wordCount

wordCount · Not mentioned by Google

Appears in

Article

What is it?

wordCount specifies the number of words in the article text. It is an integer value that tells search engines and AI systems the length of the content without them having to count it themselves.

Why this matters for AEO

AI answer engines use content length as one signal for depth and authority. A wordCount of 3,000 on a technical guide signals comprehensive coverage, while a wordCount of 200 signals a brief update. This helps AI systems match user queries to content with appropriate depth. A question seeking a quick definition gets a short article; a question seeking a complete guide gets a long one.

What the specs say

Schema.org: Integer. The number of words in the text of the CreativeWork such as an Article, Book, etc. schema.org/wordCount

Google: Not mentioned. wordCount does not appear in Google's Article structured data documentation. Google Article docs

How to find your value

• Article — Count the words in the body text (exclude navigation, sidebar, footer)
• CMS — Many CMS platforms display word count in the editor
• Webflow — No built-in word count; use a browser extension or text editor
• WordPress — Yoast SEO outputs wordCount automatically

Format and code

Type: Integer

{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Article",
  "headline": "How to Add Schema Markup to Blog Post?",
  "wordCount": 1250
}

The value must be an integer, not a string. "wordCount": "1250" is technically incorrect per the schema.org type definition.

Webflow implementation

Static pages

In Page Settings > Custom Code > Before </head>:

<script type="application/ld+json">
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Article",
  "headline": "Your Article Title",
  "wordCount": 850
}
</script>

Update the value when you significantly revise the article.

CMS template pages

Webflow does not have a built-in word count field. Create a custom Number field in your collection (e.g., "Word Count") and populate it manually or via automation:

<script type="application/ld+json">
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Article",
  "wordCount": {{wf {&quot;path&quot;:&quot;word-count&quot;,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;Number&quot;} }}
}
</script>

In Schema HQ

The wordCount field calculates word count from the page's visible body content and sets the wordCount property automatically. No manual input required.

Real examples

egochi.com (egochi.com):

{
  "@type": "Article",
  "headline": "How to Add Schema Markup to Blog Post?",
  "datePublished": "2018-08-26T01:17:14+00:00",
  "dateModified": "2026-01-17T06:31:52+00:00",
  "wordCount": 26
}

Generated by Yoast SEO on WordPress. Note the low word count value likely reflects an indexing issue rather than actual article length.

Related fields

• articleBody
• headline
• dateModified

FAQ

Is wordCount worth including?

For most sites, wordCount is low priority. Google does not use it, and AI engines can determine content length from the page HTML. It is most useful for content-heavy sites where length signals expertise (academic papers, long-form guides). Yoast SEO includes it by default on WordPress sites.

Should wordCount include headings and captions?

Count only the main body text of the article. Exclude navigation, sidebar content, image captions, and footer text. The value should reflect the editorial content the reader consumes.