Why Should I Republish Blog Posts?
Republishing blog posts is a great way to breathe new life into work you’ve published previously. It allows you to share your content with people who may not have seen it otherwise, and also gives you an opportunity to make minor improvements or updates. Additionally, Google views republished posts as fresh content on your site, which can have a positive impact on your rankings. Not sure how to get started? Don’t worry, Rosemont Media is here to help:
What type of content is best for republishing?
While evergreen content is usually best for republishing (due to its staying power), other posts that are easy to update can be fair game, as well. For example, a post about nonsurgical vs. surgical options could be updated to include new treatments that may not have been offered before, and/or remove treatments that are no longer offered. (Keep in mind: if a post needs to essentially be completely rewritten, it is typically not an ideal choice for republishing.)
In most cases, though, an evergreen post is your best bet. Since these types of blogs tend to remain relevant over a long span of time, most details can probably remain the same. However, we strongly recommend re-reading the blog to find opportunities to tweak, improve, and/or expand it.
Regardless of the content you choose, you should acknowledge the original publish date by adding a note somewhere in the post. This helps readers know that the content was previously published, but has since been updated. It can also help avoid confusion if someone is directed to the content via a link from something that was posted prior to your new publish date. On that note, keeping the same URL is a good way to ensure any old links pointed at your post will continue to drive traffic to it.
Can I republish a post without making changes?
Although this seems like an easy route, it’s probably not the best idea—republishing content isn’t quite as simple as updating a publish date on an old post. Without making at least a few revisions, the content is unlikely to be seen as “fresh,” as far as Google is concerned. (It’s even possible for Google to consider it a black hat SEO tactic, which can hurt your rankings.) Furthermore, while your audience may have changed and grown since you originally published your work, some people might not be seeing it for the first time. Providing some updated information can help them see why you deemed the content worthy of their attention again.
Why should I republish an old blog post when I can just write a new one?
Brand-new content is virtually always beneficial in numerous ways, but it’s important to remember that freshening up some of the older blog posts on a website can be advantageous, as well. If the site has been online with an active blog for several years, there is likely a well of blog posts containing information that is still relevant, and therefore can provide a great source of material for new readers or even constant readers. All it needs is a bit of a touch-up and some fresh, updated content. It’s still important to add new blog posts and content in other areas of your site on a regular basis, but republishing older blog entries gives you another effective tool. It can not only provide an up-to-date source of information on a particular topic for readers, but it can also serve as another rather convenient and simple way to maintain a consistent flow of content that can benefit both readers and your website!
Need more help?
If you’re still not sure how to safely republish content on your blog, or simply don’t have time to go through your old posts, please contact Rosemont Media today. Our knowledgeable consultants can answer your questions, and our talented team of writers is experienced in selecting and revising quality content for republishing.
Editor’s note: The original version of this post was published on August 29, 2017.