SEO blogs should be long enough to cover the topic comprehensively without padding. For most commercial and informational queries, that means 1,500–2,500 words. Thin content under 500 words rarely ranks unless the query is extremely simple or branded. The real driver is search intent and what Google already ranks on page one. Start by analyzing the top 10 results for your target keyword. If they average 2,000 words and include detailed subsections, you need similar depth. If they're concise 900-word posts, matching that structure often works better than writing a 3,000-word essay. Google rewards content that satisfies the user's goal efficiently, not just word count. We see clear patterns across Ottawa SEO's portfolio. Transactional pages like service pages perform well at 800–1,200 words when they include clear offerings, pricing context, and local trust signals. Informational blog posts targeting competitive keywords need 1,800–2,400 words to cover subtopics, answer related questions, and incorporate semantic keywords naturally. Tutorial content often pushes 2,500–3,500 words because users expect step-by-step detail. Length also depends on topic complexity and competition level. A post on "what is SEO" in 2025 competes with established sites and needs serious depth, probably 2,200+ words covering fundamentals, recent algorithm updates, and actionable steps. A post on "Ottawa SEO services cost" might rank at 1,400 words if it includes local pricing ranges, service breakdowns, and CRA considerations for marketing expenses. Avoid arbitrary targets. We've had 1,100-word posts outrank 4,000-word competitor pieces because ours directly answered the query in the first 200 words and used clear subheadings. Conversely, trying to rank a 600-word post for a competitive B2B keyword usually fails because you can't cover enough ground. The practical approach: draft an outline covering every angle a searcher might want, write naturally to that outline, then edit ruthlessly. If you hit 1,800 words and fully answered the query, publish. If you're at 2,400 and still have critical points, keep going. Word count is an output of thoroughness, not a target.