Have you ever ever had this sense?
You take a look at an previous weblog put up and suppose, “I hate how I wrote this put up, and it’s soooo previous. My weblog is so a lot better now. Possibly I ought to delete the previous posts I don’t like anymore. Wouldn’t Google want more energizing content material anyway?”
Reviewing previous weblog posts can really feel like previous footage. It’s straightforward to have cringe-worthy moments and suppose, “Why did I believe that bizarre coiffure was ever okay?”
Oh, how I perceive that feeling. However does deleting content material make sense on your web site (and your search engine marketing marketing campaign?)
Let’s break it down:
Ought to search engine marketing content material be deleted as a result of it’s previous?
Someplace within the sands of search engine marketing time, a content material ageism fantasy arose that suggests web site homeowners ought to purge all previous content material. In a Logan’s Run-like search engine marketing technique (my Gen Xers will know the references), all content material over a sure age could be eradicated.
What number of articles have you ever learn which can be nonetheless useful and well-written — despite the fact that they could be 5 (heck, even ten) years previous?
The bottom info continues to be strong, even when years have handed.
(And sure, these older articles should still place.)
Certain, some articles could by no means see any site visitors, could also be dreadfully written, or — just like the previous weblog posts of yore — could solely embody a few sentences like, “Hey, I’m talking at this convention. Come discover me.”
It’s okay to let these go. I’ve mentioned tips on how to resolve to maintain or delete content material in this post. You’ll even see an previous picture of me!
However by way of your different, older pages — you’ve gotten so many alternatives.
- You possibly can replace the content material and alter the featured graphic. For example, are there new articles you may hyperlink to out of your previous content material? I wrote a guide about updating old content a few years agoto .
- You possibly can create new content material that hyperlinks to your older content material belongings. For example, should you’ve written posts monitoring trade traits for ten years, you possibly can create an “Business Tendencies Over the Years” web page that hyperlinks to older articles.
- You possibly can…do nothing and let the put up fly as-is.
Does Google suggest deleting previous content material?
No. Not for search engine marketing functions.
Deleting previous content material isn’t a magic bullet that will help you get higher rankings (until we’re speaking about websites with 1000’s of pages and important structure points.) Google isn’t going to have a look at your web site and say, “FINALLY! They deleted the previous content material! It’s time to place the location #1 for all of the key phrases.”
Google…doesn’t care.
Actually, your web site could lose long-tail positions should you begin deleting content material with no positive technique. Chances are you’ll not like a few of your “unhelpful and previous” pages — however your readers could really feel in a different way.
However what if the web page is actually dangerous, and also you haven’t discovered should you ought to repair or delete it.
Like an excellent buddy, Google will overlook your content material shortcomings and ignore the web page. The web page received’t harm you — but it surely definitely received’t assist.
Right here’s the Search Engine Roundtable post if you wish to be taught extra.
What does this imply to you?
- If you happen to handle a weblog, overview your posts each six months and search for alternatives. Chances are you’ll not discover posts to delete, however you could pinpoint new inside linking, content material repurposing, or social promotion concepts.
- If you happen to work with purchasers with older blogs, think about should you can assist them consider and breathe life into older weblog posts. If nothing else, you may replace a put up with new info, graphics, and hyperlinks.
Backside line: Simply because the content material is previous doesn’t imply it’s horrible or outdated — even should you could cringe at your previous writing type.
It usually makes extra sense to maintain previous search engine marketing content material — particularly since deleting it doesn’t assist your search engine marketing.
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