2.3 Body content, quality & non-commodity ✦MediumInferred
No publish/update date shown
A visible, accurate date helps users and Google judge how current the content is. Hiding it, or showing a fake freshness date, both undermine trust.
What it is
No visible dating on time-sensitive content.
Why it matters
Reduces trust and freshness assessment; AI prefers datable sources.
How to fix it
Show accurate publish/updated dates.
How to find it on your site
- Check whether the page shows a publish or update date.
- Confirm the date is accurate, not auto-bumped.
- Show an honest published and, where relevant, updated date.
- Back it with matching structured data.
Cross-reference to ranking and citation factors
An honest date supports freshness assessment and trust. Faking it can backfire if content does not match.
Impact
Low-medium. Inferred.
Evidence
Transparency/freshness support trust. Google Search Central, Creating helpful, reliable, people-first content; Google, Search Quality Rater Guidelines (PDF)
Sources