As a website owner, you might have some old articles that aren’t performing as well as they used to. But don’t worry! Performing an SEO content audit is a great way to breathe new life into your existing content and improve its search engine ranking. Let’s walk through how you can do this step-by-step.
Step 1: Identify Content That Needs Attention
Start by looking at your old articles. Focus on those that have good potential but aren’t ranking well. These could be articles that had a lot of traffic in the past but have lost their momentum. Use tools like Google Analytics or any SEO platform you prefer to check traffic trends. Articles that used to get hits but have now dropped in ranking should be your priority.
Step 2: Update Outdated Information
One of the easiest ways to improve old content is by making sure the information is up-to-date. For example, if you wrote an article on “2023 SEO Trends” and it’s still live, it’s probably time to update it to reflect the latest SEO techniques for 2025. Add new data, update statistics, and make sure any outdated references are replaced with current ones. This helps your content stay relevant and trustworthy, which search engines love!
Step 3: Fix Broken Links
Broken links are a killer for SEO. If you have internal or external links in your articles that lead to 404 pages or dead websites, search engines will see that as a negative user experience. Use tools like Screaming Frog or Google Search Console to spot and fix broken links. Either update them with new, relevant links or remove them entirely.
Step 4: Improve Content Quality
It’s important to evaluate the overall quality of your article. Is it answering the reader’s question effectively? Are there areas where you can add more detail or improve clarity? Consider improving the structure of your article by adding headings, subheadings, and bullet points to make it more skimmable. If the content feels too thin, add some more valuable insights or examples.
Step 5: Optimize for SEO
Now it’s time to make sure your content is optimized for search engines. Revisit your target keywords and see if you can naturally incorporate them throughout your article. Don’t stuff them in, though – the content should still flow naturally. Also, check your meta title and description to make sure they are both compelling and SEO-friendly. These little tweaks can make a big difference in how your article ranks.
Step 6: Add New Media
People love visual content. If your article doesn’t have any images, infographics, or videos, it’s a great idea to add them. Not only does this enhance user engagement, but search engines also tend to favor content with rich media. Make sure your media is relevant and optimized for fast loading times. Alt-text is also important for accessibility and SEO.
Step 7: Promote Your Updated Content
Once you’ve done all the updates, don’t forget to promote your refreshed article. Share it on social media, email newsletters, or through internal links on your site to get it back in front of your audience.
Need SEO-Optimized Content for Your Website?
If you want to take your content strategy to the next level, I can help you create SEO-optimized articles that will not only rank better but engage your audience too. Contact me for professional writing services! Feel free to tweak this as needed for your audience.