Stop changing publish dates without changing the content

This no longer works. Google's helpful content guidance lists changing page dates to look fresh, when content hasn't substantially changed, as a warning sign.

Why it stopped working

Google's helpful content guidance lists changing page dates to look fresh, when content hasn't substantially changed, as a warning sign. Google also ignores sitemap lastmod values that aren't verifiably accurate.

What to do instead

1. Change dates only when the content materially changes
2. Show both published and updated dates and describe what changed on major updates

Sources

• Creating helpful, reliable, people-first content · Google Search Central, Oct 5, 2026
• Build and submit a sitemap · Google Search Central, Jul 8, 2026

Change history

Checked against its sources every Monday. Only content changes are listed.

Rules that work instead

• Rule 12: Publish original, first-hand content that adds something the rest of the web hasn't said
• Rule 13: Don't mass-produce pages for query variations, with AI or without it
• Rule 14: Show who wrote it, how it was made and why it exists, with real bylines and author pages