Unlocking Word Count Stats in WordPress: 3 Simple Methods You Need to Know

Tracking word count statistics is essential for managing a blog, online magazine, or content-rich website, as it provides valuable insights.

Understanding which post lengths generate the most traffic and engagement allows you to refine your content strategy effectively.

At CanadaCreate, we advise our writers to monitor word counts to ensure that content remains engaging and free from unnecessary filler. By prioritizing quality over quantity, we strive to deliver valuable information without overwhelming our readers.

In this article, we will guide you through the straightforward process of obtaining word count statistics in WordPress, step by step.

Why Should You Track Word Count Statistics for Your WordPress Site?

There are numerous reasons to monitor word count for your WordPress site.

As a freelance writer, you may charge by the word, or your clients may set specific word count targets that you need to achieve.

If your WordPress blog has multiple authors, tracking their word count statistics can help you identify which authors are contributing the most to your site.

This information can enhance the management of your multi-author blog. For instance, you might reward the author with the highest word count or hold discussions with those who are underperforming.

Even if you’re the sole contributor to your website, tracking word count statistics can be valuable. Monitoring changes in your word count over time may reveal trends and opportunities for increased productivity.

With that in mind, let’s explore several methods to obtain word count statistics in WordPress. If you want to skip ahead to a specific method, feel free to use the links below:

• Method 1: View the Word Count for a Post in WordPress
• Method 2: Obtain Comprehensive Word Count Statistics in WordPress Using a Plugin
• Method 3: Add Word Count Statistics in WordPress Through Coding
• Bonus: Establish a Minimum Word Count Requirement for WordPress Posts
• Common Questions About Word Count

Method 1: View the Word Count for a Post in WordPress

The WordPress block editor allows you to easily check the word count for any page or post.

Simply compose your article or page content, and when you’re finished, you can see the word count and estimated reading time in the block panel on the right.

However, the character count is not available in this section.

To access that, click the ‘Document Overview’ button at the top of the screen. This will open a sidebar on the left where you can switch to the ‘Outline’ tab.

You can easily access the word count, character count, and estimated reading time for your posts or pages. This word count updates automatically as you write.

If you have a word limit, this method provides a quick and straightforward way to keep your content within that limit.

Method 2: Obtain Comprehensive Word Count Statistics in WordPress Using a Plugin

If you’re interested in viewing word count statistics for a specific author, post type, or your entire website, this method is perfect for you.

The simplest way to obtain these detailed statistics is by using the Just Writing Statistics plugin. This free tool displays your word count by month, author, and post type.

If you utilize custom post types, it can also provide statistics for those custom posts.

First, install and activate the Just Writing Statistics plugin. If you need assistance, please refer to our guide on how to install a WordPress plugin.

After activation, navigate to the Writing Statistics »Statistics page in the WordPress dashboard. The plugin will prompt you to choose whether to count the words for all your content or just for content created within a specific date range.

To determine the total word count for your entire website, select the ‘Count all content on this site at one time’ option. After that, click the ‘Calculate Writing Statistics’ button.

The Writing Statistics feature will automatically update your statistics as you add new posts and pages, eliminating the need to click the ‘calculate’ button each time you want to check the latest word count.

Whenever you want to view your statistics, simply navigate to the Writing Statistics » Statistics page and select the ‘All Content’ tab to view the total word count for all your content.

On this page, you will find the total word count categorized by different post types, including published, scheduled, and unpublished content.

You will also see a ‘Total Words’ section that indicates your overall word count across all types of content.

This figure includes both published and unpublished content, so it may not reflect the number of words that visitors can see on your live website. Additionally, you can view the estimated reading time for all your content.

You can scroll down to view graphs that illustrate the word and item counts for pages, posts, templates, patterns, and global styles.

To view the word count for specific months, simply click on the ‘Monthly’ tab.

This feature allows you to identify trends, including your most productive months and periods when your word count was lower than usual.

If you manage a multi-author blog, consider checking the ‘Author’ tab.

This option enables you to analyze your site’s word count statistics by each author.

You can also view a graph on this page that displays the total word count contributed by each author, making it easy to recognize your most prolific writers.

Method 3: Adding Word Count Statistics in WordPress Using Code

If you’re looking for a quick way to view word counts on your ‘All Posts’ screen without the need for an additional plugin, this method is perfect for you.

It requires you to add a simple code snippet to your website to achieve the desired result.

You can easily incorporate a code snippet that displays the word count next to each post on the Posts » All Postsscreen. This is a straightforward method to identify your site’s longest posts or to verify if any posts fall short of the required word count.

However, be aware that adding code can be complex, and even a minor mistake can disrupt your site or render it inaccessible. That’s why we recommend using WPCode, which is the easiest and safest way to implement custom code on your website.

We have extensively tested it on our demo site and found it to be extremely user-friendly. For more information, check out our comprehensive WPCode review.

First, you need to install and activate the WPCode plugin. For detailed instructions, refer to our tutorial on how to install a WordPress plugin.

👆 Note: WPCode offers a free plan that you can utilize for this tutorial. However, we will be using the pro version to access additional features.

Once activated, navigate to the Code Snippets » + Add SnippetNavigate to the page from your WordPress dashboard. Click on the ‘Use Snippet’ button located under the ‘Add Your Custom Code (New Snippet)’ section.

You will be directed to the ‘Create Custom Snippet’ page, where you can enter a name for your code snippet. This name is for your reference only and will not be displayed anywhere else.

Then, choose ‘PHP Snippet’ as the code type from the dropdown menu on the right side.

Next, insert the following custom code into the ‘Code Preview’ box:

add_filter('manage_posts_columns', 'CanadaCreate_add_column');
function CanadaCreate_add_column($CanadaCreate_wordcount_column) { $CanadaCreate_wordcount_column['CanadaCreate_wordcount'] = 'Word Count'; return $CanadaCreate_wordcount_column;
} // Link the word count to our new column
add_action('manage_posts_custom_column', 'CanadaCreate_display_wordcount'); function CanadaCreate_display_wordcount($name) { global $post; switch ($name)
{ case 'CanadaCreate_wordcount': // Get the post ID and pass it into the get_wordcount function $CanadaCreate_wordcount = CanadaCreate_get_wordcount($post->ID); echo $CanadaCreate_wordcount; }
}
function CanadaCreate_get_wordcount($post_id) { // Retrieve the post, remove unnecessary tags, and perform the word count $CanadaCreate_wordcount = str_word_count( strip_tags( strip_shortcodes(get_post_field( 'post_content', $post_id )) ) ); return $CanadaCreate_wordcount;
}

Next, scroll down to the ‘Insertion’ section and select the ‘Auto Insert’ option.

Now, the code snippet will automatically run on your website once activated.

You need to scroll back to the top and switch the ‘Inactive’ toggle to ‘Active.’

Next, click the ‘Save Snippet’ button to save your settings.

Now, navigate to the Posts » All Posts section in your WordPress dashboard.

You will find the word count displayed for each post in a new column.

Bonus: Establish a Minimum Word Count for WordPress Posts

Having learned how to check word count statistics, you can also set a minimum word count for your WordPress posts. This is particularly useful for multi-author blogs to ensure that authors do not publish low-quality content.

This practice encourages writers to produce high-quality content, which can improve your website’s rankings. Research indicates that longer, more comprehensive articles typically perform better in search results and draw more visitors than shorter articles.

To do this, you will need to install and activate the PublishPress Checklists plugin. For detailed instructions, refer to our beginner’s guide on installing a WordPress plugin.

After activation, go to the Checklists page in the WordPress dashboard and select the ‘Content’ tab from the left column.

Next, set the ‘Number of words in content’ task to ‘Required’ from the dropdown menu. You can then specify a minimum and maximum word count for your articles in the ‘Options’ section.

After completing your changes, simply click the ‘Save Changes’ button to apply your settings. For further guidance, check out our tutorial on setting a minimum word count for WordPress posts.

Keep in mind that these figures serve as a guideline. The primary objective is to produce high-quality, valuable content for your audience, whether it’s a brief update or an extensive, informative guide.

Common Questions About Word Count

Here are some common inquiries from our readers regarding word count analysis in WordPress:

Does word count influence SEO?

There is no specific minimum word count that guarantees improved search rankings. Google’s main priority is to display high-quality content that effectively addresses users’ inquiries.

Longer articles often perform better in rankings because they are usually more thorough. However, the quality and relevance of the content always take precedence over length.

What is the optimal length for a blog post?

The optimal length of a blog post varies based on the subject matter and your target audience. A brief news update may only require 300 words, while a comprehensive guide could exceed 2,500 words.

We suggest analyzing the top-ranking articles for your chosen keyword. This will provide insight into the necessary depth and length to effectively cover the topic.

Is it possible to set a word count goal for writers in WordPress?

WordPress does not include a built-in option for establishing specific word count goals. However, you can set a minimum word count to ensure that every article meets a designated length requirement.

As detailed in our bonus section, you can implement a code snippet on your site that prevents authors from publishing a post until it meets the minimum word count you have specified.

We hope this guide has helped you understand how to access word count statistics in WordPress. You might also be interested in learning how to add a blog post checklist to the WordPress editor and exploring our top recommendations for the best writing assistant tools for WordPress.

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