Why’d You Have to Bring That Up Again?? Because You Didn’t Hear Me the First Time! (or Why You Might Want to Rewrite that Old Post!)
A few weeks ago Bob Stewart encouraged us to revisit some of our old posts and consider rewriting and reworking them (I’d like to think of Redesign) for another chance. I love this idea because as Bob said... sooner or later you’re going to hit a brick wall and just can’t think of anything to write. Since I’ve been here for 4 years and writing daily for over a year, I can tell you sometimes the ideas just flow like water... and at other times you feel as if your mind is just blank.
You don’t want to just copy and paste an old post. That would be like putting the same color of paint over an already out-of-date color. Think Fresh!
Tammy Emineth followed up with another one of her great informative posts about just why you’d want to “redesign” some of your older posts. Go and read her explanation but in a nutshell, Google looks for fresh material. So giving an older post a “face-lift” (and goodness knows I’m all in for face-lifts) can help Google find you again.
So here’s what I did... I found an old post on “What to Do Before Your Stager Comes to Your house- 8 Helpful Tips” that I did just over a year ago. I freshened it, redesigned it and gave it a new title.... “Home Staging Tips in Palm Beach County-4 Things to Do Before Your Staging Consultation”.
Here are the results:
Now they may not be monumental but my post has been given more exposure to not only those here but perhaps through Google.
Why reinvent the wheel when you don’t have to?
Great blog and great job. Keep up the good work and good luck to you this year. Thanks
Kathy ...thanks for the reminder ...a little change can sometime be really good! Have a great day in FL!
The reworking older blog posts to add new links, tighten the format and look is critical. But new information happens, needs revisiting on the areas you are knowledgeable in. One post for life if not going to do it. Just like one big meal a day for life does not work either. Like a news reporter with a big story, revisit it down the road. For perspective.... when the Jimmy Olsen can say "it's been a year since Whitney Houston's death and blah blah" checking in and how are things going kinda story.
Good morning Kathy,
I can see that bringing in a fresh look at an old post brought you great results! Thanks for the heads up!
Wow~~ I am too new to rewrite an old blog I guess. Too much to say, but I do see that the concepts can be similar and the ideas that flow are to be consistant and stay on topic. Glad to see though that this all makes sense to keep blogging. Everyday is a lot of content to think of and write. I'm impressed!
Nice work, Kathy. I've been doing some of this on my wordpress blog - reworking old popular posts from here. I also need to do some others on here and link to the original for some more juice. Lots of opportunity.
Good morning, Kathy.... good thought....I think I'll put some time into this today and take a page from Debbie's book and repost on my wordpress blogs....
Awesome idea! I'm going to do it...
The proof is in the numbers BARFF................very cool!
I have tried this a few times with good results as well. The old posts can always be improved.
Thanks for sharing your tips!
We are all for saving time in this busy time Kathy. Wow we couldn't believe the change in the numbers, but numbers never lie. If anyone needed motivation to 'redesign' their blogs, this is it! Great post Kathy, gave it a little push.
Kathy, I like this idea. And, since I rewrite most of my posts anyway. Why not? Thanks.
Josh- thank you.
Rob- same to you!! We're having great weather here.
Andrew- you make a good point. "One post for life is not going to do it".
Dorie- I always felt like I was "cheating" if I did a post on the same subject but it really isn't. You just need to rework it.
Janis- I've gone back to some of my first blogs and I know they can or need to be redesigned!
Debbie- you are great at reworking yours! It's all fresh information and Google likes that.
Cathy- we all have posts that we can redesign and improve!
BARFF- I have some others that can stand to be refreshed!
Roy- And, even if you post something that doesn't mean that everyone has the opportunity to read it.
Al & Peggy- Thank you.. we all can put a different twist, spin or perspective on our older posts. Just give them a "today" look.
Ron- absolutely. And so many here have other blogs like Wordpress .. .why not share!
Kathy - Thanks for the reminder. I need to go back and check out my first posts. I've learned so much since last August I'm sure much tweaking needs to be done in many areas!
Genius, Kathy! I'm still finding my "voice" here, so will bookmark for future reference.
I'm not sure I really have anything worth revisiting at this time, maybe in another year or 2. I'm going to visit your posts (old and new). I never thought too much about what to do BEFORE your home stager arrives.
I didn't see Bob's post suggesting this, but I've been doing it for some time now. Started out as me being me....needing to clean house in a way. After going to an old post (don't remember the reason) and thinking how poorly laid out it was...I couldn't resist rewriting it and adding new graphics. The results were similar to yours and that's all it took for me.
John- take a lead from Debbie Gartner... she does a great job of it.
Kim- One of the hardest things is figuring out what to write but Tammy makes a lot of sense... Google wants fresh information.
Donna- I'm so glad you're back here. Market reports and localism posts are ones that can be made current.
Sharon- you are so clever!!!! Your posts are always so well written and thought out so just a tweak will help with Google.
Kathy, these days some of my design needs (freelancing, and creating a website) are taking up my time, I've been thinking about recycling blogs....its a good plan! Now where do I start?
Kathy
That's what i would call effectively re-working an old post.
Good luck and success.
Lou Ludwig
I find that when I look back at some of the posts I wrote in the first year... I can do a much better job on the subject after all I have learned here on ActiveRain.
Hi Kathy--your statistics say it all. I have not been writing long enough I think to "redesign" my posts, but I do love this idea. And it is clear to me that the topics never get stale.
Kathy, redesigning older posts is a fabulous idea and I intend to do this because our perspectives often change a bit on the same subject.
Many of our older posts could use a facelift.......especially those from the first years of ActiveRain.