Let’s be real — there are enough questions when you’re building a website or blog. But one of the most common questions we hear (right after “how do I even start with SEO?”) is: Should I display dates on my blog posts? Or does that make them look outdated?
Great question. And the answer isn’t as black-and-white as you might think.
In this post, we’re unpacking:
- Why blog post dates matter for your Google rankings
- How readers respond to seeing (or not seeing) a date
- The pros and cons of displaying dates
- Our best best practices if you choose to show dates
- And a curated list of top tools to help you check your blog’s performance in Google
Whether you’re brand new to blogging or just trying to level up your Showit site’s SEO, this post is for you.
Understanding the Importance of Dates in Blog Posts
For many creative entrepreneurs (especially those of us running on coffee and Canva), blogging is one of the most valuable tools we have to connect with our audience, share what we know, and attract new clients.
But there’s this lingering doubt that pops up: “If I show the date, will people think my post is old or irrelevant?”
Here’s the thing — blog dates do a lot more than tell time. They play a role in:
- SEO visibility (how easily people find your content)
- Click-through rates (how many people actually click once they find it)
- Reader trust (especially in more technical or educational content)
Let’s walk through the pros and cons, then get to the good stuff: how to decide what’s right for your site.
The Pros of Displaying Dates
1. It Builds Credibility and Trust
Imagine Googling a question about SEO tools in 2025 and finding a blog post… from 2016. Unless the info’s been clearly updated, you’ll probably bounce over to a different search result.
Showing a date (especially a recent one) signals to your audience: “This content is fresh and reliable.” You’re being transparent, and transparency builds trust.
2. It Supports Google’s “Freshness” Factor
Google loves fresh content. It doesn’t want to serve outdated info to users — and blog post dates help it decide which content feels current.
If your post has a recent “published” or “updated” date, it’s more likely to be prioritized in the search results. Win-win.
3. It Can Boost Click-Through Rates
When you see a newer blog post date in search results, aren’t you more likely to click it? So are your readers.
According to some studies, users are significantly more likely to click on content with a recent timestamp. It’s a simple way to stand out in a sea of similar titles.
The Cons of Displaying Dates
1. It Might Make Your Post Look Outdated
If your blog content is evergreen — meaning it stays relevant year after year — an old publish date might discourage someone from clicking or reading, even if your advice is still spot-on.
This is especially true in niches like design, photography, mindset, or branding, where trends evolve slowly and advice ages gracefully.
2. It Can Decrease Traffic (If You’re Not Updating Posts)
Let’s say you wrote a killer post three years ago and it’s still ranking. If that post hasn’t been updated and shows a 2021 date, your traffic might drop — not because the content isn’t great, but because readers (and Google) assume it’s outdated.
That’s why it’s so important to keep things fresh. 👇
Best Practices for Displaying Dates
If you’re leaning toward keeping dates visible (we usually do!), here’s how to do it the right way.
Use a “Last Updated” Date
Instead of just showing when the post was first published, display the last updated date. It tells readers and search engines that you’ve reviewed and refreshed the content.
Bonus: You don’t have to rewrite the whole post. Even small updates — like a new screenshot or swapping out a broken link — can reset the freshness signal.
Regularly Refresh Your Content
Even just setting aside one afternoon a month to refresh older posts can do wonders.
Update stats, check for broken links, add new insights — then update the publish date (or the “last modified” field, depending on your setup).
This keeps your content:
- Useful to readers
- Ranking higher on Google
- Less intimidating to maintain over time
Consider Your Content Type
Some content needs a date. (Think: SEO trends, product comparisons, tech tutorials.)
Other content — like branding advice, website inspiration, or your origin story — may not need one at all.
If your blog includes a mix of both, you can customize how each post handles dates.
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