In today’s world, trends and styles are always changing, which is wonderful. I’m sure we can all recall our own share of fashion blunders from the past. Change is a wonderful thing since it allows us to reinvent ourselves, our wardrobes, and even our blog postings.
Over time, our blog entries can become obsolete, out of date, and incorrect, but a little attention may refresh them.
Why Should You Be Updating Outdated Content?
You may be wondering why I’d suggest digging into your blog and updating an old post that’s buried deep in your archives right now. Well, I’m here to let you know that updating older blog articles can drastically increase the number of visitors to your website. The primary advantage of blogging is the search engine optimisation SEO value it provides, and there’s often a “power law” at play in published pieces in which a tiny number of older postings drive a large proportion of traffic, up to 80% from the top 25–50 posts.
What does this signify for the content on your blog? Your visitors may be being driven to out-of-date or incorrect articles, which can reduce their confidence in you. However, if outdated material is updated, posts can frequently see a 15–30% boost in traffic, allowing you to avoid providing outdated data to your website visitors. Republishing and updating older blog content extends the life of your articles, and if you’re in a rush, it’s often easier to republish an old blog post than to create a completely new one.
How Do You Choose Which Articles to Update?
How do you know where to start when it comes to updating your older pieces? My recommendation is to utilise your blog’s analytics to see which articles are performing best. Keep track of traffic statistics, such as CTA clicks and conversions. You may be able to increase your leads by updating an older piece with a higher conversion rate. The number of inbound links and social shares your articles have should also be considered. All of these indicators will assist you decide which pieces should be updated and which should not.
What Are Some Updates You Should Be Making to Your Blog Posts?
Once you’ve compiled a list of articles and incorporated them into your publishing plan, there are a few things to keep in mind when updating.
- Don’t change a post’s URL.
- Updating the URL can impact the SEO value of the post and cause more harm than good.
- Ensure the content is accurate.
- Remove content that is no longer relevant, and replace outdated statistics and examples with newer ones.
- Bulk up a post where it’s thin.
- Fill in any blanks that have been created by the removal of inaccurate information. Beef up certain sections with new best practices and additional information.
- Improve its readability.
- Add headers, bullets, and additional formatting to improve scannability.
- Check all links.
- Make sure there are no broken links and replace old links with better ones or links to newer resources.
- Update the CTA.
- Ensure that you’re providing readers with the best offer to increase your conversion opportunities.
- Add an editor’s note.
- It’s a good idea to include a remark at the end of an updated article for transparency’s sake. For example, if the post has a lot of comments, your reader may be perplexed by the current publish date and remarks dating back years.
- Republish your post!
You’ve Republished Your Post. Now What?
Keep track of the changes you’ve made, and keep an eye on your post’s performance after republishing. Keeping track of the modifications you’ve made will show you how those changes affected the post’s performance. Also, be sure to market your work after republishing it. Share your website with friends and family to see how much traffic you can generate.
