Should You Retire or Refresh Older Content on Your Blog? A Quick Guide
Today I have the first of two posts from the incredible Sarah Arrow who is a master in all things blog and content creation. For those of you who are bloggers as well, I really hope her insight helps you as well.
Ever stumbled upon one of your old blog posts and wondered whether to retire or refresh it? We’ve all been there! Today, we’re delving deeper into this topic, exploring not just how to handle old content but also the possible consequences if you don’t. So grab a cuppa, and let’s get started!
Sprucing Up Evergreen Content: The Power of a Quick Fix
Old but gold, that’s what evergreen content is all about. It never really goes out of style but might need a touch of magic to bring it back to life. A quick update with the latest information, a new image or two, and you’ve got something fresh and relevant once again.
Why It Matters: Keeping your content fresh ensures that it continues to engage your readers, rank well in search results, and stay aligned with your brand’s messaging.
What About Topical/Trending Content?
Oh, topical or trending content… How quickly you can go from hot and trendy to yesterday’s news! But don’t worry, it doesn’t mean it’s time to hit the delete button on that blog post just yet.
If you’ve got a blog post that was all the rage during a specific event (trending) or was newsworthy but now feels a bit stale, why not add a reflective spin?
Consider writing a brief update or adding a commentary on how things have evolved since the original post. If it’s truly past its prime and doesn’t serve your readers anymore, a well-planned redirect to something fresh and relevant might be the way to go.
Think of it like repurposing an old but beloved outfit – with a little creativity, you can breathe new life into it or find a graceful way to retire it.
Handling Out-Of-Date Content: Redirect or Remove?
Ah, the thorny issue of content that’s gone out of date. It’s a bit more complex, but don’t fret, we’ve got a roadmap!
- Redirect to Something Newer: Using tools like Redirection (a handy WordPress plugin you can find here), you can easily guide readers to more relevant posts.
- Add a Guiding Note: A simple note at the beginning of the old post can help guide visitors to newer content.
- Remove It Altogether: If it’s time to say goodbye, be sure to use a tool like Safe Redirect Manager (check it out here) to avoid broken links.
What Could Happen If You Don’t Take Action?
Ignoring old or irrelevant content can lead to some sticky situations:
- Loss of Credibility: Stale or inaccurate information can erode trust with your readers.
- SEO Impact: Search engines favour up-to-date content, so letting old content linger may harm your search rankings.
- User Experience Issues: If users are consistently landing on outdated or irrelevant pages, it can lead to a frustrating experience.
Tools to Organise and Manage Old Content
If you’re a WordPress blogger, there are plenty of tools to make this process smoother:
- Yoast SEO: This plugin helps you manage redirects and keeps your SEO game strong. More details can be found here.
- Broken Link Checker: Find those pesky broken links with ease. Get it here.
- Editorial Calendar: Keep track of what needs updating and when with this handy plugin. Check it out here.
Your Content, Your Choice, Your Responsibility
Deciding whether to retire or refresh content isn’t just a matter of personal preference; it’s about maintaining the integrity of your blog and the relationship with your readers. It’s like organising a digital wardrobe that never goes out of fashion!
With the right tools, understanding, and a sprinkle of creativity, you can make your old content shine like new or gracefully retire it when the time is right.
Remember, your readers trust you to provide them with accurate, timely information. And with the tools and tips shared here, I know you’ve got what it takes to keep your content in tip-top shape.
Until next time, happy blogging!
Sarah
Sarah Arrow is the creator of the 30-Day Business Blogging Challenge. Here she shares her blogging wisdom so that you can grow a better blog.
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Lots of great tips here, its amazing the amount of work that goes into making a blog, and to keep it relevant.
Lots of great tips here. Especially in regard to SEO. When I first started my career in marketing, I was far too keen to just forget a piece of content as soon as it went online, I never considered that in order to keep a good DA and keep in Google’s good books, I had to keep making sure all the content was up to date.
I’m starting to realise blogging is a lot more work than I assumed. I have visited excellent blogs where there are updates on old articles, items that have been reviewed that are no longer sold. But there have been many where the content is no longer true or relevant. I can imagine it is a lot to keep on top off especially when you’ve been running a blog for years and have a lot of content
As a reader I just take the end result for granted and do not think of the work behind the scenes.