How Long Should a Business Blog Post Be? What We Learned Publishing Ours

When we started this blog, we had the same questions every business owner has: How long should each post be? How often should we publish? Does word count actually matter for SEO, or is it a myth?

We made some wrong assumptions, learned from them, and adjusted. Here is what we found.

The Mistake We Made Early

Our first few posts were long. Really long. We thought Google rewarded depth, so we wrote 2,000+ word guides on every topic. Comprehensive? Yes. But also exhausting to write, and probably exhausting to read.

The problem was not the length itself. It was that we had not earned the right to ask for that much attention. A new blog with no audience and no authority does not benefit from epic, encyclopaedic posts. Readers (and Google) want proof that you can deliver value before they invest 15 minutes on your content.

What the Data Actually Says

We looked at our own analytics and compared it to general SEO research. Here is what we found works best for a business blog like ours:

Word Count Sweet Spot: 1,000 — 1,500 Words

Posts in this range perform better than both shorter and longer posts for us. Long enough to cover a topic thoroughly, short enough to finish in one sitting on a phone.

• Posts under 800 words tend to feel thin — they do not answer enough questions to rank well
• Posts over 2,000 words get fewer completions, especially on mobile
• The 1,000-1,500 range hits the balance: substantive but scannable

Posting Frequency: Once a Week

Consistency matters more than volume. One quality post per week builds momentum without burning out your writer (or your audience).

We tried twice a week for a month. Quality dropped. We tried once every two weeks. Momentum dropped. Once a week is the rhythm that works.

Quality over Word Count

A focused 900-word post that answers a specific question will outperform a 2,500-word post that rambles. Google measures relevance, engagement, and usefulness — not word count. We have posts under 1,000 words that drive steady traffic because they target a clear question and answer it directly.

Our Current Approach

1. Start with the question. Every post begins with a real question a potential client asked us or searched for. We write the answer first.
2. Write to answer, not to fill space. If the answer takes 800 words, the post is 800 words. If it takes 1,800, the post is 1,800 words. We do not pad or cut artificially.
3. Readability over length. Short paragraphs, subheadings every 200-300 words, bullet points for lists. Most readers scan before they read.
4. Update old posts. Instead of constantly writing new posts, we refresh our highest-performing posts every few months with updated data and examples. This gives Google a freshness signal without the overhead of a new post.

What This Means for Your Business Blog

If you are thinking about starting a blog for your Lagos-based business:

• Do not aim for 2,000-word epics. Start with clean, helpful posts in the 800-1,200 word range.
• Commit to one post per week for at least 6 months before judging the results.
• Write about what your customers actually ask you. Every question a client asks in a WhatsApp message is a potential blog post title.
• Do not obsess over word count. Obsess over whether someone who reads your post walks away with a clear answer or actionable takeaway.

We Can Help with Yours

Running a business blog takes time — time you could spend serving clients or growing your business. We offer content strategy and blog management as part of our digital marketing services. Get in touch to learn more, or browse our blog to see the approach in action.