to longer posts:
- Longer, more detailed posts tend to get more traffic than shorter posts because they often rank higher in search engines.
- Longer posts give you room to provide more tips and more thorough explanations of complex or abstract concepts, providing more value to visitors looking for help, and to find an attorney.
- Longer posts are generally more authoritative than shorter posts because there is room to provide more examples, citations, graphics, and links to other posts (yours and other authorities).
- Longer posts keep visitors on your blog longer, making it more likely they will read your other posts, as well as pages about your services, your upcoming events, and other content, and more willing to sign up for your newsletter.
- Longer posts tend to get more Likes from readers and links from other blogs.
In short, longer, more detailed posts provide opportunities to get more readers, subscribers, and clients.
But none of that happens if people aren’t reading your posts because they look too long to read. In addition, longer posts take more time to research, write, optimize, and format, which means you can’t publish as often.
What’s the solution? A combination of long and short posts can give you the best of both worlds. Long posts for traffic, authority and engagement, short posts to get more people to read what you write, creating a gateway to your longer content.
If you’re new to blogging, you might write 1000- to 1200-word posts once or twice a month, and 300- to 500-word posts, once or twice per week. On the other hand, if you’re new, it’s better to write anything, because building the habit of regularly creating content is more important than how long it is or often you publish it.
How to write a blog people like to read
