If you’ve been wondering how long your affiliate articles should be, you are not alone.
The perfect article length has been the subject of debate for years and many beginners worry about this. Is it too short to rank on Google? Is it too long for readers to finish?
Here’s the truth – there is no perfect word count that works for every single article. What works depends on what you’re writing about, who you’re writing for, and what your readers need.
In this article, I’ll help you figure out the right length for different types of affiliate content. By the end, you’ll have some simple guidelines to follow that will help your articles to perform better and make more money.
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Why Article Length Matters
Article length affects both how well your content ranks in search engines and how readers interact with it.
Studies show that longer articles (over 1,000 words) often rank better in Google. This is because:
- Longer articles normally cover more information about a given topic
- They naturally include a lot more keywords
- They answer more questions that a reader might have
However, while Google might like longer content, some readers can get turned off when they see a super long article.
Have you ever clicked to read an article and left right away because it looked too long to read? Your readers might do the same if your content seems overwhelming.
The length of your articles can also affect how much money you make. Longer articles give you:
- More places to add affiliate links
- More places to serve contextual ads
- More chances to convince readers to buy
- Better rankings which can bring more traffic
But if your article is too long and readers leave before seeing your affiliate links, you won’t make money no matter how long the article is.
The Right Length for Different Affiliate Articles
Let’s look at the best lengths for different types of affiliate content. Remember that these are guidelines and not strict rules.
Product Reviews: 1500 – 2500 words
These are a staple content type for affiliate websites. As an affiliate marketer, you’ll need to write a good bit of these.
Good product reviews need enough space to cover the following:
- What the product is and what it does
- Who the product is best for
- The good and bad points
- How it compares to similar products
- Your personal experience with it
- Clear recommendations
A product review under 1,000 words often feels rushed and doesn’t give readers enough information to make a buying decision.
To create great product reviews that convert, you should include:
- Clear pros and cons lists
- Your honest opinion based on real use
- Photos of the product (if you have any)
- Specific details about features and benefits
- Who should buy it and who should avoid it
You can check this post to get templates for writing effective product reviews that convert.
Product Comparisons: 2000 – 3000 words
This is another content type that works well for affiliate websites. They are naturally longer than single product reviews because they cover multiple products.
When comparing products, you’ll need more space to:
- Describe each product fairly
- Compare them on the most important features
- Show clear differences
- Make specific recommendations
You can make product comparisons easy to follow by using comparison tables to compare features side-by-side. This will allow readers to easily scan the content and at least read the sections of content they’re interested in.
Also include “clear winner” sections for different categories. These sections should include your affiliate links which would allow readers to quickly jump to the product website.
Finally, you can add simple summaries to highlight your main points. Readers who are in a hurry can get the gist of your comparison and move on quickly.
“Best Products” Lists: 2500 – 4000 words
Lists of “best products” tend to be longer because you’re covering multiple products.
In this case, each product needs its own mini-review. Readers expect thorough coverage so they don’t have to continue their research on another website.
When writing these lists, explain your ranking system.
You can already see how when you’re reviewing 10 products in one article, the entire article is going to take more words than when you’re just reviewing one product.
To make long lists easy to read:
- Break the article into clear sections for each product.
- Use numbered lists and bullet points
- Include a quick comparison table at the beginning
- Add a “Quick Picks” section for readers in a hurry
How-to Guides: 1200 – 2000 words
This type of post can easily lead to one or several recommendations. They can be shorter than other affiliate content types if they focus on one specific task and include pictures to explain the steps.
Giving clear step-by-step instructions can keep the article length short but it’s still likely to end up being in the 1200 – 2000 word range.
Here are a few tips for writing effective how-to guides that lead to natural affiliate recommendations.
- Number each step clearly.
- Use pictures to show what to do
- Keep instructions simple and direct
- Add troubleshooting tips for common problems
How To Know If Your Article is Too Short
Your article might be too short if:
- It doesn’t answer important questions. Check comments and communities and make note of common questions people might have about the topic. Make sure that your article answers them.
- It is much shorter than top ranking articles. If the top 10 Google results for your keyword all have 2,000+ words and yours has 500, it might be too brief.
- Readers complain about missing information. Pay attention to comments like “But what about…” or “You didn’t mention…”
- It doesn’t cover the topic completely. Would someone still need to look somewhere else for information after reading your article?
If it turns out that you still need to add useful content and not just fluff, you can try any of the following:
- Add real examples or case studies
- Include expert quotes or opinions
- Expand your “how to use it” section
- Add troubleshooting tips
- Answer common questions about the product (FAQ).
How To Know If Your Article is Too Long
Your article might be too long if:
- Your bounce rate is high. If people leave your page too quickly, they might be overwhelmed by the length.
- You keep repeating the same points. If you’ve already said the same thing three different ways, that’s a sign that your article is unnecessarily long.
- You’ve added sections that aren’t helpful for buying decisions. Stay focused on what readers need to know.
Sometimes, making your article shorter can improve it’s ranking in the search engines and make it convert better. If you find that you need to shorten your article, here’s what you can remove or adjust.
- Long, flowery descriptions that don’t add value
- Points that you’ve repeated multiple times
- Technical details that most buyers don’t care about
- History or background that isn’t relevant to the buying decision
Finding Your Perfect Article Length
The perfect length for your articles depend on a lot of different factors. There are a few ways in which you can determine what works for you.
The first way is to check your target keyword in Google and look at the top results. See how long the top-ranking articles are. Look at what they include that yours does not have.
You can also try creating articles of different lengths and track:
- How well they rank in Google
- How long people stay on the page
- How many affiliate link clicks they get
- How much money they make
Tracking these can give you an idea of what works and what doesn’t.
For an affiliate marketer, the most important metric to track is not rankings or time on page – it’s actually how much money each article makes. Some shorter articles might make more money than longer ones if they’re more focused and convincing.
Finally, pay attention to comments and questions from readers.
Are they satisfied with your content? Are they asking for more information?
Use this feedback to adjust the length of your article if needed.
How to Make Any Length Article Better
No matter how long your article is, you want it to be instantly scannable to readers and not look overwhelming to read.
Your visitors should want to read your article. Here’s how to make articles of any length inviting and much better to read.
Break up text
Long blocks of text scare readers away. You can break up text by using:
- Short paragraphs (2-3 sentences)
- Bullet points and numbered lists
- Subheadings ever 200-300 words
- Bold text for important points
Use visuals
Pictures, graphics and non-text elements make your content easier to understand. They also give your readers a short mental break while reading.
- Add product photos
- Use comparison charts
- Embed videos
- Include screenshots on how to use the product
- Add before/after images when possible
Write in a clear, friendly way
You should try to write as if you’re talking to a friend. Your writing should use simple words that everyone understands and be free of jargon.
If you must use complex words, be sure to explain and simplify them as much as possible.
Make scanning easy
Most readers scan articles quickly looking for key info about a product. You can make the reader’s experience easy by creating content that is easy to scan.
Make content easy to scan by:
- Using clear descriptive headings
- Adding a table of contents for longer articles
- Including summary boxes for key points
- Creating comparison tables for product features
Helpful Tools to Check Your Articles
The right article length and good readability can help your articles make more money.
Here are some free tools can help you check if your article is right for your readers.
To check reading levels:
- Hemingway Editor – This tool shows you if your writing is too complex and uses AI to adjust text to a simpler reading level.
- Readable – This allows you to check reading levels and suggest improvements
To check word count, if you’re using WordPress, you can open the “outline” view of your editor to check the word count and approximate reading time of your article.
Otherwise, you can use a Chrome browser extension called Word Counter Plus.
Most SEO tools will give you an analysis of your writing and structure as well. I use RankMath but you can also use All-In-One-SEO.
Wrap-Up: Length Rules to Remember
If you made it this far, you’re ready to create great readable articles that convert well. Here is a recap of the most important points about article length.
- Different content types need different lengths
- Product reviews: 1500 – 2500 words
- Product comparisons: 2000 – 3000 words
- “Best products” lists: 2500 – 4000 words
- How-to guides: 1200 – 2000 words
- Quality matters more than length – don’t fill your articles with fluff and irrelevant details. A focused 1,500-word article is better than a rambling 3,000-word one.
- Watch how readers respond – If they’re leaving early or not clicking affiliate links, adjust your approach.
- Format matters as much as length – Even shorter articles can work if they’re well-organized and easy to read.
- Always include what readers need to make a decision – Cover all the important points, but don’t add fluff just to reach a word count.
Remember, the perfect article length is the one that covers the topic completely and keeps the reader engaged.
Most importantly though, it leads to affiliate link clicks and sales. You’ll also know you did great if your article ranks well in the search engines.
Focus on serving your readers first and the right article length will follow.
