Add NewsArticle schema with dateModified only for substantive updates.
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Why this matters
Accurate timestamps signal freshness without misleading search engines, preserving trust and proper news indexing.
Hypothetical standard operating procedure
Adapt this example to your site, access, tools, and change process. It is our suggested procedure, informed by the sources below.
- Review article updates to determine if new, significant information is added.
- If yes, update dateModified field in NewsArticle structured data accordingly.
- Add a note on the page explaining the update to maintain transparency.
- Validate updated structured data with Google's Rich Results Test tool.
- Publish the updated article and monitor for indexing and ranking changes.
Watch for
Updating dateModified without meaningful content changes can harm credibility and SEO performance.
Definition of done
NewsArticle schema includes dateModified only when the article content has meaningful new information.
Sources & attribution
Original checklist wording and example SOP by Best SEO Checklist, using source-grounded AI assistance. Editorial contact: Ted Kubaitis, @tedkubaitis on Teams. Check current source guidance before implementation.