Detect publish dates, update signals, and freshness markers that affect rankings.
Detects Schema.org datePublished and dateModified markup, Open Graph article:published_time and article:modified_time, and HTTP Last-Modified headers. These signals tell Google when content was created and last updated — critical for the Query Deserves Freshness (QDF) algorithm.
Catalogs all freshness indicators found on the page: structured data dates, HTTP headers, and Open Graph timestamps. Pages with multiple consistent freshness signals get stronger freshness boosts from Google than pages with a single signal or conflicting dates.
Classifies content as Fresh (under 30 days), Aging (30-180 days), or Stale (over 180 days) based on detected dates. Stale content may lose ranking positions to fresher competitors, especially for queries where timeliness matters.
Google's Query Deserves Freshness (QDF) algorithm dynamically boosts recent content for queries where timeliness matters — news, trending topics, recurring events, and frequently updated subjects. Even for evergreen content, regular updates signal to Google that the page is actively maintained and trustworthy. Studies show that updating existing content can increase organic traffic by 106% compared to leaving it unchanged.
Pages without datePublished or dateModified Schema markup make it harder for Google to assess content freshness. Add structured data dates to every article and blog post to help Google understand your update cadence.
When Schema dateModified says January 2024 but the HTTP Last-Modified header says March 2023, Google receives mixed signals. Ensure all date sources are consistent and reflect the actual last meaningful update.
Changing the dateModified without making substantive content changes is a known manipulation tactic that Google can detect. Only update dates when you make meaningful content improvements — not just fixing typos or changing formatting.
Even evergreen content benefits from periodic updates. Statistics become outdated, tools change, and best practices evolve. Content over 12 months old without updates gradually loses ranking competitiveness to fresher alternatives.
Google uses multiple signals: Schema.org datePublished and dateModified markup, HTTP Last-Modified and If-Modified-Since headers, Open Graph timestamps, visible date displays on the page, and changes detected during crawling. Consistent signals across all sources give the strongest freshness boost.
It depends on the content type. News and trending topics need daily updates. Blog posts and guides should be reviewed quarterly. Statistics and data should be updated annually or when new data is available. Evergreen reference content can go 6-12 months between updates if the information remains accurate.
Query Deserves Freshness (QDF) is Google's algorithm that detects when a query suddenly spikes in search volume (indicating a newsworthy event) and temporarily boosts the rankings of recently published or updated content. It affects roughly 35% of all search queries.
No. Google can detect superficial date changes without substantive content updates. This tactic — sometimes called "date manipulation" — can backfire and lead to reduced trust. Only update dates when you make meaningful content improvements like adding new data, expanding sections, or correcting outdated information.
datePublished indicates when the content was first created. dateModified indicates the last time it was substantively updated. Both should be present in your Schema markup. Google uses dateModified to assess how current the information is, while datePublished establishes the content's origin and authority.
Yes. For queries where freshness is not important (definitions, historical facts, reference material), old but authoritative content can rank indefinitely. However, for most commercial and informational queries, regularly updated content outperforms static content over time.
Google strongly favors fresh content for featured snippets, especially for queries about current statistics, prices, or best practices. Updating your content with current data increases the chance of winning and maintaining featured snippet positions.
Yes. Visible dates build trust with readers and give Google additional freshness signals. Display both the original publish date and last updated date. Content without visible dates may appear outdated to users, reducing CTR from search results.