Content Brief Template: Word Count Guidelines by Section

A good content brief saves writers guesswork and editors rewrites. The section-by-section word counts below are a starting point for a typical how-to or explainer article, not a rule. Adjust them to the topic.

The template

1. Working title and target search query. The main phrase the piece should answer.
2. Reader and goal. Who is reading, what they already know, and what they should be able to do afterwards.
3. Angle. What this piece offers that others don't: experience, data, a clearer method.
4. Outline with word counts:
   • Introduction with the direct answer: 60 to 120 words
   • Main sections, three to six of them: 150 to 350 words each
   • Examples, steps, or a table: 100 to 250 words
   • Common mistakes or caveats: 100 to 200 words
   • FAQ, three to five questions: 40 to 80 words per answer
   • Conclusion or next step: 40 to 100 words
5. Sources and facts to verify.
6. Internal links to include, and the call to action.
7. Total target length.

Setting the total length

Look at the pages that currently rank for the query. Their length tells you roughly how much ground the topic needs, but covering the question well matters more than matching a number. A short, complete answer beats a long, padded one. Why depth matters more than length explains.

Why section counts help

• They stop the introduction from swallowing half the article.
• They show where the depth should go.
• They make editing faster, since overlong sections stand out.

Check as you write

Select a section in the draft and Word Counter shows its count instantly. Then check the full piece with the readability scorer before it goes to editing.