Recommended Length for Knowledge Base Articles: A Comprehensive Guide

When it comes to crafting knowledge base articles, determining the ideal length can be a nuanced decision. There is no one-size-fits-all template for what constitutes an effective piece of content. The length of your knowledge base article should reflect the depth of the information it contains and the needs of your audience.

Flexibility in Content Length

The length of a knowledge base article can range from less than 100 words to more than 1500 words. The key is to ensure that the article comprehensively covers the topic from all angles. The general rule is to keep things as short and concise as possible while still accomplishing the goal of the article.

The term for this approach is often likened to a young woman’s skirt: it should be long enough to cover the important points but short enough to be engaging and interesting. This metaphor captures the essence of the ideal length: enough to convey the necessary information, but not so much that it detracts from the reader's interest.

Depth vs. Readability

A full and thorough discussion of the subject matter is often considered ideal, but longer articles can be challenging to read and navigate. To address this, it’s often a good practice to split long articles into sub-articles. Each sub-article should provide a concise summary of the subtopic along with a link to the more detailed version. This structure not only keeps the main article readable but also improves the user experience by allowing for easier navigation.

Our guideline suggests maintaining articles under 10,000 words or approximately 50 kilobytes when averaged. This is a measure that can be tracked through the page history. If an article exceeds this size, it should typically be split into sub-topics. This practice ensures the article remains manageable and easy to digest.

However, it’s important to note that splitting an article into sub-topics can be intensive and challenging, especially for broad topics. Despite these challenges, the goal is to maintain a well-maintained article that is appropriately split into subtopics. This often results in a page size of around 40 kilobytes, which is ideal for readability and SEO optimization.

Examples and Considerations

While these guidelines are helpful, it’s essential to consider the specific context of each article. For instance, the Canada article is a prime example of a broad topic that necessitates a large number of subtopics and over 250 kilobytes of content. Despite this, the article effectively covers its subject comprehensively.

Ultimately, the decision on the length of a knowledge base article should be driven by the content and its purpose. Don’t be deterred by the length; content quality and user experience are paramount.