Content length

Long paragraphs can quickly lose a reader’s attention – especially on mobile devices where text appears more condensed and harder to scan.

• Break your writing up into shorter paragraphs to improve readability and flow. A paragraph should not contain more than 80 words. 

• Aim for one main idea per paragraph, and don’t be afraid to “overuse” paragraphs if it helps maintain clarity and reader engagement.

Remember: In the digital age, readability = retention!

An in-body paragraph (excluding your introductory paragraph) should not contain less than 35 words…UNLESS you are attempting to make a bold and jarring statement with the use of just a few words  between paragraphs. 

There are exceptions to the above guidelines, especially when dealing with listicles and quote-heavy pieces.

IMPORTANT: We do not have a set word count for articles. Rather, instead of waffling so you can bulk up your article, write qualitatively, not quantitatively.

But also please remember that we are a news publisher, so context and framing is important. This means we must write beyond he/she says, and actually add useful nuance and depth to our articles.

It’s part of Google’s “helpful content” advisory, but with news publishers, helpful means informative.