Outdated content, regardless of its greatness at the time of writing, eventually goes stale. New content takes time to produce, forcing content creators to spend weeks brainstorming ideas. The solution is to repurpose and update old content to preserve and increase engagement.
In this post, we’ll discuss practical strategies for reviving old content and the benefits involved.
What Are the Benefits of Bringing Old Content Back to Life?
A key benefit of bringing old content back to life is relevancy. For example, a statistics list post that performed great in 2020 is no longer relevant for 2023 unless it is updated.
According to marketing guru Neil Patel, not driving traffic to old content slashes ROI. Read more about the other crucial benefits of reviving and updating old content.
Improved SEO
Refreshed content helps increase search engine rankings. It helps drive organic traffic to your website or platform, improving SEO.
Time Efficiency
Updating old content takes less time than creating new material from scratch. This way, you can focus on other business aspects, such as paid advertising or testing different marketing strategies to improve efficiency.
Enhanced Industry Authority
Regularly updated content displays expertise in a particular field. It shows your website has authority, making your audience return to your website for more relevant information.
Better User Experience
Up-to-date content keeps visitors engaged. It encourages return visits and more time spent on your website.
Increased Conversions
Revived content can lead to higher conversion rates. It will address visitor pain points or questions, increasing your chances of turning them into customers.
Social Sharing
Updated content can be repromoted, attracting new social media shares and engagement. In time, it will outpace competitors with outdated or stale content.
Strategies for Repurposing and Updating Old Content
Google owns over 83% of the global search market share. To improve user experience, the search engine constantly refined its algorithms. These updates can lead to drops in your page’s ranking.
Content can lose its value as customer preferences evolve. Therefore, having a strategy in place for repurposing old content can lead to better engagement. Here are some steps to get started:
Refresh Old Content
To ensure accuracy, review and update outdated statistics, facts, and examples in your old content. Make necessary revisions to reflect current trends, technologies, or best practices. Additionally, check for broken links and replace them with up-to-date resources.
Content Upcycling
Transform longer-form content, such as blog posts or articles, into shorter, more digestible formats. Create infographics, slide presentations, or video summaries to cater to different audience preferences and expand your content reach.
Content Expansion
Take a deep dive into a previously covered topic by expanding your old content. Add new sections, case studies, or examples to provide your audience with more comprehensive and valuable information. This not only updates the content but also enhances its depth and usefulness.
Content Webinars or Podcasts
Transform your written content, like blog posts or articles, into webinars or podcasts. This lets you reach audiences who prefer audio or video formats and engage with your content differently.
Social Media Snippets
Extract key points, quotes, or statistics from your old content and share them as standalone social media posts. This can pique interest and drive traffic back to the original content.
Email Newsletters
Repurpose your best-performing content into email newsletters. Summarize or excerpt the content and provide links to read the full article. It’s a great way to keep your email subscribers engaged.
Interactive Content
Convert static content, such as guides or tutorials, into interactive formats like quizzes, polls, or calculators. Interactivity can boost engagement and encourage sharing.
Translations or Localization
Reach a broader audience by translating your old content into different languages or localizing it to suit specific regions or markets. This expands your content’s global reach and potential audience.
Content Roundup
Curate a content roundup or “best-of” compilation from your archive. Select the most informative, evergreen, or popular pieces and present them in a cohesive post, video, or infographic. This provides a convenient resource for your audience while highlighting your most valuable content.
In conclusion, repurposing old content is a strategic powerhouse in content marketing. It extends the lifespan of your written material, enhances your online presence, and engages a wider audience.
