Content Upgrading: Give Your Content a Fresh New Look

Are you at a crossroads about your old content?

Content creation isn't a one-time soirée but a continuous affair. And while content is king, it’s not immortal to time. 

Source: MOZ

When asked how best to handle old content, Google’s John Muller presents two options; remove or revamp. 

Since you invested resources in your old content, let’s not remove it. It’s old, not bad, John’s words. But if it’s about outdated stuff like telegraphs or video cassette recorders, it’s gotta go!

This article contains a super-easy yet vital strategy for revamping your old content and reinterest your readers.

Importance Of Content Upgrading

Think of content upgrading as revamping your crib, wardrobe, ride, or reworking your recipes to make your dishes insanely finger-licking. 

Here’s why you should consider revamping your content: 

• Draw the Rght Attention

Like a freshly made pie, fresh or upgraded content draws readers to your site. Revamping your content signals your readers/customers that you listen and appreciate them. The more they feel this way, the more engaged they become.

• Your Competitors are Doing it

Your competitors know the value of upgrading their content.

It’s about time you got in with the program!

• The Ever-Changing Search Algorithms

Search engines are constantly changing search algorithms.

For instance, Google rolled out the May 2022 core update that changes how the search engine’s ranking systems assess website data. If you fail to keep up with such changes, your site will disappear into the abyss.

• Keep Up With the Searcher's Intent

We all know the content on your site isn't about you, your brand, or search engines, but your readers or customers. Searcher behavior is evolving, and so should your content. 

For instance, readers have noticeably searched for global pandemics and how to stay safe for the past two years. Rework your content to match that!

• Keep Up With the Facts

Did you know the Margay has been voted the cutest animal a few years in a row? You didn't know that! To stay relevant and authoritative, you must update your content based on the latest facts and statistics.

• Boost Your SEO Rankings

Revamping your content also means including the right keywords, especially with search intent changing. Not only is this the best way for existing and new readers to find your content, but it also gets better SERP rankings.

Top-Notch Content Upgrading Strategies

Let’s get to it, shall we?

Consider A Website Redesign

Why change the dishes yet retain the boring menu design?

Your content shouldn't be the only thing to update. When did you create your site? Is it user-friendly and easy to navigate?

To add spice to your content, consider redesigning your website. Change aspects include placing relevant content above the fold, integrating with analytical tools, and prominent use of color and multimedia elements. You can seek inspiration from your competitors’ sites. 

You don't even have to be a pro web designer. You can utilize the numerous website-building platforms in the market today. 

Include High-Quality Visuals 

Source: www.dreamstime.com 

Naturally, humans are visual creatures. See a beautiful person on the street or mesmerizing painting in a gallery, and you can’t look away. 

Visuals evoke emotions, create memorable connections, and boost creativity and organic visibility. 

With the current human attention span at a mere eight seconds –worse still, two seconds on social media– grabbing your readers' undivided attention should be a priority cause:

• Humans process images 60,000 faster than text, boosting understanding by 400%
• Infographics increase web traffic by 12%
• Videos boost email click-through rates by 300%
• Adding videos and images to your tweets by 28% and 35%, respectively
• Content with more visuals attracts more backlinks

Regardless of these reasons, don’t overdo it. Salesforce suggests you add a visual for every 350 words. Ensure the visual is high quality, relevant, has no logo or watermark, and links back to its source. 

Update For Mobile

Mobile device usage rules the internet. 

Statistics reveal that over 90% of the global population own a mobile device. Further, approximately three-quarters (72.4%) of readers will access web content from mobile devices by 2025. All thee readers are out there waiting for you to revamp your content.

To cater to these readers, begin by redesigning your content to ensure mobile device compatibility. After this, do the same for your content, of course, after you update your content.

While your content is enticing to your readers, they don't have time to zoom in or out whenever they access your content. So, ensure it fits their screens, making it readable effortlessly. 

Reevaluate Your Keyword Strategy

I’m sure you’ve heard this ad nauseam. Now I’m not talking about eating a healthy combo of rich avocado and salsa. Instead, the keywords your content revolves around should be relevant, up to date, and in line with our readers’ search intent.

Further, with more than 70% of searches being long-tail keywords, time to reevaluate your keywords regardless of your content’s age.

Some areas to revamp your keywords (while avoiding stuffing) include adding them to the meta description, title, H2 headers, and H3 subheaders. Edit your text to accommodate long-tail keywords and any secondary variations. 

Consider Repurposing

Once you update your content, mainly the evergreen, high-performing stuff, you can repurpose or recycle it into a new look.

Think of repurposing as how Spongebob transforms all the ingredients of a Krabby Patty, including the secret formula, into the most sought burger!

Content repurposing is simply transforming your existing content into a different type or using it in various online environments. 

For instance, converting a blog post into an infographic, video, or podcast or converting a video or podcast into an article. You can also embed content within the content, use images and videos as social media post backgrounds, and post user-generated content; the possibilities are endless!

Content recycling:

• Boosts SEO
• It gives content a bedazzling new look
• Expand content reach, amount, and lifespan

Change The Dates

We can all agree that the best way to provide high-quality content is to create it regularly. It's the only way to satisfy your content-thirsty readers. When that isn't possible, your old content will do just fine.

However, there’s no way you’d sell overstayed delicacies to your customers, lest you want to lose them. Similarly, while your old content might be helpful, your readers will likely overlook it simply because of the publishing date.

Google’s freshness algorithm indexes content according to freshness, and so do readers. Also, searches and presentation styles change; your content should reflect that by including the most recent publishing date.

Therefore, as you upgrade your content, don’t forget to update your publishing date as well as consult your content distribution plan for best results. 

After Content Upgrading; What Next?

Once you upgrade your content, that's not the end of the road. 

You’ve created new and exciting menu items from your existing dishes, but is that all there is to it? How will your customers know this? You need a content distribution strategy to get this content to your target audience. 

Source: www.semrush.com 

Once you update your content, the next steps include:

• Check and recheck to ensure your keyword strategy is on point
• Inserting the relevant external and internal links with the appropriate anchor texts. Be thorough and remove and fix any broken links.
• Embed social media sharing buttons to make your content easy to share to get seven times more social mentions 
• Add a survey or quiz and a comments section at the end to collect data from your readers. 
• Promote your content through guest posting, email newsletters to your subscribers, influencer marketing, posting on your social media platforms, paid ads, and the numerous community platforms such as Quora and Reddit.
• Deploy testing tools such as Google Analytics to test how well your content performs
• Repeat regularly to maintain that fresh look

Learn which platforms are available for promotion with our ‘Content Distribution Platforms’ guide. 

Get Content Upgrading From The Experts

There you have it. Now you can stop worrying about what to do with your old content. 

But if you feel you are not up to the task, you are on a tight schedule, or you feel your content needs an expert’s touch, Zoey Writers can help. 

Our content writers are versed with various content upgrading strategies for impressive results. Whenever you are ready, hit us up; let’s talk more. 

Photo by RetroSupply on Unsplash. Thank you!