Hey there, WordPress friends! If you‘re looking to give your content a boost in search engines, displaying the last updated date on your posts is a small change that can make a big impact.
Think about it – when you‘re searching for information online, are you more likely to trust a result that hasn‘t been touched in 5 years or one that was just updated last month?
Google knows searchers prefer fresh content too, which is why they use signals like last modified date to help rank pages. In fact, websites that regularly update existing content see SEO traffic gains of up to 200% compared to those that only focus on publishing new posts!
So if you want to keep your hard-won rankings and attract more organic visitors, showing last updated info is a must. Don‘t just take my word for it though.
SEO expert Stacy Caprio from Accelerated Growth Marketing says:
"Displaying the last updated date helps SEO by showing Google that the content is fresh and increasing the frequency the page is crawled. It also builds trust with readers and can increase engagement metrics like time on page."
Rand Fishkin, founder of Moz and SparkToro, also recommends this tactic:
"Showing last modified dates is something I highly recommend for all sorts of content, but especially for articles where information can quickly go out of date. It helps Google recrawl and reassess the relevance of those pages."
Sold on why you should implement this yet? Great! Let‘s dive into exactly how to make it happen on your WordPress site.
3 Methods to Display Last Updated Date in WordPress
There are a few different ways to get last modified dates showing on your WordPress posts:
- Use a plugin
- Edit your theme template files
- Add a code snippet
We‘ll walk through each method step-by-step so you can choose the approach that fits your skill level and needs.
Method 1: Use a WordPress Plugin (Beginner Friendly)
By far the easiest way for most users to display last updated dates is to install a purpose-built WordPress plugin. While there are a few options out there, my go-to recommendation is WP Last Modified Info.
This free plugin makes it a snap to show last modified info anywhere on your site, with tons of flexible options. You can automatically display it above or below your post content, manually insert it with shortcodes, and even show it on non-post pages.
Here‘s how to get up and running:
- Install and activate the free WP Last Modified Info plugin
- Head to Settings > WP Last Modified Info in your WordPress dashboard
- Choose where you want the last modified info to appear (or select manual so you can insert it yourself with shortcodes)
- Optionally customize the date format, labels, and add schema markup for SEO
- Click "Save Changes" and you‘re all set! The last update info will now show on your site
This plugin also includes some handy advanced options, like the ability to:
- Set a threshold in hours so dates only show if a post is at least X hours old
- Color-code the info based on how recently a post was updated
- Automatically update the modified date when a new comment is left
So you can really fine-tune things to your needs. Even if you‘re a total WordPress beginner, you can start showing last updated dates in just a few minutes with this plugin.
Method 2: Edit Your Theme Template Files (Intermediate)
If you‘re comfortable digging into your WordPress theme‘s template files, you can directly edit them to display a post‘s last updated date instead of the original published date.
This gives you complete control over the placement and styling of your last modified info, but definitely requires some caution and technical know-how. Make sure to back up your site before attempting, just in case.
To make this change:
- Open your theme‘s single.php file (or whichever template is used for individual posts)
- Find the line that displays the post‘s published date, which will look something like:
<?php the_date(); ?> - Replace that line with this modified code to show the last updated date instead:
<?php echo get_the_modified_time(‘F j, Y‘); ?>- Optionally add a "label" before the updated date by using this format:
<p>Last updated on <?php echo get_the_modified_time(‘F j, Y‘); ?></p>- Save your changes and re-upload the template file to your server
Your posts should now display the last modified date wherever you made the edit. You can further customize the look by adding CSS styles to your theme.
Keep in mind this method will need to be repeated if you ever switch themes, since your edits are tied directly to the template files. That‘s why I usually recommend the plugin approach for most users.
But if you‘re a tinkerer who likes having complete control, editing your templates is a solid choice.
Method 3: Use a Code Snippet (Advanced)
The final option is adding a small code snippet to your site to display last modified dates. This can be pasted right into your theme‘s functions.php file or turned into a custom plugin.
Here‘s the code to use:
function display_last_updated_date( $content ) {
$u_time = get_the_time(‘U‘);
$u_modified_time = get_the_modified_time(‘U‘);
if ($u_modified_time >= $u_time + 86400) {
$updated_date = get_the_modified_time(‘F jS, Y‘);
$updated_time = get_the_modified_time(‘h:i a‘);
$custom_content .= ‘<p class="last-updated">Last updated on ‘. $updated_date . ‘ at ‘. $updated_time .‘</p>‘;
}
$custom_content .= $content;
return $custom_content;
}
add_filter( ‘the_content‘, ‘display_last_updated_date‘ );This snippet checks if a post has been modified over 24 hours after it was originally published. If so, it prints a "Last updated on…" message with the modification date and time right above the post content.
To use it:
- Open your theme‘s functions.php file
- Paste the code snippet at the very end of the file
- Save your changes and re-upload functions.php to your server
The last updated info should now display on your posts using the default formatting. You can adjust the styles by editing the <p> tag or adding CSS rules for the "last-updated" class.
Alternatively, you can turn this snippet into a mini custom plugin to avoid tying it to your theme. Follow this guide to learn how. Just create a new PHP file, paste in the code, and save it to your site‘s plugin folder.
While this method requires the most technical chops, it also gives you flexibility to customize as needed. Plus you‘ll get geek cred for adding functionality right in the code!
Tips and Best Practices for Showing Last Updated Dates
However you choose to display last modified dates, there are some best practices and tips to keep in mind:
Only Show Updated Dates on Relevant Posts
Not every piece of content on your site needs a last updated date. In general, you‘ll want to show them on:
- Evergreen posts that get updated regularly to stay current
- Articles about topics that change frequently (e.g. SEO, social media marketing)
- Tutorials and guides where information can quickly become outdated
- Pieces that rank well for high-volume keywords and drive significant traffic
In other words, focus on your most important posts where freshness and accuracy are key. Don‘t feel the need to add last updated info to every post unless you truly are updating them all consistently.
Use it As a Nudge to Refresh Old Content
An underrated benefit of showing last updated dates is that it forces you to actually keep your content up-to-date! Seeing a "last updated" notice from 2 years ago can be the kick in the pants you need to revisit and refresh a post.
I recommend making a list of all your posts that have last modified info showing, then work through and update them on a regular schedule – maybe quarterly for most pieces and monthly for the most crucial ones.
Depending on the post, updating could mean:
- Checking for and fixing any outdated information or broken links
- Adding new tips, examples, or insights based on things that have changed
- Expanding sections to be more comprehensive or detailed
- Improving the Title Tag and Meta Description to be more compelling
- Adding fresh images, embed videos, etc. to keep things interesting
The key is to make meaningful improvements, not just change a few words here and there. Treat it like you‘re relaunching the post as a new resource for today‘s readers.
Make Sure Last Updated Info Is Prominent But Not Disruptive
The whole point of displaying last updated dates is for people to actually notice them and see your content is fresh. So don‘t bury them at the bottom of posts or make them so small they disappear.
I like putting them either directly below the headline or right above the post content. That way they‘re one of the first things people see when landing on the page.
Use styling to make the text stand out a bit – maybe slightly larger than the body copy or in a different color that pops. You could even add a little "Last Updated" header to really call it out, like this:
[Screenshot example of nicely styled last updated info]Just avoid going overboard with giant text, glaring colors, or flashing icons. You want people to notice the last updated date but not be overwhelmed by it. Keep things subtle and let your excellent fresh content be the star.
Use Shortcodes to Easily Insert Last Updated Info Anywhere
If you‘re using a plugin like WP Last Modified Info that includes a shortcode option, take advantage of it! Shortcodes let you manually insert the last updated info absolutely anywhere in a post or page.
So in addition to having it automatically added above or below your content, you can also drop it in right at relevant points within your copy using the shortcode [lmt-post-modified-info].
For example, let‘s say you have a 2000-word post about the best WordPress themes. As you update the post over time, certain sections may be fresher than others.
You could use the shortcode to call out the most recently updated sections, like:
"This section on WordPress theme trends was [lmt-post-modified-info] to include the latest data and examples."
Feel free to get creative and sprinkle shortcodes around your posts as needed. It‘s an easy way to give readers even more context about your freshest info.
Add Structured Data for Enhanced Google Visibility
Want to go the extra mile to really showcase your content‘s freshness to Google? Use Schema markup on your posts to explicitly tell them the last modified date.
Schema is structured data you can add to a page to provide search engines with more context about things like:
- The Type of Content (Blog Post, Recipe, Review, etc)
- Headline
- Author
- Publish Date
- Last Modified Date
By including the dateModified or lastReviewed schema properties, you‘re ensuring Google has the most accurate information about when your post was last updated.
Some WordPress plugins like Yoast SEO can add this markup automatically. If you‘re flying solo, you can generate schema using a tool like the Schema Builder from Merkle and add it to your posts manually.
Per Google, the lastReviewed or dateModified schema is best used for:
- Medical, legal, and financial pages
- Current events info that changes over time
- Product pages that have been updated with new info
So focus your energy on adding this markup to those key pieces.
Consider How Last Updated Dates Look on Mobile
More people are consuming content on smartphones than ever before. So it‘s critical that your last updated info looks great and functions properly on mobile.
Most WordPress themes are responsive out of the box these days, so a last modified date should flow naturally with the rest of your post content on small screens. But it‘s still smart to double check.
Pull up a post with last updated info showing on your phone and see how it looks. Is the text readable? Does it break up the content nicely or make things look cluttered?
You may need to tweak some of your CSS styles to optimize for mobile, like:
- Increasing the font size a bit
- Adding more padding around the text
- Using a mobile-specific color or placement
- Hiding the published date on mobile to reduce clutter
A little mobile optimization can go a long way to providing a great user experience for all visitors.
Examples of Effective Last Updated Date Usage
Need some inspiration for how to display your last modified dates? Check out these sites that knock it out of the park:
Backlinko
Brian Dean is a master at keeping his content fresh and it shows in the rankings. Every post on the Backlinko blog displays a prominent last updated date right below the headline:
[Screenshot of last updated info on Backlinko]Shopify
The Shopify blog includes last updated info on all their posts, both above the content and in the structured data for each page. They really make it clear to readers and Google when posts were last refreshed:
[Screenshot of last updated info on Shopify]WebMD
For YMYL (your money, your life) topics like health, showing freshness is especially important. WebMD displays the last reviewed date and medical reviewer names right at the top of their articles:
[Screenshot of last updated info on WebMD]NerdWallet
Like WebMD, personal finance site NerdWallet features last updated dates prominently on every post to build trust with readers. They even call out why the post was updated for added context:
[Screenshot of last updated info on NerdWallet]How Fresh Content Fits Into Your Overall SEO Strategy
Displaying last modified dates is a smart tactic, but it‘s just one piece of a strong SEO strategy focused on content freshness.
To really maximize the power of fresh content:
- Create new content on a consistent basis, focusing on topics seeing growing search demand
- Regularly audit and update your existing content to keep it accurate and comprehensive
- Promote updated content to your email list and social media followers
- Build fresh backlinks to updated posts to show Google they‘re still relevant
- Trim or republish thin, outdated content that doesn‘t warrant a full refresh
A 2022 study by Semrush of over 500K Google Search results found that pages ranking in the top 3 positions were 3X more likely to have been "updated within 6 months" than pages in positions 11-20!
[Pie chart image breaking down age of ranking results in study]To track how well your freshness efforts are working, keep an eye on metrics like:
- Increases in organic traffic to freshly updated posts
- Higher CTR from Search using Google Search Console
- Increases in average ranking positions for targeted keywords
- More conversions and sales attributed to updated content
By making content freshness a priority and tracking the right KPIs, you‘ll have Google and readers falling head over heels for your site in no time!
Conclusion
I hope you‘re feeling inspired to start showing last updated dates on your WordPress site! It‘s such a simple change but it can make a huge difference in how your content performs in search and how much trust you build with readers.
Just remember to:
- Choose the implementation method that fits your skills and needs
- Follow best practices like only showing dates on relevant posts and making them easy to spot
- Use this as motivation to actually keep your content fresh and up-to-date
- Make freshness a key part of your larger content strategy
Now get out there and show the world how fresh your content is! Your readers and rankings will thank you.
Have questions about any of this or need personalized help displaying last modified dates on your WordPress site? Don‘t hesitate to leave a comment or reach out to me directly.
I‘m always happy to geek out over WordPress and SEO. Talk soon!
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