Updating Website Content for SEO: 5 Best Practices

Staying up-to-date with the latest SEO practices is essential for maintaining a solid online presence. 

One effective strategy for improving search engine rankings and driving more traffic to your website is updating outdated content. However, this process requires a measured approach and a well-defined process to ensure its effectiveness. 

What should property management marketers keep in mind when tackling content updates? Today we talk about five best practices for updating website content to optimize for SEO and generate better results and more traffic!

1. Target New Keywords in Existing Content

As you update old content, take the opportunity to target new keywords that align with your current SEO (search engine optimization) strategy. 

Conduct thorough keyword research to identify relevant terms and phrases with high search volume and relatively low competition. Incorporate these keywords naturally into your updated content, including in headings, subheadings, and throughout the body text. 

By targeting new keywords and applying them strategically throughout your content, you can increase your website's visibility and attract more organic traffic.

Beware of Keyword Stuffing

While adding new keywords or updating outdated keywords to your website's content can improve SEO, make sure you don't overdo it! Adding too many keywords that may or may not be relevant can be considered "keyword stuffing." 

Google doesn't love keywords "stuffed" into sentences and paragraphs in an attempt to attract more traffic. Instead, make sure keywords are relevant and placed thoughtfully and helpfully throughout the content. 

2. Update the Body Content

Content published for some time may require updates to reflect the latest information and industry trends. 

Review the "body" of your blog for outdated information and ensure that the information provided is accurate, comprehensive, and up-to-date. Then, consider adding new sections or paragraphs to address emerging topics or address frequently asked questions. This can be considered part of a "lengthening and strengthening" strategy for your content to ensure it's current and relevant and helps Google recognize fresh text in an existing blog or web page. 

By offering valuable and relevant information, you can improve the user experience and encourage visitors to spend more time on your website.

3. Update or Add New Internal Links

When updating old content, take advantage of the opportunity to internally link to newer content on your website. 

Internal linking helps search engines discover and index your pages while also improving user navigation and engagement. Identify relevant anchor texts within the updated content and link them to other pages or blogs on your site that provide additional context or valuable resources. 

This practice not only strengthens the overall website structure but also boosts the visibility of newer content.

4. Update the On-Page SEO

Optimizing your content for on-page SEO is crucial for higher search engine rankings and inbound marketing success. 

When updating old content, review and update the meta titles, meta descriptions, and header tags to align with your current SEO strategy. Include your target keywords in these elements while maintaining a natural and engaging tone. 

Additionally, optimize image alt tags and ensure that your content follows best practices for readability and user experience.

5. Refresh the Format to Current Standards

Blog and website design and formatting trends evolve over time, and outdated content may not adhere to current standards. 

When refreshing content, evaluate the format and layout to ensure it is visually appealing, easy to read, and mobile-friendly. Use clear and concise paragraphs, bullet points, and subheadings to improve readability. 

Additionally, you can incorporate relevant multimedia elements such as images, infographics, and videos to enhance the visual appeal and engagement of your content.

What Else Should You Keep In Mind During Your Website Content Updating Process?

Applying best practices to content refreshes is easier with a process! It's also crucial to update in ways that will improve SEO rankings and organic traffic, being careful to avoid updates with things that could negatively impact SEO. 

Create a Process

To ensure consistency and efficiency, create a well-defined process for updating website content. 

• Set a schedule and commit to updating your content at least annually or more frequently for high-priority pages. 

• Create a checklist of tasks to address during the update process, such as keyword research, content revision, internal linking, and on-page SEO optimization. 

Having a clear process in place will streamline your efforts and help you achieve better results.

Don't Waste Time Updating Content Unnecessarily

Simply rewriting content marketing blogs once a year might not have the desired effect of improving traffic! 

While updating outdated content is beneficial, it's essential not to waste time on content that doesn't require updating. 

Evaluate each piece of content individually and determine if it still provides value to your audience. If the content is still relevant, well-optimized for SEO, and performs well in search engine rankings, it may not need significant changes. Focus your efforts on content that can truly benefit from updates.

Let Experts Apply Best Practices to Update Content for Your Property Management Blog

We can't stress this enough as content marketing experts: Updating website content is one of the most valuable strategies for improving SEO and driving more traffic to your website! 

By applying the best practices we've mentioned today (and more), you can enhance the visibility and relevance of your content. However, it's crucial to approach this strategy with a measured and systematic approach.

Geekly Media understands the importance of updating website content for SEO purposes. Our team of experts can help you build a successful content marketing strategy and implement a "Lengthen and Strengthen" approach to maximize your traffic and leads. With our expertise in SEO best practices and content optimization, we can guide you through the process of updating your old content effectively.

If your website content could use a review and update, reach out to Speak to a Geek. We offer special package pricing for this service, and it's one of the best things you can do to improve organic traffic! 

Or, if you'd like to tackle updates on your own, use our free guide, "How to Update Website Content for Better SEO."