Guides › Content & Writing
Bring an old blog post up to date
A refresh plan for a dated article: what's out of date, what to add, a new title and intro, so it can work harder for you again.
When to use it
When a popular post is more than a year old
Step by step
Pick a post worth refreshing
Choose one that used to get visits or matters to customers. Copy its full text and note when it was written.
Ask for a refresh plan
Paste the article into an AI assistant with web search on, using this prompt.
Prompt to copyThis article was published in [year] for [audience]: [paste]. Today is [date]. 1) List anything that's likely out of date (prices, rules, products, links, statistics) and what to check. 2) Suggest 2-3 new sections readers would expect now. 3) Point out anything to cut. 4) Write a new title, a new 80-word introduction and a short 'Updated [month year]' note. Search the web to check current facts and give links for anything you suggest changing.Update and republish
Make the changes in a Google Doc copy first, verify each fact through the links, then update the post on your site. Keep the same web address so you don't lose existing visitors.
What you get
Out of date: 'MOT costs up to £54.85' - check the current maximum on GOV.UK. Add: section on electric car MOTs. Cut: paragraph about a closed garage. New title: MOT Checklist for 2026: What Gets Checked and How to Pass.
Tips
- Keeping the same page address matters; changing it can lose the visitors it already attracts.