Last Updated on by Michael Brockbank
Contrary to the belief of some, blogging is not dead. In fact, all of my sites are continuing to grow at an impressive rate. Part of this is because I’ve put in the effort to consistently create blog content this year.
Well, as much as I can, given the unique set of circumstances I have to push through. Things are a bit rough at the moment.
Soon, I will have my own office space…
Still, I’ve done more this year than I did last. And the difference it made motivates me to keep going.
So, how much blog content do you need to create to become a success? That really depends on a lot of factors, really. Some will maintain a blog for years without seeing much return while few will create a successful site in a matter of weeks.
What’s a Good Amount of Blog Content?
Some experts show how the top average search result in Google has around 2,400 words in any given article. The thing to keep in mind is that this is an “average.”
However, recent studies also show that an ideal blog content length should rest at around 1,600.
In reality, it depends on a variety of factors. I’ve seen search results with only 300 words show up in the number one position of Google. Because they were the best result for what I was searching.
And that is what truly matters in the long run.
Depends on Your Blog’s Niche or Topic
Not everything you write is going to have the same impact on your target audience. Certain niches and topics are simply going to perform better than others depending on what people want to read.
For instance, when I first wrote the 300-word example sample for Textbroker, it was my number one article for months. Then, I wrote the review on Buy Me a Coffee…which has long surpassed the previous article in search visibility, clicks and on-page time.
I’m still a high-valued source for Textbroker-related content. But the review resonated with my readers far better. Which tells me I need to do more reviews on monetizing the blog.
Depends on the Quality of Posts
The quality you add to any blog content is going to influence the success of the website. You can’t simply slap up 1600 words of random text and cross your fingers.
If you can answer a question or provide valuable insights into a trending topic, then it will drive traffic to the blog.
We bring in thousands of visitors for my client every day through his WordPress tutorials. Part of that is because I make my writers show and deliver exact steps to accomplish a goal. There is no fluff, and every sentence supports the topic.
In fact, a lot of our tutorials are in the top 10 search results with having fewer than 700 words!
Depends on Your Goals
The amount of blog content you need to succeed also depends on what you want in the end. If you want to become a hub for your specific niche, you’re going to need A LOT of content.
Is the blog something you want to do in your spare time as a hobby? Then you probably don’t need to push out as much. If this is a hobby, you probably don’t care whether millions of people come to your site every year, anyway.
But, you still need to make sure all of that material is what your target audience wants. Otherwise, you could waste a lot of time writing without seeing much of a result in terms of traffic.
More Topics Equals More Traffic
The more topics you can cover in your preferred niche, the more traffic you’ll generate. It’s that simple.
People are more likely to trust an expert who covers every aspect of a topic. Which is partly why I create so much Textbroker content. I want to share what I’ve learned since 2012.
The reason why you want to cover every topic possible is to reach your audience.
What if I created the article for Textbroker about how to write a sample and stopped covering the topic? Someone looking for a way to integrate Payoneer with Textbroker wouldn’t come to the site because I didn’t cover that aspect.
By the way, I did cover how to integrate Payoneer on the blog as well as a YouTube video.
My point is that every piece of blog content you create is answering a specific need. The more answers you provide, the more your site shows in search results. So writing once per week is going to limit how much traffic your site generates overall.
What Does the Competition Publish?
Everyone who is not reading your blog is reading someone else’s to find answers or be entertained. So, it’s ideal that you take a look at what other bloggers are doing for their content.
Competitor publishing frequency, topics, style and social sharing can give you insight into what you should create.
I’m not saying that you have to copy the competition…in fact, don’t do that. But, seeing how others engage the audience can help you build your own content strategies.
When looking at the competition, ask yourself, “What can I do to make this better?”
How Often Should You Publish Blog Content?
I touched base on this a bit earlier. The frequency of when you should publish blog content really depends on what you want to achieve and your target audience.
There’s really nothing wrong with publishing once per day as long as you can maintain a quality standard. And depending on the niche and post topics, it might be more difficult than you think.
Also bear in mind the amount of time it will take you to write that content. Not everyone has enough time in the day to write a new blog post, plus make sure it’s a good quality piece and properly shared.
But if you just publish once per week, you can’t expect a massive influx of traffic, either. That’s because, as I said earlier, you won’t cover all the topics your audience is searching in Google.
Don’t Publish for the Sake of Publishing
When creating blog content, don’t publish something simply because you need an article for the day. Make sure the content is relevant to your website and it provides value to the reader.
I’ve tossed many a blog post because I didn’t feel the end result was valuable. It happens. You need to keep your audience in mind and not deliver material that is full of fluff or non-sensical information.
Research Popular Trends and Questions
Keeping an eye on trends in your industry is helpful when determining how often you need to publish. If you have an answer to a popular question, feel free to blog.
I often get ideas from my YouTube viewers, Quora and Answer the Public. And in most cases, even from the comments on the video channel, answering one question leads to a high-performing article.
Because more than one person was looking for the same information.
Case in point, the sample example I mentioned earlier was a direct result of a few questions from YouTube. It turned out to be one of the most visited posts on this website.
Keeping a Schedule
OK, so I was never really one to follow a set schedule in the past. But I can attest how having one has made a huge impact on my success in 2020. Although right now, it’s a bit haphazard because of the current situation.
But once you establish a good routine for your blog content, you keep readers engaged. They often will follow the blog because they know when a new piece will be out.
It’s all about reliability and maintaining your target audience.
I also like the idea of a schedule because it helps me stay motivated and focused on particular days when I need to write and publish.
Focus on High-Quality Blog Content
So, in a nutshell, how much blog content do you need to be successful in 2020? It all depends on your goals and what you create. Some can get by with only a few posts per month while others will want a Monday through Friday schedule.
There is no truly right or wrong answer here as everyone has a different idea of “success.”
Just make sure that when you do write for your blog, always focus on offering high-quality content. Whether you’re looking for entertainment value, sharing your personal life or creating a tutorial, it’s all about your audience.
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