Over the past few years I’ve been blogging, I’ve seen where some bloggers say either:
| A) You should never edit older posts; instead, either add an “Update:” note or simply write a new updated post and link to it from the older post. |
| B) Go back and edit the older post because you want it to contain the correct information. |
Personally, I like the idea of going back and editing / updating my older posts so that they reflect my experience up-to-date as well as any changes that have happened online or in the business world.
As an example, take a look at my Top Content area Google Analytics shows me:
The most traffic my blog receives is to a blog article I wrote a while back called, The Different Types of Corporations, LLCs, Partnerships, & More. Just about all of the traffic comes from Google Search. These people are looking for information on how to structure their business and protect their assets.
But things change… laws, new structures, etc. and if I never update the post people could be getting the wrong information.
So I’m curious. What’s your take?
Do you prefer to leave older articles as they are and just provide an “Update” note or link, or are you ok with going back and editing the older articles.
On a side note…
I plan to split off some of these older entrepreneurial articles which receive decent traffic and create their own mini sites, but more on that later.
March 29th, 2010 at 5:27 pm
I do update them and see no problem with doing that. My blog, my call.
March 29th, 2010 at 5:44 pm
Hi John,
I’ve been thinking of this a lot lately. On one of my blogs, I’ll add an “update” to the end of the post and maybe add some SEO. But, I’ve heard if we change the title, if someone lands on the old title, they’ will get a 404 (?) error. So, if that’s the case, I’m thinking we would have to do a redirect (not sure how to do that), or just write a new post, new words, same topic.
On my blogging blog, I’m more apt to take the old topic, put a new spin on it, and link back to the old post in case anyone wants to read it. Which brings up another point; if we over edit an older post, the comments attached to it might end up sounding like they are “off topic”.
LOL After reading Vered’s comment, I’m wondering if I’m over analyzing this. Hmmmm…
Barbara Swafford´s last blog ..Google Isn’t God 
March 29th, 2010 at 7:20 pm
@Vered – Good point.
@Barbara – I didn’t think about the comments, that’s a good point. I don’t think you’re over thinking it, I think you’re just considering all the options and repercussions.
As far as changing the title goes, I personally wouldn’t do that, but it’s totally up to you. Your visitors won’t get a 404 page if you simple change the title. They’ll get one if the post’s web address changes, which typically doesn’t happen when you simply change the title.
The redirect (in case you needed it) is pretty easy. Open up your root .htaccess file and put this line of code in it:
redirect 301 /old-blog-post-title http://your-blog.com/new-blog-post-title
The 301 tells search engines that the redirect is permanent and they should replace the old url with the new one (while keeping the same PageRank).
March 31st, 2010 at 7:25 pm
Thank you for explaining how to write a redirect, John,
You make it so easy. No wonder your book turned out to be such a hit. It’s written in a language anyone can understand. Kudos to you for that.
Barbara Swafford´s last blog ..No One Put A Gun To My Head
April 1st, 2010 at 11:20 am
Hi John
Not a problem that I have to face just yet… don’t have any old posts.
Nice tip on the Google Analytics showing Top Content Area – better than taking a guess on which posts are popular.
Look forward to your info on mini sites.
Sorry to go off topic but I wondered what your thoughts are about allowing trackbacks / pings.
Keith Davis´s last blog ..A helping hand…
April 1st, 2010 at 4:57 pm
John, I think I’d do the same as Barbara has suggested. I’d write a new, updated post and link back to the previous. That sounds like a good plan you’ve got to split off the older articles with higher traffic and create their own mini sites.
Davina´s last blog ..Beyond the Dysfunctional Family
April 2nd, 2010 at 1:41 pm
I recently considered this question and asked it on Facebook before I proceeded. Those that responded didn’t see the harm in changing titles or phrases in an old post if it would help it get more traffic. I’ve recently been trying to learn SEO for the blog I started for our company. After looking at our stats and the hits we were getting, it was clear that I was not being very successful. The creative writer in me wanted to keep my headlines fun and catchy. So I changed a couple of my old posts titles and tried to reword it just a little to get the phrase in the body. I have seen one new hit as a result. Frankly, I don’t see the downside to this. I really don’t see the need to announce the update unless you are updating a fact that you did not have when the first wrote the post, like the birthdate of your child.
Debbie Yost´s last blog ..How Others Affect Your Happiness in the Workplace
April 2nd, 2010 at 1:44 pm
And one other thing, I must not have my Google analytic set up right because I have absolutely no hits or subscribers. I know that can’t be right, as far as the hits go because Statcounter shows the hits. Measly as they are right now.
Debbie Yost´s last blog ..How Others Affect Your Happiness in the Workplace
April 2nd, 2010 at 4:51 pm
@Keith – Personally I’m fine with trackbacks and pings. Since I moderate first time comments I check the trackbacks and see what kinds of sites they are. If it’s a legit person who wrote something up and then linked to my article, I’ll approve it.
But if it’s a link to someone’s AdSense or Banner Ad site with no real reason for the link, I’ll trash it. Also, I prefer to separate the pings from the comment section. I haven’t done it yet for this blog, but on previous blogs I’d make all the pings show below the comment box. If you get too many of them, they can really mess up the conversation in the comment area.
@Davina – thanks for sharing your input. I suppose it depends on who’s reaching those articles and will they click the “Update” link?
@Debbie – I agree with you and don’t see any reason why you can’t update older posts. To some people (typically search traffic), those are the current articles because that’s what they’re looking for.
As for Google Analytics, check out my video on how to do that. Maybe that’ll help.
May 10th, 2010 at 5:21 am
Hi John,
It is a better solution for me to edit/update older posts. However if I think about a situation when there is so much new info and changes on particular topic then I would simply write a new post and link it back to the old one. I reckon in such a situation it could be even fun and useful to keep the old one as it is for the purpose of comparison or historical data
Justyna Bizdra´s last blog ..Creative Problem Solving Steps not only for internet marketers
May 10th, 2010 at 7:07 am
Hi Justyna. I think that’s a great way of putting it and is the way I’d do it. But don’t forget to update the old post with a link to the new one.