dates in blog posts seo: should you include the date in posts or urls?

Let’s face it: deciding whether to slap a date on your blog post (or sneak it into your URL) is about as thrilling as choosing between decaf and regular. But if you’re serious about SEO — and we at bloggingmachine.io know you are — this little detail can make a big difference. So, should you include dates in blog posts for SEO? Or are you dooming your content to a life of digital irrelevance? Let’s dig in, with a wink and a nudge.

The Great Date Debate: Why It Matters

You might think dates are just for calendars and awkward anniversaries, but in the world of SEO, they’re a hot topic. Here’s why:

Google loves “fresh” content — but only when it matters.
Readers trust recent info (unless you’re writing about the invention of the wheel).
URLs are like tattoos: once you add a date, it’s there forever (and sometimes you regret it).

But as with all things SEO, it’s not that simple. Let’s break it down.

Key Facts & Recent Findings

1. Dates Can Mess With Your Click-Through Rate (CTR)

A case study found that showing both the “date published” and “date updated” on articles confused Google, which sometimes displayed an ancient date in search results. The result? A 22% drop in organic CTR. Ouch. (source)

2. Visible Dates Can Hurt (or Help) Organic Traffic

One site saw a 13.37% drop in organic traffic within a week after making the publish date visible on all pages. When they rolled back the change, clicks bounced back by 10.10%. But — here’s the kicker — most keyword rankings didn’t budge. So, the date didn’t tank their rankings, but it did scare off some click-happy readers. (source)

3. Google’s Official Stance: Keep It Simple

Google’s own documentation suggests minimizing the number of dates on a page. If you see Google picking the wrong date in search results, try removing some (or all) of the extra dates. (Google Search Central)

4. Dates in URLs: The SEO Faux Pas

Including dates in URLs is like putting the year on your business card. It looks outdated fast, and changing it later can break links and hurt your SEO. Most pros say: just don’t do it.

Dates in Blog Posts SEO: Best Practices

Let’s get practical. Here’s what the experts (and our AI overlords at bloggingmachine.io) recommend:

Show Only One Date On-Page

Pick one: Either the publish date or the updated date. Not both. For evergreen content, the original publish date is fine. For news or frequently updated posts, use the updated date.
Why? Too many dates confuse Google and your readers. And nobody likes being confused — except maybe during tax season.

Use Both Dates in Schema (But Only One Visibly)

Schema markup (those little bits of code that tell Google what’s what) should include both datePublished and dateModified. But only show one date on the page.
Why? Schema helps Google understand your content, but the visible date is what shows up in search results.

Avoid Dates in URLs

Keep URLs clean and timeless. No dates, no regrets.
Why? It’s easier to update content, and your posts won’t look like they’re from the digital Stone Age.

Monitor Your Metrics

Watch your CTR and organic traffic after making changes. Every site is different, and sometimes Google likes to keep us on our toes.

Expert Quotes (Because Authority Is Sexy)

“Only having one date on-page is more impactful than the schema changes. Definitely limit on-page to just one date (the most recent update) but it shouldn’t hurt to maintain both datePublished and dateModified attributes in schema.” — Abby Gleason, SEO professional

“If you’ve followed the best practices and find incorrect dates are being selected, consider removing some or all other dates that appear on the page.” — Google Search Central documentation

When Dates Help (And When They Don’t)

Timely topics: If you’re writing about Google’s latest algorithm update, readers want to know it’s fresh. Show the updated date.
Evergreen content: If you’re explaining how to tie a tie, nobody cares if you wrote it in 2015 or 2025 (unless ties go extinct). Consider hiding the date.

The Blogging Machine Approach: Set It and Forget It

At bloggingmachine.io, our AI agent is programmed to follow these best practices — so you don’t have to sweat the small stuff. We generate SEO-optimized articles that balance freshness, relevance, and timelessness. Our secret sauce? Automated content creation, keyword optimization, and topic research, all while you focus on, well, literally anything else.

Summary Table: Dates in Blog Posts and URLs

Aspect	Recommendation	Rationale
On-page date	Show only one (publish or update)	Prevents outdated dates, improves CTR
Schema dates	Use both (datePublished, dateModified)	Schema helps Google, but visible date is what matters most
Date in URL	Avoid	Keeps content evergreen, easier to update, avoids broken links
Content type	Use updated date for news/timely topics	Signals freshness for relevant queries

FAQ: Dates in Blog Posts SEO

Should I include the date in my blog posts for SEO?

Yes, but only one. Use either the publish date or the updated date, depending on your content type. This helps Google and readers know how fresh your content is — without causing confusion.

Should I put dates in my blog post URLs?

No. Dates in URLs make your content look old fast and complicate updates. Keep URLs clean and timeless for better SEO.

What about schema markup for dates?

Use both datePublished and dateModified in your schema, but only display one date on the page. Schema helps Google understand your content, but the visible date is what shows up in search results.

Will removing dates hurt my rankings?

Probably not. Most studies show that removing or changing date visibility doesn’t impact rankings, but it can affect your click-through rate. Monitor your metrics and adjust as needed.

How does bloggingmachine.io handle dates in blog posts?

We follow industry best practices: one visible date per post, both dates in schema, and no dates in URLs. Our AI ensures your content is always optimized for both readers and search engines.

Dates in Blog Posts SEO: Should You Include the Date in Posts or URLs?