Which old pages should you update first?
A page that ranked well last year slowly slips as its content ages. Updating often pays off more than writing something new. How to choose which pages go first, and how to let GENI do the groundwork.
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The short answer
First update the pages that once ranked well and are now dropping, and the pages with many impressions that sit just outside the first page. Change what is outdated (prices, rules, years, examples), put the answer at the top, add a frequently asked questions block and link back from newer pages. Only change the date if you actually updated the content. Have GENI build the list with Search Console and make suggestions per page, and decide yourself what changes.
Why updating pays off
A page that has existed for a while has something a new page does not: history. Google knows it, other sites may link to it, it has had impressions before. If it is dropping now, that is often not because it is bad, but because it is outdated. A price from two years ago, a rule that has changed, an example nobody recognises anymore.
Updating builds on what is already there. That is why it often delivers results faster than a new page, which still has to be found.
AI assistants also prefer current sources. A page with this year's prices and a recent date is more likely to be cited than a page that has sat unchanged for years.
Which pages first
Not every old page deserves attention. Start with these three groups:
| Group | Why | How to find them |
|---|---|---|
| Decliners | They once ranked well, so the topic works | Clicks now versus six months ago |
| Almost there | Google finds them relevant, just not good enough | Average position 8 to 20 |
| Many impressions, few clicks | The title or opening does not convince | High impressions, low click-through rate |
Have GENI build that list with the Google Search Console connection:
"Make a list of my ten pages that dropped most in clicks compared with six months ago, and of ten pages with an average position between 8 and 20. Add the searches they appear for."
How to read Search Console every month is covered in Search Console in ten minutes a month.
What to change
1. What is outdated
Prices, rules, years, names of tools or services that no longer exist. This is the basis. A page with outdated facts loses trust, with readers and with search engines.
2. The opening
Put the answer to the question the page is found for in the first paragraph. Check in Search Console which searches the page appears for, and answer them literally at the top.
3. What is missing
Compare your page with what ranks at the top for the same search now. Are there topics others cover that you do not? Add a section. Not to be longer, but to be more complete.
4. A frequently asked questions block
The questions people ask about this topic, with short answers. That helps visitors and gives AI assistants passages they can cite.
5. Internal links
Link from newer, strong pages to the updated page, and from the updated page to related articles. See internal links and SEO.
What not to do
- Change the date without changing the content. That is misleading, and search engines see the difference.
- Change the page's address. A new address loses the history. Update the page at the same address.
- Everything at once. Update three to five pages a month, and see what it delivers.
How GENI helps
Per page, GENI can do the groundwork:
"Read this page and the searches it appears for in Search Console. Point out what looks outdated, suggest a new first paragraph that answers the main search, and write a block of five frequently asked questions."
You check the facts, choose what to use and publish it. Facts about your own business, such as prices and way of working, you always check yourself. If your site runs on a CMS dGENIX can reach, such as through the CMS Publisher, GENI can also apply the change after your approval.
Measure after six weeks
Note the clicks and position per updated page on the day you update it. Look again after six weeks. That teaches you which kind of change pays off most for your site. The bigger picture of SEO in 2026 is in AI and SEO in 2026.
Let the SEO Engine look along
The SEO Engine runs a technical check of your site and gives recommendations per page: titles that are too long, pages without a description, slow pages, missing headings. Run it before you start updating. Then you fix the technical points in the same round, and update every page properly once instead of twice.
Combine it with the GEO Engine for your most important pages. It shows how citable a page is for AI assistants. An updated page that is well built for both Google and AI gets the most out of your work.
Frequently asked questions
How often should I update a page?
When the content changes, and at least once a year for your most important pages. Pages with prices or rules more often.
Is a new page sometimes better?
Yes, if the topic is really different. If it is about the same question, update the existing page.
Should I remove what is no longer correct?
Yes, or rewrite it. Leaving outdated information harms the whole page.
Where do I start?
dGENIX is in early access. Join the waitlist, or first read the SEO audit checklist.
