Dates in Blog Posts SEO: Should You Include Them?

Let’s cut to the chase — should you slap a date on your blog post (or sneak it into your URL) for SEO? Or is that just another way to remind everyone how long it’s been since you last updated your “Top 10 Fax Machines” article? We at bloggingmachine.io have seen the debate rage on, so let’s break it down with facts, stats, and a dash of self-aware wit.

The Great Date Debate: Why Dates Matter (and Sometimes Don’t)

If you’ve ever hesitated before hitting “publish,” wondering if that date field is a friend or foe, you’re not alone. Here’s what the data says:

• Visible publish dates can tank your traffic. In a real-world test, making the publish date visible on all pages led to a 13.37% drop in organic traffic within a week. Rolling it back? Clicks bounced back by 10.10%. Ouch, right? (Source)
• Ranking stability isn’t the issue. Even with the date showing, 72% of keywords held steady in their rankings. So, Google’s not directly punishing you for being honest about your post’s age — it’s the users who are judging you. (Source)
• Google sometimes gets confused. If you show both “date published” and “date updated,” Google might pick the wrong one for search results. That can mean your freshly updated masterpiece looks ancient in the SERPs, and users skip it. (Source)

Dates in Blog Posts SEO: The Freshness Factor

Google loves fresh content — sometimes. For topics where up-to-date info is crucial (think tech news, SEO trends, or the latest TikTok dances), showing a recent date can boost your credibility and click-through rate (CTR). But for evergreen content, an old date is like a “Do Not Disturb” sign for potential readers.

Evergreen Content: The Ageless Wonders

If your post is the “How to Boil Water” of your industry, showing a date might just scare people off. Even if your advice is timeless, users may assume it’s outdated. That’s why many pros recommend:

• Omitting the visible date for evergreen content.
• Showing only the last updated date if you do need to display something — this signals freshness without revealing your post’s true age.

News and Trends: Date It Like You Mean It

For news, trends, or anything time-sensitive, dates are your friend. Users want to know they’re getting the latest scoop, not last year’s leftovers.

Dates in URLs: A Recipe for Regret?

Now, about those URLs. Should you include dates there? Let’s weigh the pros and cons:

Pros

• Context for users and search engines: Dates in URLs make it clear when something was published. Handy for news sites.
• Helps with organization: If you’re running a daily news operation, dates can keep things tidy.

Cons

• Longer, messier URLs: “/2022/07/15/ultimate-guide-to-seo” isn’t exactly snappy.
• Painful updates: Change the date in your URL, and you risk breaking links and losing SEO juice. Redirects are your only hope.
• Evergreen content suffers: That “Ultimate Guide” looks outdated fast, even if you’ve updated it 17 times.

Pro tip: For most blogs, especially those with evergreen content, skip the date in the URL. Save yourself a headache (and a few broken links).

What the Experts Say

Don’t just take our word for it — here’s what the SEO sages have to say:

• BrightEdge: “Given the importance of dates in determining relevance, it is clear that they can therefore impact SEO. Marketers should also note that for many queries, Google will display the date in the search results, which can influence click-through rates.” (BrightEdge)
• Search Engine Land: “Showing the date published and updated on the page can lead to Google displaying the wrong date, which can hurt your click-through rate.” (Search Engine Land)
• Aubrey Yung (SEO Practitioner): “When the publish date was visible on the page, the byline date was shown on the SERP. The organic traffic dropped by -13.37% within one week after the rollout of the publish date visibility feature.” (Search Engine Journal)

Schema Markup: The Secret Ingredient

Even if you hide the date from users, don’t hide it from Google. Use schema markup (datePublished and dateModified) to help search engines understand your content’s freshness. This is a behind-the-scenes move that keeps everyone happy — especially the bots.

Learn more about schema markup at Google’s official documentation.

Best Practices: Dates in Blog Posts SEO

Let’s make this simple (because who has time for complicated?):

• Show the date for news, trends, or time-sensitive topics.
• Hide or update the date for evergreen content.
• Never include dates in URLs for evergreen content.
• Always use schema markup for dates, even if you’re not showing them to users.
• If you update content, show the “last updated” date — but don’t show both publish and updated dates unless you want Google to play “guess the year.”

User Perception: The Real SEO Battleground

Here’s the kicker: Dates in blog posts SEO aren’t just about rankings — they’re about people. Users are more likely to click on recent content, especially for fast-changing topics. But for evergreen advice, an old date can unfairly scare them away. It’s less about Google’s algorithm and more about human psychology (and maybe a little FOMO).

Technical SEO: Don’t Break the Internet

If you must change URLs (maybe you just love a good spring cleaning), always set up proper redirects. Broken links are the silent killers of SEO. And nobody wants to be haunted by 404 errors.

Summary Table: Dates in Blog Posts and URLs

Why Consistent, Purposeful Content Wins

At the end of the day, the best way to win at SEO isn’t obsessing over dates — it’s creating engaging, well-written, and SEO-friendly articles that attract readers and keep them coming back. That’s where we at bloggingmachine.io come in. Our AI agent handles the heavy lifting — automating content creation, keyword optimization, and topic research — so you can focus on running your business (or, you know, finally taking a lunch break).

Want effortless, high-performing blog posts that boost your organic traffic? Let us do the work. You can even forget what day it is.

FAQ: Dates in Blog Posts SEO

Q: Does including the date in my blog post hurt SEO? A: Not directly. But if users see an old date, they might skip your post, lowering your click-through rate (CTR). For evergreen content, consider hiding the date or showing only the last updated date.

Q: Should I put the date in my blog post URL? A: For most blogs, especially those with evergreen content, no. Dates in URLs make updates harder and can make content look outdated.

Q: What about schema markup for dates? A: Always use it! Schema markup helps search engines understand your content’s freshness, even if you’re not showing the date to users.

Q: How do I signal that my content is fresh? A: Update your content regularly and use the “last updated” date. This reassures both users and search engines.

Q: Is there ever a good reason to show both publish and updated dates? A: Rarely. It can confuse Google and users. Stick to one — preferably the most recent.

For more on SEO best practices, check out Moz’s Beginner’s Guide to SEO and Google’s Search Central Blog. And if you’re ready to let AI handle your blog (dates and all), visit bloggingmachine.io. We promise not to judge your last update.