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Minor change to title tag and consequences on SEO

by Sven300
6 replies
  • SEO
    • |
I wish to update an article on a website.

The title is: "The Different Types and Costs of ..... in 2017" and I want to change it for "2018" without changing anything in the text. Prices have not changed in 2018. Only the title (and title tag) will be changed.

The site is hand coded and is not done with Wordpress.

This article is currently on the first page of Google for a long tail query.

What, in your opinion, will be the impact on the SERPs? Minimal and I do not have to worry? Or on the contrary, it could be important?

Formerly I was very interested in SEO but for ten years I was less interested, so your opinion will be valuable to me.

Thank you very much in advance.
#change #consequences #minor #seo #tag #title
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  • Profile picture of the author Blakers1
    Here's what I think will happen. You might still rank for "2017" for a while after you make this change. Especially if there are other on-page ranking factors optimized for 2017.

    But in time two things are going to happen:

    1 - You will rank somewhere (not sure where until it all shakes out) for 2018.

    2 - Actual search volume around 2017 probably still exists, but it is on a sharp decline.

    You want to rank for 2018 if you are interested in keeping a lot of traffic going to this page. As long as the content is still 100% relevant and up-to-date, I would suggest making the change.
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    Blake Akers
    Webology

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  • Profile picture of the author YourGoToWriter
    As long as the content is what's true to the present and of quality, such change won't hurt.

    Leah
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  • Profile picture of the author SEOptimization@1
    Instead of changing 2017 to 2018, use both terms - "The Different Types and Costs of ..... in 2017 and 2018". for at least next 5-6 months.

    When you update 2018 in the title, you might see some minor (-ve) changes in ranking but after some time, it will come back to original position. Along with, you should keep adding quality content on your website with term "2018".
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    PARKER2010.COM
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  • Profile picture of the author yukon
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    Originally Posted by Sven300 View Post

    I wish to update an article on a website.

    The title is: "The Different Types and Costs of ..... in 2017" and I want to change it for "2018" without changing anything in the text. Prices have not changed in 2018. Only the title (and title tag) will be changed.

    The site is hand coded and is not done with Wordpress.

    This article is currently on the first page of Google for a long tail query.

    What, in your opinion, will be the impact on the SERPs? Minimal and I do not have to worry? Or on the contrary, it could be important?

    Formerly I was very interested in SEO but for ten years I was less interested, so your opinion will be valuable to me.

    Thank you very much in advance.
    Usually I'd say don't touch the title of a ranked page but one minor ranking factor is the date, so updating the date/year should be ok.

    Keep in mind anytime you mess with a ranked page, it's a 50/50 gamble for holding rank.
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    • Profile picture of the author Sven300
      Originally Posted by yukon View Post

      .
      Keep in mind anytime you mess with a ranked page, it's a 50/50 gamble for holding rank.
      Alas... it's very true!

      That's what I saw too. And that's why I'm worried.


      Originally Posted by yukon View Post

      Usually I'd say don't touch the title of a ranked page but one minor ranking factor is the date, so updating the date/year should be ok.
      .
      Thank you for your comment.
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      I'm a great believer in luck, and I find the harder I work the more I have of it. Thomas Jefferson
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  • Profile picture of the author tomopalinski
    I recommend writing both "in 2017 and 2018" in the title. This way you will keep ranking for 2017 until the traffic drops and you will start ranking for 2018 as well.
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    Good SEO work only gets better over time. It is only search engine tricks that need to keep changing when the ranking algorithms change. -- Jill Whalen

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