When we first started creating content for the website, I had no idea about this stuff or about the concept of evergreen content, so we lost a lot of traffic because of dated content. Once I went back and updated content like “Kitchen Trends For 2022” to “Kitchen Trends For 2023” I was blown away by the renewed wave of traffic we got. Yes it required some work, but not as much as I’d anticipated. In this case, it was a trend piece so it took some rewriting, but for other content it’s just a matter of changing the year or updating other small info.
As a technology editor and publisher, I once spearheaded an initiative to update our cornerstone content on our site, and the rankings results improved instantly. Our site’s daily traffic increased by 20% and the overall monthly page views rose by 40%. In my experience, I discovered that updating the old content on the site leads to an improvement in the freshness score. That means our content was more attractive, enhancing search engine traffic, and making our SEO strategies more effective. On most occasions, our content team always focuses on churning new content daily. But, this did not translate into improved backlinks and traffic. The updating of the old content requires less work and generates faster results. When Google search engine sniffs your content is new, you are likely to experience a spike in traffic. This makes your efforts to update old content worthwhile, leading to an increase in high-quality backlinks.
While doing SEO research on our existing content, I noticed one particular article that had several hig DR backlinks most of which were a result of the header image being used on other blogs. But when I looked at the content, it wasn't very good. So I went in and optimized the content increasing its length and including semantically related keywords. Now, that article has first page position as well as the rich snippet. That header image is now consistently giving us backlinks from other blogs. In essence, we were able to amplify something that we noticed people we're liking.
I'm Magee Clegg, and I've been in the digital marketing world since 2014, helping B2B companies bolster their client bases and grow their revenues. I have seen firsthand how revising old content can lead to a significant increase in backlinks and thus improve SEO performance. One real-life example I'd like to share happened with one of my clients. The company had an old, well-liked article on their website about social media strategies. However, it was written in 2016 and was no longer entirely relevant due to swift developments and changes in the social media landscape. We decided to overhaul the article, updating the info to reflect the current environment, incorporating insights on newer platforms such as TikTok and optimizing the piece for relevant, high-volume keywords. Within a month, the updated article saw a surge in traffic, and it started ranking on the first page for several relevant keywords. What's more, we saw an influx of new backlinks. Other websites started linking to this updated guide, as it now offered valuable, up-to-date information. This showed us how effective old content revision can be for gaining fresh backlinks and boosting SEO performance. Refreshing old content that already resonates with your audience can lead to impressive gains. All it takes is some tweaks to make sure the material is currently relevant and optimized for today's search queries.
I've seen firsthand how updating old content can significantly impact digital marketing, especially in terms of gaining new backlinks. We specifically have an earlier blog post about "Best SEO Practices" on our website. Despite being thorough when it was first published in 2018, the rapidly evolving SEO landscape has made it outdated. We made the decision to update this content in 2023. We added fresh, pertinent resources and tools, updated the statistics, and took into account the most recent developments in SEO. Post-update, we reached out to websites that had previously linked to similar content. We informed them about our updated, more comprehensive guide. This approach was a game-changer. Within a month, we observed a notable increase in backlinks. Several high-authority sites in the SEO niche began linking to our article, citing it as a current and valuable resource. This surge wasn't just about the increased number of backlinks; it was about the quality. We attracted links from authoritative domains, which significantly boosted our site's credibility and search engine ranking. It was a clear example of how revisiting and updating old content can not only keep it relevant but also turn it into a magnet for new, high-quality backlinks.
I recall a particularly striking example from our work with a cryptocurrency startup years ago. Back then, we regularly published high-value content covering concepts, themes, and topics on the burgeoning crypto industry: a strategy crucial for building investor confidence. Each piece was meticulously researched, offering rich insights. However, the rapid evolution of the crypto sector meant that the content aged quickly. To tackle this, we committed to updating our material annually. This wasn't just a matter of tweaking a few lines; it involved substantial research to ensure the content reflected the latest trends and developments in the industry. The payoff was substantial. Our revised content consistently generated a surge in new backlinks. Crypto bloggers, influencers, and even competing brands started referencing our work, particularly our pillar posts and ebooks. These updates solidified the startup's credibility and maintained their position as a high authority source in the crypto space. It's a testament to how dynamic content management can be a game changer, especially in fast-evolving industries.
Hi there, Hi, I'm Diana Zheng. I'm the Head of Marketing at Canada's top eCommerce shipping company, Stallion Express. I've got years of experience in marketing and brand building, so I'm excited to share a success story about updating old content with you. Our team compiled a detailed shipping guide for our website a few years ago. We updated it with the most up-to-date industry news and shipping trends, and within 3 months, we had 40% more new backlinks. We kept up with the ever-changing eCommerce landscape and provided our audience with valuable and relevant information. This attracted the attention of authoritative websites. Not only did this strategic content update improve our SEO performance, but it also helped position Stallion Express as an industry leader in the shipping sector. The main lesson is that you must update your content regularly to keep up with current market trends, drive organic traffic with more backlinks and build your brand's trust. I hope this information proves beneficial to you! If you have any other questions, feel free to let me know. Email: diana.zheng@shipstallion.com Website: https://stallionexpress.ca/ Headshot: https://freeimage.host/i/diana-zheng.HO1EMxI LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/stallionexpress/ Bio: Diana Zheng, Head of Marketing at Stallion Express, is a results-driven professional with diverse fitness, hospitality, and education backgrounds. With a proven track record in revenue generation and relationship building, she has successfully led two personal training businesses. At Stallion Express, Diana empowers Canadian eCommerce sellers with comprehensive shipping solutions. Passionate about travel, she enjoys meeting diverse individuals and exploring ideas for personal development.
Absolutely! One instance that stands out was when we decided to consolidate our fragmented articles into a comprehensive guide. We identified all our articles on "Sticker Marketing" and combined the scattered information into one definitive article. This provided our readers a one-stop resource, eliminating the need to hop across multiple articles. The result was astounding - a significant increase in backlinks, as other bloggers started referring our all-inclusive guide in their content. We also noticed that we have schema markups on Google for some keywords that lead to our in-depth article.
We experienced a significant increase in new backlinks when we decided to revamp some of our old content. For instance, one of our articles, originally titled '10 Efficiency Tips', was a few years old and still relevant but wasn't performing as well as it once did. We decided to freshen it up by expanding it into '25 Efficiency Tips for 2023', adding more in-depth information, relevant tips, and incorporating visual enhancements such as screenshots to better illustrate the points. This updated approach made the content more comprehensive and current, which led to an impressive surge in new backlinks as more people found it useful and worth sharing.
By offering to write guest posts on relevant websites, I can showcase my expertise in the field while incorporating the updated content as a reference. It's an effective strategy to generate backlinks and attract new audiences. For example, I could reach out to popular industry blogs and propose a guest post that provides valuable insights related to the updated content. By including links to the updated post within the guest post, I can encourage readers to visit my website and potentially generate backlinks. This approach leverages the existing audience and credibility of established websites to drive backlinks and increase visibility.
I am constantly amazed by the linking dividends yielded by updating aging content. We focus on overhauling older resources that still attract strong organic traffic but need a refresh. In almost every case, we see exciting growth in new links to those pieces within months as influencers spot the improved content and reference it. If you aren't already, you should absolutely have an editorial calendar dedicated to content updates - it's one of the most reliable ways to build links.
Elevating Content Impact: In a recent scenario, I amplified our company blog's impact by rejuvenating old content, leading to a substantial surge in new backlinks. Acknowledging the dynamic nature of our industry, I revisited and updated a previously comprehensive guide that had grown somewhat outdated. By infusing it with fresh insights, current data, and addressing emerging trends, I breathed new life into the content. Employing strategic outreach and social media promotion, I reintroduced the updated content to our audience and relevant influencers. The outcome was remarkable: industry professionals and websites started linking to our revamped guide, recognizing the updated and valuable information. This not only bolstered our content's credibility but also markedly increased the number of backlinks, amplifying our website's authority in the industry. This experience highlights the effectiveness of consistently refreshing and enhancing content to attract new backlinks, showcasing the enduring value of evergreen content in the ever-evolving digital landscape.
Founder & CEO at PRLab
Answered 2 years ago
There was a time when updating our old blog posts with fresh images and videos led to a significant increase in new backlinks. By enhancing the visual appeal and making the content more engaging, users spent more time on our site, which lowered the bounce rate. This improved user engagement sent positive signals to search engines. Consequently, the updated, more visually appealing content received more social shares and backlinks, boosting our search engine rankings substantially.
I recall a specific instance at Technews when updating old content significantly increased new backlinks. This happened when new Google guidelines were introduced. We promptly updated several older, high-performing blog posts to align with these new guidelines on authority. We sought expert opinions within some of our pieces. By doing so, not only did we ensure our content remained relevant and SEO-friendly, but we also saw a surge in backlinks. Other sites started referencing our updated articles as current and accurate information sources. This experience taught us the value of regularly revisiting and updating content, especially in response to changes in SEO guidelines. It's a strategy that maintains and can significantly boost your website's authority and relevance.
We saw an invaluable opportunity in refreshing our existing content assets that had aged but still saw strong traffic. By dedicating resources to completely overhauling and expanding these outdated yet popular posts, we've seen phenomenal growth in links from industry publications who find renewed value for their audiences in our refreshed content. The time investment pays for itself many times over in new links and engagement. Make content updates a top priority.
Certainly, updating an outdated blog post with new and relevant information resulted in a surge of new backlinks. By incorporating recent statistics, industry trends, and expert insights into the existing content, it transformed into a valuable and up-to-date resource. I then proactively reached out to influencers and websites within the industry, highlighting the fresh insights. This update not only re-engaged the existing audience but also attracted new backlinks from reputable sources, recognizing the content's enhanced value. The lesson learned was the enduring impact of regularly refreshing and improving existing content, not only for audience engagement but also for generating new backlinks and strengthening the overall SEO profile.
Updating old content with testimonials, user reviews, or positive feedback can enhance credibility and engagement. While this may not directly lead to a surge in new backlinks, it attracts attention from industry influencers and relevant websites. Over time, they may link to the updated content, boosting backlinks. For example, a company's case study on website optimization could be updated with new success stories and positive client reviews. Sharing the updated case study on social media and reaching out to industry influencers may result in them mentioning and linking to the enhanced content.
Our digital media company in the insurance industry has recently experienced a surge in new backlinks in the past few months thanks to a two-pronged mandate. We trained all of our editors and writers on updating old content, including checking for and fixing broken links, adding or updating infographics, and taking advantage of our deep pool of content by adding at least 10 internal links to each article. We also started working with an agency to coordinate link placements of our articles. We pre-approve each site that features a backlink to ensure it has a high DA and traffic and a low spam score.
We do a lot of top 5 and top 10 style listicle content be it blog posts, youtube videos, social posts, etc. Being a supplement company pretty much every year we'll do top 10 preowrkouts of the past year, weight loss supplements of the past year, etc. What's popular in our industry changes year to year so updating these guides often gets linked to, especially around New Year Resolution time and yields a lot of backlinks.
One of the most famous examples of updating old content leading to a surge in new backlinks is the case of Brian Dean, founder of Backlinko. In 2014, he updated one of his older blog posts titled "Google's 200 Ranking Factors: The Complete List" and republished it with new information. This resulted in a significant increase in organic traffic and backlinks, going from less than 5 backlinks per month to over 2200 backlinks in just two weeks after the update. This also led to a boost in keyword rankings, with the post now ranking on the first page for various relevant keywords. Brian's success story is a testament to the power of updating old content. By providing new and valuable information, he was able to attract the attention of other websites and gain a significant number of backlinks. This not only improved his website's authority and credibility in the eyes of both users and search engines, but also resulted in a substantial increase in traffic. Furthermore, updating old content can also lead to more social shares and engagement on social media platforms. When people discover fresh and up-to-date content, they are more likely to share it with their followers and engage with the post. This can create a snowball effect, as more shares and engagement can attract even more backlinks.