Can Google Get Page Creation Dates?

[kindsvater]

When the Googlebot comes by is the date a page was created part of the information it can obtain?

The ultimate question I have is whether if I use a script to include randomly selected text in a page, if Google would see the new text and think the page has been updated? Or if Google would see the page has the same original creation date?

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[aygabtu]

For web 2.0 pages, I doubt it, since the page is dynamic. For static html pages, I believe they can. You can use your browser and look at page info which shows the last modified date, so I am sure google can get that info for static pages.

[CreativeFlair]

Originally Posted by kindsvater

When the Googlebot comes by is the date a page was created part of the information it can obtain?

It really depends on what date information is presented. For example, if you have a WordPress blog and it pings sites to notify them of a new entry, then yes Google knows when it's published (and a lot have a date next to them anyway).

There are lots of search results now that say the date next to them in a light grey.

Originally Posted by kindsvater

The ultimate question I have is whether if I use a script to include randomly selected text in a page, if Google would see the new text and think the page has been updated? Or if Google would see the page has the same original creation date?

If you modify a considerable amount of text on a page, Google will reassess it somewhat like a new page. If you only make a small edit, it won't.

[kindsvater]

Originally Posted by aygabtu

For static html pages, I believe they can. You can use your browser and look at page info which shows the last modified date, so I am sure google can get that info for static pages.

By far I have more static html pages than WordPress. But looking at the "page info" using Firefox, Opera, and IE - the only date listed is today. I do not see where the original page creation date is picked up by a web browser.

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[yukon]

Originally Posted by kindsvater

By far I have more static html pages than WordPress. But looking at the "page info" using Firefox, Opera, and IE - the only date listed is today. I do not see where the original page creation date is picked up by a web browser.

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If your running Wordpress the default setup will display a bunch of bloated header data/links that are just junk IMO.

Also, you have multiple WP-feeds that all include the dates per blog post.