Google’s 2024–2025 ranking refinements have squeezed low-quality, mass-produced pages and rewarded pages that genuinely satisfy intent. In March–April 2024, Google said its changes would reduce low-quality, unoriginal content in Search by ~45% versus expectations of 40%—a clear signal that “publish more” isn’t a winning strategy by itself. blog.google
Google’s own guidance also states there’s no preferred word count, and warns against churning lots of thin posts just to hit volume targets. What matters is whether a page is helpful, reliable, and people-first—and whether your site demonstrates depth and expertise on the topic. Google for Developers
The “compound authority” effect (what we can support)
- Depth tends to earn breadth. Multiple industry studies show that in many niches, comprehensive pages attract more backlinks, which can translate into broader keyword coverage and durable rankings. But correlation isn’t causation, and “longer” only helps when it’s actually better.
- Topical authority beats scattershot volume. Organizing content into topic hubs (pillar + clusters) helps users and search engines understand coverage and expertise across a subject—an approach now widely recommended by mainstream SEO educators.
Reality check: Google does not rank pages because they’re 8,000+ words. It ranks pages that best satisfy intent. Word count is not a ranking factor. Google for Developers
What to do instead of publishing 50 short posts a month
- Pick topics you can own (entity-level coverage). Build topic hubs with a clear pillar and supporting pages that cover people’s real questions across the journey. Interlink intentionally.
- Satisfy intent completely (not endlessly). If a question needs 700 words, write 700; if it needs 3,000 with diagrams, do that. Don’t target a word count; target task completion and reader satisfaction. Google for Developers
- Update winners; retire or merge under-performers. A smaller library of excellent, maintained pages usually outperforms a sprawling archive of stale posts—especially post-2024. blog.google
- Measure the right things.
- Coverage/authority: number of queries (and entities) a hub ranks for, internal link flow.
- Satisfaction signals: on-page engagement and conversions (not just time on page).
- Quality inputs: expert bylines, citations, and original insight—Google’s “helpful, reliable” criteria.
