Update old blog posts that still get impressions or fix a real problem, merge posts that cover the same topic, redirect merged or removed URLs to the closest relevant post, and only delete posts that have no value and no replacement. Sort every post into keep, refresh, merge, redirect or retire before you touch anything.
- Keep: posts that already work and are still accurate.
- Refresh: posts with impressions, a lasting topic and out-of-date content.
- Merge: several posts answering the same question.
- Redirect: a permanent (301) redirect from the old URL to the new one.
- Retire: posts with no value and no good replacement.
Old blog posts pile up quietly. A few years in, you’ve got posts that rank, posts that embarrass you and posts that say the same thing as three others. The question is always the same: do you update old blog posts, or delete them?
The honest answer is that it depends on the post, and you can make that call in a few minutes with a simple checklist. Here’s how to decide whether to update or delete old blog posts, and what to do with each one.
Related: How to Use Blog Analytics to Plan Your Blog Content
Should You Delete Old Blog Posts?
Rarely. Update, merge or redirect first, and delete only when a post has no value and no replacement.
Deleting a post throws away whatever search history and links it has built, and anyone who visits the old URL hits an error. Google’s guidance on redirects says you can send people and search engines from an old URL to a new one when you consolidate or remove pages, which is usually kinder than a dead end.
An old post isn’t automatically a bad post. Plenty of posts just need updating.
Which Old Blog Posts Should You Update?
When you update or delete old blog posts, update the ones that still have a reason to exist.
- Posts that get impressions but few clicks: the topic works, so improve the title and the opening.
- Posts with a lasting topic: evergreen content is worth maintaining.
- Posts with out-of-date steps: old screenshots, tool names, prices or links.
- Posts that nearly answer the question: the structure is fine but the detail is thin.
Google’s own SEO starter guide asks for content that’s original, helpful and kept up to date, so refreshing a post is working with that guidance, not against it.
Related: What Is Evergreen Content? How to Create It for SEO
Which Old Blog Posts Should You Merge?
Before you update or delete old blog posts, merge the ones that compete with each other for the same question.
If two or three posts answer the same thing, they split your effort and confuse readers. Pick the strongest one, move the best parts of the others into it, then redirect the old URLs to the winner.
- Choose the post with the best topic, the most useful content or the most existing traffic.
- Copy across anything the winner is missing, rewritten so it reads as one post.
- Update any internal links so they point at the winner.
- Add a permanent redirect from each old URL to the winner.
Google lists consolidating multiple URLs into one as a reason to use a redirect, and recommends a permanent server-side redirect, such as a 301, when you’re sure it won’t be reversed. See Google’s redirect guidance.
Don’t delete a post until you’ve asked whether it can be updated, merged or redirected
When Is It OK to Delete a Blog Post?
Delete only when there’s genuinely nothing worth keeping.
- The topic no longer applies to your blog or your readers.
- The content is wrong or harmful and can’t be fixed.
- It’s thin, has no impressions or links, and there’s no better post to redirect to.
- It’s a duplicate with nothing the other post doesn’t already have.
If a similar post exists, redirect the old URL to it. If nothing relevant exists, retire the post and accept that the old URL will stop working.
A Simple Decision Table
| If the post… | Do this |
|---|---|
| Works and is accurate | Keep it |
| Gets impressions but needs updating | Refresh it |
| Competes with another post | Merge and redirect it |
| Has a close, better replacement | Redirect it |
| Has no value and no replacement | Retire it |
Need fresh topics once the clean-up is done? Grab my free 300 Blog Post Title Ideas.
Old Post Clean-Up Mistakes to Avoid
Most people who update or delete old blog posts make one of these mistakes.
- Deleting without a redirect: visitors and links hit an error.
- Redirecting everything to the homepage: send each URL to the closest relevant post.
- Changing the date without changing the content: update the post, not just the timestamp.
- Doing it all at once: work through a few posts a week.
- Guessing: check Search Console before deciding.
FAQ: Updating or Deleting Old Blog Posts
Should I delete old blog posts?
Usually not. Update posts that still have a purpose, merge posts that overlap and redirect removed URLs to a relevant replacement. Delete only when a post has no value and no replacement.
Does deleting old blog posts help SEO?
Not automatically. Removing a post doesn’t make the rest of your site rank better by itself. Improving or consolidating content is usually the safer choice.
How do I redirect an old blog post?
Add a permanent 301 redirect from the old URL to the new one, using your SEO plugin or hosting tools. Google recommends server-side redirects.
How often should I update old blog posts?
Review your best and most important posts every few months, and others when something changes.
Should I redirect to my homepage?
Only if there’s nothing more relevant. Redirect to the closest matching post wherever you can.
Key Takeaways
- Before you update or delete old blog posts, sort each one into keep, refresh, merge, redirect or retire.
- Update posts with impressions and a lasting topic.
- Merge overlapping posts, then 301 the old URLs to the winner.
- Delete only when there’s no value and no relevant replacement.
A tidy blog isn’t a smaller blog. It’s one where every post has a job. 🌶️
Sources: Google’s SEO Starter Guide and Google’s redirect guidance.
