IT'S NUANCED
Fresh content ranks better
The Myth
"Regularly updated content always outranks older content."
The Truth
Freshness matters for some queries, not all. For news, current events, and time-sensitive topics, Google favors recent content (Query Deserves Freshness). For evergreen topics, old content can rank for years without updates. The key is understanding user intent—if people want current information, freshness matters. If they want comprehensive guides, age is irrelevant.
Google QDF Algorithm
Query Deserves Freshness applies to trending and time-sensitive queries.
Industry Case Studies
Evergreen content ranking for years without updates in many niches.
DInsight from @dejanseo
"Freshness is query-dependent. Nobody needs a fresh guide on how to tie shoes. But breaking news? Yesterday's article is ancient history. Match your content strategy to user needs."