Length
This guide is for controlling the length of fully automated articles. You can also use Custom instructions to further influence the output.
Overview
Machined lets you choose how long each article should be. Each option gives Machined a word-count target, and it aims to land close to it.
| Length | Target |
|---|---|
| Auto (recommended) | Matches the average length of the pages already ranking for your keyword |
| Short | About 800 words |
| Medium | About 1,400 words |
| Long | About 2,000 words |
| Comprehensive | About 3,200 words |
Auto is the default. Machined analyzes the top-ranking pages for your keyword (see SERP analysis) and targets their average word count.
AI can be inconsistent, so treat the targets as a guide rather than an exact word count.
Setting the length
- Single articles: under Advanced settings → Model & output → Length when creating the article
- Clusters: per article, or for every article at once, in the General tab of the cluster table
- Whole project: set a default Length in writing defaults, so every new article and cluster starts with it
Writing long-form content
For in-depth content, choose Long or Comprehensive. If you want to match what's already ranking, Auto is usually the best choice.
Writing listicles
For numbered lists of tips, ideas or examples, choose the Listicle content type rather than relying on length alone. Pair it with a list-style title, for example:
- "10 Best Beaches in Greece"
- "7 SEO Tips for Beginners"