5 Tips for Reusing Old Blog Posts

By Lori Hatcher @LoriHatcher2

 

If you’ve been blogging for years like I have, you probably have a cache of posts on your site. While some may have gone viral or remained popular, most probably appeared in your subscriber’s inbox and on your blog for a week or so, then got buried under other content. Since only a portion of your subscribers actually opened your email (sorry folks, this is the sad reality), you may wonder, is it okay to repost old blog posts?

 

Yes, if you do it properly.

 

If you resurrect an old post, keep these five tips in mind:

 

1. Give your old post a new title.

To avoid SEO competition with your old post, retitle it. Use a number in the title, add a subtitle, or make a promise that will hook your reader. A new title gives your post a fresh look and increases its chances of attracting new readers.

 

2. Rewrite the first paragraph.

Search engines scan the first paragraph of a post for material to help classify it. Use your key words and topic within the first paragraph to reinforce your title and clarify the goal of the post. Freshening up your first few lines also gives you the opportunity to strengthen the hook.

 

3. Add cool graphic features like a pull quote or subheads to break up the text and make it scannable.

Studies have shown readers prefer posts that are easy to scan and contain bullet points or lists. Including a picture or two in the layout can double your click-through rate.

 

4. Create a new picture or meme. 

This is especially helpful if you share your blog posts on Pinterest or Instagram. On these image-driven platforms, a picture hooks your readers and entices them to click through to read your post. Be sure to include your website name somewhere on the graphic.

 

5. Review your post to be sure the content is up-to-date.

Check for references to “current” events, holidays, or seasons that won’t be current when you repost. I failed to apply this to one of my recent reposts. Only after I clicked Share did I realize the reference to “As we begin the new year” didn’t exactly fit with my July reposting date. 

 

Don’t assume your content is still accurate, either. Information, especially in technical fields, can become incorrect or obsolete overnight.

 

As I mentioned at the beginning of this post, if you have a cache of articles or blog posts that you’re reasonably confident most of your readers haven’t read, it’s okay to repost one every now and then. But before you do, run them through this five-point checklist to give them the best chance to reach new readers.

 

Now it’s your turn. Do you repost articles on your blog? What editing steps do you take before you do? Leave a comment below and join the conversation.

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Lori Hatcher loves God even more than she loves chocolate—and that’s a lot. Since He saved her at age 18, she’s been on a relentless journey to know and love Him more. Her deepest desire is for others to join her on the journey. As an author, blogger, writing instructor, and women’s ministry speaker, she writes for Our Daily Bread, Guideposts, Revive Our Hearts, and Crosswalk.com. She’s written three devotional books, including Refresh Your Faith, Uncommon Devotions from Every Book of the Bible, and Hungry for God…Starving for Time, Five-Minute Devotions for Busy Women. Connect with her at www.LoriHatcher.com or on Facebook, Twitter (@lorihatcher2) or Pinterest (Hungry for God).