Recently I updated a tutorial blog post that was over a year old and completely out of date. This involved renewing all the images and rewriting the majority of the text.
After I updated the post it dawned on me that, unless the blog post showed a date of when it was last updated, the chances are a lot of people could be put off reading it when they see its original publish date. After all, who wants to read old information?
I could have changed the published date of the blog post to the date of when I updated it, but this would mean the updated post would appear as the first post on my blog. I didn’t like that idea, instead I wanted my blog posts to automatically show the dates of when they were last updated.
To achieve this I used this plugin: Genesis Simple Edits
Please note this plugin is only designed to work with the Genesis Framework. Before installing the plugin check the minimum requirements on the plugin page and back up your site.
What I like about this plugin is that it allows me to safely edit my post information – there is no chance of me messing up my theme files. More importantly it is developed and maintained by the StudioPress team and is designed specifically for Genesis Framework users.
I have always been very impressed with the support I have received from the StudioPress team so I have no concerns when it comes to using any of their plugins.
How to Show “Last Updated” date Using Genesis Simple Edits Plugin
After installing the plugin and activating it, from within your WordPress dashboard click on Genesis then select Simple Edits.
Next
1 – Click on Show available entry meta shortcodes.
2 – Copy the shortcode “post_modified_date”
3 – Paste the shortcode over “post_date” and enter your required text in front of the shortcode. For example: “Last updated” or “Last modified”.
Then click on Save Settings at the bottom of the Simple Edits menu.
Once done your Entry Meta will look like this:
So now when a reader views your page, instead of seeing the published date of your blog post……
……they will see when your post was last updated.
If you wanted to you could display the published date and the last updated date. To do this you could use the shortcodes and text I have shown below.
This is how it will show on your blog post.
As you can see, by using this plugin you can easily change the dates on your post to the ones that you want your readers to see.
What are Your Preferences?
How do you prefer to date your posts, or do you prefer not to have any dates showing at all?
When I was looking into this topic I found arguments for and against showing updated dates. People’s opinions varied depending on what type of blog they were running and whether they considered their posts to be evergreen.
My thoughts are – if I update a post I want to make people aware of this and by using this plugin it is helping me to achieve this.
Thank you most sincerely! I’d been digging around for an article like this for awhile and can’t believe how I could have missed something so simple. Worked perfectly. My goal was to change the metadata so it would show the date of first publication as well as the date I made changes…so my readers will think I have a little “seniority”…This may help my CTR as well
Is there a way to enable this but to pages?
thanks a ton this worked for me, if you mind my next question is how to show full URL of my genesis blog in Google SERP results…
Hi Rajesh
Not quite sure what you mean on how to show full URL in Google search results. Can you explain?
Thanks
Thanks a lot man..it worked for me..
Is there a similar plugin for all WordPress themes? I have tried to search but there only seems to be old and not updated versions out there….
Hi
Not Sure…I only use Genesis themes.
I tried this plugin and it worked well. But dates are not displaying correct. I mean even the post is not updated, it is displaying a last updated on some recent date. All articles on size are facing same issue
Any solution for this?
Thank You
Hi Amar
It may be worth contacting the plugin developer. If you are using the Genesis Framework it should be fine.
Thanks
Dave
Read several other blogs on the same issue. Some suggested plugin, some suggested editing PHP files but this was the simplest and exactly what I wanted. Thanks a ton.
Hi Abhishek
Glad I could help.
Dave
That’s nice, that’s beautiful, that’s tight.
I never knew this plugin could be of so much help. I have been searching for information about like this only to accidentally meet it here. Wow!
I have it installed before, but deleted it. Now, its time to re-upload and activate.
I will save this page incase I don’t get it on my own.
Thanks for sharing. Have a wonderful night rest, and good night 🙂 .
This was very helpful! Coding is not my thing and I knew there had to be an easier way.
I appreciate this tons!
Happy New Year to you!
Steve