Are 100 Blogs the Key to Better Traffic and Rankings?

Why Quality Trumps Quantity for SEO Success

Having 100 blogs on your website may seem like a good strategy to improve your search engine rankings, but as a business owner, it’s tempting to think that simply having a large number of blog posts will automatically boost your visibility. Many believe that the more content they have, the more likely Google will recognize their site as an authoritative source. However, this approach can backfire if the quality of your content isn’t up to par. In fact, having 100 blog posts may not be as beneficial as you think—especially if the content is outdated, irrelevant, or poorly written.

The Problem with Outdated Content

Google’s algorithms prioritize fresh, relevant, and high-quality content. If your website contains blog posts that are outdated, irrelevant, or don’t reflect current trends, it can negatively impact your website’s credibility and visibility in search results. This is especially true if you have a large number of blogs, such as 100 blogs, that are no longer up to date. The sheer volume of content may seem beneficial, but if those posts are outdated or poorly optimized, they can actually work against you.

Rather than boosting your SEO, outdated blogs can confuse search engines about the relevance of your site. Google rewards websites that consistently provide fresh, valuable information that meets the evolving needs of their audience. When older blog posts lack this quality, they can drag down your entire site’s performance, causing lower rankings and diminished traffic. Here’s how outdated content can hurt your SEO:

1. Reduced Credibility

Outdated blog posts with inaccurate or obsolete information lower your credibility, both with users and search engines. If people land on an old post that contains incorrect statistics or broken links, they may lose trust in your site and look for information elsewhere. Google places a high value on user experience, and providing users with inaccurate or outdated information can cause them to question the reliability of your site. This can significantly harm your reputation in the eyes of both search engines and potential customers.

2. Decreased Engagement

One of the key factors Google uses to assess the quality of a website is user engagement. If visitors come across one of your 100 blogs that’s outdated and irrelevant to their needs, they’re more likely to leave quickly, increasing your bounce rate. This signals to Google that your website isn’t offering valuable content, which can harm your rankings. Moreover, if visitors feel that the content is no longer useful or trustworthy, they may be less likely to return to your site in the future, further diminishing your long-term traffic. With a large volume of content like 100 blogs, it’s especially important to ensure each one remains up-to-date and relevant to maintain strong user engagement.

3. Keyword Cannibalization

Sometimes, older blogs, especially if you have 100 blogs on your site, may overlap with newer content, resulting in what’s known as keyword cannibalization. This happens when multiple pages on your site target the same keywords, confusing search engines about which page should rank. As a result, both pages may rank poorly. With a large volume of content like 100 blogs, this issue can become more pronounced, making it harder for any one page to achieve high rankings. In the long run, keyword cannibalization can diminish your site’s ability to rank highly for any of the overlapping keywords, limiting the effectiveness of your SEO strategy.

4. Broken Links & Errors

Outdated blog posts, especially when you have 100 blog posts on your site, often contain broken links, outdated product information, or references to services no longer offered. These issues create a poor user experience and may cause your website to lose credibility. Google doesn’t look favorably on websites that feature broken links or poor navigation, as it suggests neglect or lack of maintenance. With a large volume of content, like 100 blogs, it becomes even more challenging to keep everything updated and functional. Over time, broken links can also lead to missed opportunities for building inbound traffic, as external sites may link to dead pages instead of active ones.

What Should You Do With Old Blog Posts?

Having a large volume of content may seem beneficial, but it’s not about how much content you have—it’s about the quality and relevance of that content. If your website has a lot of old blogs that are no longer performing well, it’s time to take action. Simply having a high number of posts doesn’t guarantee better SEO or engagement. Here are some steps you can take to evaluate your content and decide what to do with older blog posts:

1. Rewrite & Refresh Outdated Content

Not every old blog post needs to be discarded. If an article still offers value but is in need of updates, consider rewriting or refreshing it. Here’s how:

• Update facts and statistics: Make sure your content reflects the latest data and trends in your industry.
• Improve readability: Break up long paragraphs, add bullet points, and include headers to make your content more scannable.
• Enhance SEO: Update the keywords you’re targeting to reflect the most relevant search terms. Add internal links to other pages on your site to improve your SEO strategy.
• Add new visuals: High-quality images, videos, and infographics can make your content more engaging.

Rewriting outdated content is an opportunity to show that your business is staying current and relevant.

2. Consolidate Similar Posts

If you have several blog posts covering similar topics, it might be better to consolidate them into one comprehensive piece. This approach helps avoid keyword cannibalization and improves the overall authority of your content. By merging multiple posts into one, you can create a more thorough and authoritative article that ranks better on Google.

3. Delete Irrelevant or Low-Performing Posts

Some old blog posts may simply no longer serve a purpose. If a post is outdated, irrelevant, or not getting much traffic, it might be time to delete it. However, don’t just delete the post without a plan. Set up a 301 redirect to an updated page that covers a similar topic, so you don’t lose any SEO value from external links pointing to the old post.

4. Repurpose Content

If your older blog posts contain valuable ideas but are not formatted or presented well, consider repurposing them into new formats. For example, you could turn a blog post into an infographic, video, or podcast episode. Repurposing content allows you to make the most of your existing material and give it a new life, attracting a fresh audience.

Why Fresh Content Matters More Than Ever

While it may be tempting to keep older blogs on your site for the sake of volume, Google values fresh, relevant content more than ever. A website with up-to-date blog posts that address the current needs of your audience is much more likely to rank higher in search results.

If your content hasn’t been updated in a while, now is the time to audit your blog and refresh it. Regularly updating your content not only improves your SEO, but it also keeps your audience engaged and informed.

Conclusion: Quality Over Quantity

The goal of blogging is to create high-quality content that provides value to your audience. Whether you have 100 blogs or just 10, quality is far more important than quantity when it comes to SEO. Regularly auditing your blog posts, rewriting outdated content, merging similar posts, and deleting irrelevant ones will help you maintain a website that’s both user-friendly and search engine-friendly.

Remember, fresh, relevant, and valuable content is the key to SEO success. Stay on top of your blog content and ensure it’s always up to date to maintain your website’s credibility and visibility in search results.

Need help optimizing your content? The marketing team in Cincinnati focuses on driving real results, from increased traffic to higher conversions, so you can focus on growing your business with confidence. Reach out to an SEO expert and ensure your site is performing at its best.