In this post, we’re going to be talking about the importance of updating old blog posts. I’ll also go over seven things you can do to update your blog posts. These blogging tips will have your old posts looking and performing better in no time.
Why Update Old Blog Posts
When I first began blogging, things weren’t the way they are now. Back then, you could write a 200-word blog post and call it a day.
The average blogger didn’t worry about SEO or creating social media graphics.
Times have changed. Blogging has become a lot more strategic over the years. Throwing a few words into the post editor and hitting publish isn’t going to cut it anymore.
When I decided to get serious about blogging for my business, the first thing I did was delete my old and outdated blog posts.
Big mistake.
If you have old or outdated content on your blog, instead of deleting it, why not try refreshing it?
When visitors land on your old blog posts, you want to make sure your content is up-to-date, relevant, and in line with the style of your newer content.
Here are some things you can do to update your old blog posts.
1. Update the Information
Did you write a “how-to” that’s now outdated? Or maybe there’s more you can add to your post to make it more helpful to your readers?
Updating or adding more information to your old blog posts is one of the best ways to refresh your content.
TIP: Don’t forget to add relevant affiliate links when updating your content.
2. Break Up Your Content
When I look back at my older blog posts, one of the first things I notice is how long my paragraphs were. Breaking up your content makes your post easier for your visitors to read. Here are a few things you can do to break up your content:
- Write shorter paragraphs. I typically keep my paragraphs to 2-3 sentences.
- Use headings
- Add images
3. Update Your Images
If the images in your post are showing their age, or your lack of photography skills at that time, update them.
If you were using cheesy stock images, or images you didn’t have permission to use, change them out.
Related Post: Where to Find Free Images for Your Blog
Create Pinterest Friendly Images
There’s a good chance that a lot of your older content doesn’t have Pinterest friendly images, or have Pinterest friendly images that could use some serious updating.
Updating your images for Pinterest increases the chances of your content being shared and repinned on the platform.
Recommended Resource: I recommend using PicMonkey for creating stunning graphics for your blog and social media.
4. Optimize Your Post for Search Engines
If your post isn’t ranking well (or at all) in search engines, making your post SEO friendly is worth the time and effort. If you can get ranked higher in search engines, there’s a good chance you’ll be seeing that traffic for years to come.
Must Read: SEO for Beginners: How to Craft the Perfect SEO Blog Post (with Free Printable)
5. Check for Spelling and Grammar Errors
No matter how many times I’ve gone through and checked my posts for spelling and grammar errors, some always seem to slip through the cracks. Go through your posts and check for spelling and grammar errors. You might be surprised at what you find.
One thing that’s helped me tremendously in keeping my mistakes down to a minimum is Grammarly. Before I publish anything on my blog, I use Grammarly to proofread my content.
6. Interlink
Interlinking is when you place relevant links to your published blog posts within your post.
I love interlinking because it’s a great way to put eyes on your other relevant blog posts. It’s also an excellent way to keep readers on your blog.
To top it off, interlinking is also good for SEO.
7. Fix Broken Links
When going through your articles, make sure they don’t contain any broken links (links that no longer work). If you notice any broken links, remove them, or update them.
You can use the Broken Link Checker plugin to search for and fix any broken links on your WordPress blog.
Related Post: How to Fix Broken Links on Your Blog
Once you’ve updated your blog post, the final thing you want to do is share it on social media. Sharing your updated post is an excellent way to get new eyes on old content.
When updating my old blog posts, I start by updating my most popular posts first. I use Google Analytics to see which posts are receiving the most traffic.
When you begin updating your old blog posts, don’t make it a race. You don’t have to do it all at once.
Set a goal of updating 1 or 2 blog posts per day until you’ve gotten all of your content updated.
Do you have any tips for updating your content? How has updating old blog posts helped your blog? Let me know in the comments below.
Bonus: Free Checklist
Click here to download this checklist.
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