When I launched WPBeginner in 2009, I opted to exclude dates from my blog posts, believing that I was being clever. My reasoning was that WPBeginner was not a blog, but rather a resource similar to the WordPress codex or Wikipedia, neither of which display dates on their articles. Additionally, I believed that removing dates from my blog posts would give the impression that my content was evergreen. However, I was mistaken. Recently, I have noticed a growing trend among internet marketers and self-proclaimed “SEO experts” who are advising their users to remove dates from their WordPress blog posts. In this article, I will explain why I initially chose not to include dates and what caused me to change my mind. I will also examine the potential SEO impact of having dates on your blog posts (post-penguin and panda). Ultimately, my aim is to demonstrate that the issue is not with dates themselves, but rather with the published date. I have discovered a solution that will satisfy both you and your users, as well as search engines.
Reasons for Omitting or Excluding Dates
When WPBeginner was established in 2009, I envisioned it as a resource site akin to WordPress Codex or Wikipedia. These two platforms do not display time-stamps or dates on their entries. You may be curious as to why this is advantageous. As users, we tend to have a bias against outdated content. The moment we see a date, we automatically categorize it as either outdated or relevant. In theory, old content can still be relevant, but users tend to make assumptions. As a blogger, this was concerning to me because I wanted everyone to read my content. To address this, I decided not to include dates on my blog posts. My reasoning was that people still read Wikipedia even if the information may or may not be up to date. Since users are unaware of the original publication date, they give it the benefit of the doubt.
Recently, many internet marketers and SEO experts have expressed their disapproval of displaying dates on blog posts. While each has their own reasons, they all share the same buzzword: evergreen content. When prominent blogs like CopyBlogger remove dates, it sets an example for others to follow.
I have already gone down this path, and I can attest to why it is a misguided approach.
The reason why I would never remove dates again
I never repeat the same mistake twice. Initially, not including dates was a mistake and I am certain that I will not make that mistake again. My aspiration is that after reading this, you will also avoid making the same mistake. When I started WPBeginner, my primary objective was to assist users with my WordPress tutorials. Similar to other bloggers, I believed that my content was timeless. However, in reality, it is not. Despite my efforts to update articles, it is impossible to keep everything current all the time.
Initially, I did not encounter any issues or complaints regarding the absence of dates. However, after six months, users began to email me about outdated articles. Initially, I would immediately update the article. However, as the site grew, updating all articles became increasingly difficult. I began to receive numerous emails, tweets, and Facebook messages about the dates on a regular basis. It took me a year and a half to let go of my stubbornness and add dates to my posts.
Looking back, I realized that not having dates on my site was a huge disservice to my users and the wider WordPress community. While my goal was to assist WordPress beginners, I sometimes ended up leading them astray or causing more confusion because they didn’t know they were looking at an older tutorial or screenshot.
Over time, I also learned that very few posts are truly evergreen. You’re always learning something new, and your methods change. It becomes apparent when someone quotes your own words during a speaking engagement and contradicts an older post. If that post doesn’t have a date, you can’t say, “Well, that article is old.”
The bottom line is that if you genuinely value your readers, you won’t remove dates. Blogs, by definition, are meant to become outdated. Whether you have dates or not, your posts are still displayed in reverse chronological order. If you genuinely believe that your content is evergreen, why not change that order and display posts in a random order? (That’s a challenge!)
But wait, how can I be satisfied knowing that my blog posts are outdated? Doesn’t Google penalize outdated content? Am I missing out on readers because of user bias against older posts? Well, I’m satisfied because I’ve found an alternative way to display dates that keeps me, my readers, and search engines happy.
The New Dates Method: Enhancing Reader Experience and Search Engine Optimization
I came to the realization that my issue did not lie with dates, but rather with the “published date” feature, as it did not accurately reflect the effort I put into my website. The published date feature is applicable to books, as authors do not typically update the original book, but rather release a new version. However, as a blogger, I frequently revisit and update previous posts on WPBeginner, yet the post still displays the older published date. Fortunately, WordPress offers the option to display a “last updated date,” which I believe is the solution I have been seeking.
To address this, we have decided to replace the published date with the last updated date in the post metadata of WPBeginner. The code for this change is as follows:
Last updated on <time datetime=”<?php the_modified_time(‘Y-m-d’); ?>”><?php the_modified_time(‘F jS, Y’); ?></time>
The time function in WordPress that has been modified checks for the most recent update made to a post. If the last update was made at the time of publishing, then the date of publication is displayed. However, if the post is updated six months later, then the last updated date is displayed.
In today’s world, the last updated date is more significant to readers than the actual date of publication. The date of publication becomes irrelevant when the entire article has been rewritten.
Removing dates from your design to trick search engines is a naive approach. Your WordPress sitemap contains the last modified date of each article, and it is highly likely that you have submitted your sitemap to Google Webmaster Tools. As a writer, I prioritize my users’ thoughts over search engines. However, the code above follows proper schema markup that informs search engines of the last updated time of the post. Consequently, Google will display the last updated date next to your entry instead of the original published date.
Finally, the modified time function is a source of satisfaction for me as a blogger. I hold myself to a high standard, and my users hold me to the same level (thank you to everyone for keeping me accountable). Although blogs are typically considered outdated, the WPBeginner audience does not tolerate that. We receive regular reports of outdated articles and make every effort to update them promptly.
This solution satisfies everyone.
Today, I view WPBeginner as more than just a blog. I see it as the best WordPress resource site, and by including dates, I believe we have made it even better. Having timely information does not make us a poor resource, but rather a more helpful one. My hope is that I have convinced you not to remove dates from your WordPress blog posts. I am always open to feedback and criticism, so please share your thoughts on this topic in the comments section below.