2.3 Body content, quality & non-commodity ✦MediumInferred
Padded content
Padding a page to hit a word count with filler dilutes the useful parts and tests the reader patience. Length should follow substance, not a target.
What it is
Length for length’s sake.
Why it matters
Dilutes information density; harder to extract value.
How to fix it
Cut filler; raise substance per word.
How to find it on your site
- Read for filler: restated points, throat-clearing intros, obvious statements.
- Cut padding so every paragraph earns its place.
- Keep the page as long as the topic needs and no longer.
- Re-read for density of useful information.
Cross-reference to ranking and citation factors
Padding lowers information density and the experience. Tight, substantive content reads and ranks better.
Impact
Low-medium. Inferred.
Evidence
Helpful, substantive content over padding. Google Search Central, Creating helpful, reliable, people-first content
Sources