Optimal word count per page

1x2000 vs. 2x1000

[arikgub]

Is there such a thing as optimal amount of content per page? Does it matter to SEs?

For example if I have 2000 words article, should I split it into 2 pages, 1000 words each?

[DerekH]

There is a theory that extra pages will help you, because each new page brings more total page rank to your site. it doesn't alter the total *average* page rank on your site, but it may help you steer it towards particular pages - the home page and one or two other important pages.

Of course, the percentage difference between adding one page on a 5 page site and on a 5000 page site makes the latter look less of an open and shut case.

Google only returns pages that match ALL the terms the user is searching for, so splitting an article into two pages *might* let some search terms fall down the crack and no longer match either of the pages you split the article into.

Some readability experts will argue that a screenful is enough for a user and the less need to use the scroll bars the better.

I think, being honest, it makes little difference to Google and you should follow your heart this once and make that page one or two pages according to how you think your human visitors would prefer it.
DerekH

[tedster]

according to how you think your human visitors would prefer it

Exactly. And if you split the article (I probably would - 2,000 words is a lot of text) then give each page a unique title and meta description -- and a unique "page headline" as well. Take a bit of thought on how you craft those elements and you can get search traffic to the deep pages, as well as making your visitors happy.

For several years, I posted monthly articles from a prominent doctor. These ended up being anywhere from 5 to 12 pages in any given month. Those deep pages are still bringing in amazing search traffic.

page rank

PR is calculated per page and "sites" do not enter into the math at all.

[DerekH]

PR is calculated per page and "sites" do not enter into the math at all.

That's specifically why I used the word "average" <smile>

My point was that if you have more pages on your site, you can more readily decide which of your internal pages have lots of links from your own site and which have only one. I find it hard to talk about all the pages in a site without using the collective noun "site", that's all :-)
DerekH

[tedster]

I understand, and I do the same at times in conversation. My point here is that just having more pages can actually generate more PR -- the new pages do more than just increase the chance to circulate any PR that's voted in from pages on other domains.

[annej]

If it's an article that can be divided up into two, three or four articles then do it that way and link them together. Don't do this artificially like at every 500 words. Use natural divisions.

It's more tiring to read on a computer monitor so people skim more. I believe very few lengthy articles on the net are read through. If a person goes to a page and sees just a long article they tend to feel overwhelmed with it and they move on.

There are some other things you can do as well. Make the sentences and paragraphs short and put subheadings throughout the article. That way they are easier to skim even if they are long. If there is more 'white space' in on the page it seems less daunting.

Since most of your visitors probably come in on more specific searches more short articles will have a greater chance of being found on these searches. So more, well targeted, articles are better.

Take a look at your stats sometime. If you are like many sites you will find most of your visitors don't come in on your top 10 or even 25 search phrases. Instead you will find thousands of specific phrases that only one or two visitors have used to find a page on your site. These sort of searches really add up.

So whether or not more pages means more PR I do believe if the are well done they will bring in more visitors and will more likely be read.

[arikgub]

Thanks all! I took your advice and splitted it up in two parts in the most natural way :-)

[Matt Probert]

Might I also add, that shorter pages generally have a better keyword/keyphrase ratio on them, and as such appear to be more relevant to a keyword/phrase than longer pages.

Matt