Write new articles or republish old ones?

[Enrico_Cassinelli]

Hi,
we run a tourism information website about a region in italy, and each year, during special occasions such as christmas, easter and so on we publish an article with a "what to do on Christmas / Easter / .... in the Langhe" (collecting events, activities, etc.).

Is it better to "reuse" the old articles and change only the year in the title and of course the content (providing that we are gonna keep the URL without year), or to publish a new one?

thanks!

[SandraHall]

Thanks for information

[mira.hossein]

@Nomansahil009 said in Write new articles or republish old ones?:

Always write new content or update old content but never republish your old already published and indexed content.

Google knows what you doing it can impacts you site SEO, so better you should write you new content if that not the case you should update you old content.

If we write new content and 301 redirect the old content, will the credit be transferred to the new article?
Are the backlinks received on the previous page directed to the new page?

[Kazrat]

I suggest making new articles instead of just updating old ones. Even though it might be easier to reuse what you already have and just change the year, it's important to think about what your readers want. They're likely looking for fresh and exciting content, not just the same thing with a small tweak.

[Nomansahil009]

Always write new content or update old content but never republish your old already published and indexed content.

Google knows what you doing it can impacts you site SEO, so better you should write you new content if that not the case you should update you old content.

[mec0011]

@Enrico_Cassinelli said in Write new articles or republish old ones?:
This is a great question, Enrico! Deciding whether to reuse or create a new article for seasonal occasions like Christmas and Easter depends on several factors:

Reusing the old article with updates (pros):

SEO benefits: Keeping the same URL can maintain existing backlinks and search engine ranking for that specific keyword ("what to do on Christmas in the Langhe").
Saves time and effort: Updating an existing article is quicker than writing a new one, especially if the core content remains relevant.
Continuity for returning visitors: Familiar format and structure might be beneficial for users who have read previous articles.
Cons of reusing:

Stale content: Readers might feel it's repetitive if changes are minimal.
Missing out on trends and updates: New events, activities, or recommendations might be overlooked.
Less engagement: A completely new article can generate more buzz and attract new readers.
Creating a new article (pros):

Fresh and exciting content: Showcases your commitment to providing updated information and keeps readers engaged.
Opportunity to expand and improve: Include new recommendations, trends, and insights.
Potentially reach a wider audience: New article can attract new search engine traffic.
Cons of creating a new article:

SEO impact: Starting from scratch might take longer to rank in search results for the same keyword.
More time and effort required: Writing a new article takes more time and resources.
Loss of previous backlinks: If you change the URL, existing backlinks might not carry over to the new article.
Recommendation:

I suggest a hybrid approach:

Reuse the main structure and relevant evergreen content of the old article.
Update the content significantly: Include new events, activities, recommendations, and insights for the upcoming season.
Highlight the updates in the title and introduction.
Consider adding visuals and multimedia to refresh the presentation.
This balances the SEO benefits of keeping the URL with the freshness and engagement of new content. You can also create a short "What's new this year" section at the top of the article to further emphasize the updates.

[Wmike]

One more thought on this: it is a generally good idea to have MORE valuable pages on your website than LESS pages. If you look at big authority websites. they have millions of pages. On the other hand, small and poor quality websites have a small number of valuable pages. On our sites like RealtyCinema or Bizpages (https://bizpages.org) we are keen to develop a greater number of good quality unique pages. BUT! there is one important thing that I mentioned in my previous post: the pages should focus on different keywords, they should not be just copies. In this case you improve chances that this or that page gets a high ranking in search engines and brings traffic/clients.

[Wmike]

It also depends on what your goals are. If your current article is on the same topic as the previous one, it is likely that the two articles will compete for the same keywords in search engines and Google will have to choose one of the two to show in its SERPS. On the other hand, it is possible to make variations to the Title/Description and article keywords to try cover more topics with 2 articles.

[Tomdanny01]

Deciding whether to write new articles or republish old ones depends on various factors. Creating fresh content is ideal for staying relevant, attracting new audiences, and addressing current trends. However, republishing can be beneficial for revisiting evergreen topics, reaching new audiences, and optimizing for search engines. A balanced approach, combining both strategies, allows for a mix of timely, original content and the revitalization of valuable existing articles. Consider audience engagement, SEO goals, and the ever-changing landscape of your niche when determining the most effective content strategy for your platform.

[lsdmts]

I think it completely depends on your situation.
Is the information in your old article still relevant and valuable?
Yes: Republish with updates and optimizations.
No: Write a new article on the same topic with fresh information.
Do you have time and resources to create new content?
Yes: Write new articles on trending topics or to explore new directions.
No: Republish some older articles that are still valuable and relevant.

[Abdullah7865]

I think you have to delete your old pages. Create new ones. Redirect the old URL onto new post.

Waterproof socks for wudu.

[juperko]

@Enrico_Cassinelli Both approaches—updating existing articles or creating new ones—have their pros and cons,

Updating Existing Articles: Pros:

Preserving Authority: If your existing articles have gained authority and backlinks, updating them can help maintain that authority.

Consistency: Keeping the same URL provides consistency for your audience, and they know where to find the updated information each year.

Time-Saving: It can be quicker to update an existing article than to create an entirely new one from scratch.

Creating New Articles: Pros:

Fresh Content: Search engines often favor fresh and new content. Creating a new article signals to search engines that it's current and relevant.

Audience Engagement: New content might attract more attention and engagement from your audience.

Variety: Having a variety of content can cater to different preferences within your audience.