Level: Basic
Keyword length is a useful proxy for search intent and competition, and Excel makes it easy to calculate at scale across a whole list.
The Excel Technique
Character count uses =LEN(A2). Word count needs a small workaround since Excel has no native word-count function: =LEN(TRIM(A2))-LEN(SUBSTITUTE(TRIM(A2)," ",""))+1 counts spaces and adds one, giving you the number of words in the cell.
Example Scenario
You want to separate broad head terms from specific long-tail phrases in a 2,000-row keyword list. Adding a word-count column and sorting by it instantly groups the one- and two-word head terms at one end and the specific, five-plus-word long-tail phrases at the other.
Where This Fits in Your Keyword Research Process
Length-based sorting is a quick, formula-driven way to triage a large list into head-term and long-tail buckets before deciding which deserve dedicated pages versus which belong folded into broader content.
Next step: Use Append Word Count per Line from SeoWolf's Notepad to run your 2,000-row export through it first to get word counts attached to every line instantly, saving you from writing and dragging the SUBSTITUTE-based formula down the entire column yourself.