Updating Existing Content

Updating existing content is often more effective than creating new content. The workflow involves analyzing current performance, identifying improvement opportunities, and rewriting with fresh data and optimization.

Overview

The content update workflow has two main commands:

Analyze Existing - Audit current content and identify opportunities
Rewrite - Update and improve based on analysis findings

Focus on updating content that already has traffic but could rank higher. These “quick win” opportunities often provide the best ROI.

When to Update Content

Update existing content when:

Content is ranking on page 2-3 (positions 11-30)
Statistics or examples are outdated
Competitors have passed you in rankings
You’ve added new features or capabilities
Search intent has shifted
Content gaps exist compared to current top-ranking articles
Performance is declining over time

Step 1: Analyze Existing Content

Start by analyzing your existing post to understand what needs improvement.

Command Usage

/analyze-existing [URL or file path]

Examples

# Analyze a live URL
/analyze-existing https://yoursite.com/blog/marketing-guide

# Analyze a local file
/analyze-existing published/marketing-guide-2024-01-15.md

What It Does

Fetches Content

Retrieves the article from the URL or reads the local file

SEO Audit

Analyzes current SEO optimization using 5 specialized modules:

Search intent classification
Keyword density & clustering analysis
Content length comparison vs top 10-20 SERP competitors
Readability scoring (Flesch scores, sentence structure)
SEO quality rating (0-100 with category breakdowns)

Competitive Context

Compares your content against top-ranking competitors to identify gaps

Identifies Issues

Detects outdated statistics, missing keywords, weak structure, or competitive disadvantages

Provides Recommendations

Creates prioritized list of improvements with estimated impact

Saves Analysis Report

Outputs comprehensive report to research/analysis-[post-slug]-[date].md

Analysis Output

The analysis report includes:

Content Health Score (0-100)

Enhanced scoring using 5 analysis modules:

SEO Quality Rating: Overall score with breakdowns for content, keywords, meta, structure, links, and readability
Search Intent Alignment: How well content matches search intent (informational/commercial/transactional/navigational)
Keyword Optimization: Density, distribution, clustering, and stuffing risk detection
Content Length Competitiveness: Word count position vs SERP competitors with optimal length recommendation
Readability Score: Flesch Reading Ease, Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level, passive voice ratio
Relevance & Freshness: Outdated content detection
User Experience: Flow, structure, actionability

Quick Wins

Top 3-5 immediate improvements (5-15 minutes each):

Update specific statistics or dates
Add missing keywords to headings with exact density recommendations
Optimize meta description
Add internal links to specific pages
Fix readability issues (sentence length, passive voice)

Strategic Improvements

Longer-term enhancements for maximum impact:

Content Expansion: Based on competitor length analysis (e.g., “Add 800 words to match top performers at 2,500 words”)
Intent Alignment: Adjust content type to match search intent
Topic Clustering: Add missing semantic keywords and related topics
New Sections: Based on competitive gap analysis
SEO Optimization Priorities: From quality rating breakdown

Detailed Analysis Reports

Search intent classification with confidence scores
Keyword density heatmap by section
Topic cluster visualization
Competitive length benchmarks (min, median, 75th percentile, optimal target)
Readability metrics with specific improvement suggestions
SEO quality breakdown by category (0-100 for each)

Rewrite Recommendations

Priority Level: Low / Medium / High / Critical
Estimated Effort: Light edit / Moderate update / Major rewrite / Complete refresh
Expected Impact: Potential traffic increase, ranking improvement, engagement boost
Specific Improvements: Exact word count targets, keyword density adjustments, readability fixes

The analysis automatically creates an initial research brief if a rewrite is recommended, including updated target keywords, competitor benchmarks, and optimal content length.

Example Analysis Output

**Content Health Score**: 62/100

**Quick Wins**:
- Update 2022 statistics with 2025 data (3 instances found)
- Add primary keyword "email marketing" to 2 more H2 headings
- Expand meta description from 142 to 155-160 characters
- Add internal link to /features/analytics in Performance section
- Reduce passive voice from 18% to under 10%

**Strategic Improvements**:
- Expand content from 1,800 to 2,500 words (competitors average 2,600)
- Add "Email Segmentation Best Practices" section (all top 5 competitors cover this)
- Shift focus from informational to commercial intent (search intent changed)
- Integrate 8 missing semantic keywords from topic cluster
- Restructure introduction with stronger hook

**Rewrite Priority**: High
**Estimated Effort**: Major rewrite (60-70% changes)
**Expected Impact**: +40% organic traffic based on competitive gap closure

Step 2: Rewrite the Content

Once you’ve reviewed the analysis, use the /rewrite command to update the content.

Command Usage

/rewrite [topic or analysis file]

Example

/rewrite marketing guide

What It Does

Reviews Analysis

Reads the analysis report to understand improvement priorities

Reads Original Content

Loads the existing article to identify what to keep, update, or remove

Determines Rewrite Scope

Classifies the update level:

Light Update (20-30% changes)
Moderate Refresh (40-60% changes)
Major Rewrite (70-90% changes)
Complete Overhaul (90%+ changes)

Applies Updates

Keeps: Effective sections that are still accurate
Updates: Refreshes stats, examples, and references
Adds: New sections to fill content gaps
Removes: Outdated or redundant information
Optimizes: Improves keyword integration and SEO

Saves Updated Content

Saves to rewrites/[topic-slug]-rewrite-[date].md with change summary

Automatic Scrubbing

Removes AI watermarks using /scrub command

Triggers Optimization Agents

Runs SEO Optimizer, Meta Creator, Internal Linker, and Keyword Mapper agents

Rewrite Strategy

What to Keep

Sections that are still accurate and comprehensive
Unique insights or perspectives that remain valuable
Well-performing structure or formatting
Examples or case studies that are still relevant
Internal links that remain appropriate

What to Update

Outdated statistics with current data (note date/source)
Old screenshots or examples with current versions
Deprecated terminology or processes
Missing keywords in headings and body
Weak or missing meta title/description
Insufficient internal links

What to Add

New sections to fill competitive content gaps
Recent industry trends or developments
Additional examples or use cases
Better introduction hook if current one is weak
Stronger conclusion and CTA
Missing SEO elements (keywords, links, structure)

What to Remove

Deprecated information that’s no longer accurate
Redundant or repetitive sections
Overly promotional language (if inconsistent with current brand)
Outdated examples or references
Fluff or filler that doesn’t add value

Change Summary

Every rewrite includes a change summary with:

---
Original Publication Date: [if known]
Rewrite Date: 2025-03-04
Rewrite Scope: Major
Word Count Change: 1,800 → 2,550 (+750 words)
Primary Keyword: email marketing strategies
SEO Score Improvement: 62 → 85 (estimated)

Major Changes:
- Added "Email Segmentation Best Practices" section (450 words)
- Added "Automation Workflows" section (300 words)
- Restructured introduction with scenario-based hook
- Updated 12 statistics with 2025 data

SEO Improvements:
- Increased keyword density from 0.8% to 1.5%
- Added keyword to 3 additional H2 headings
- Added 4 new internal links to product pages
- Optimized meta description (142 → 158 chars)

Content Updates:
- Refreshed 12 statistics with 2025 data
- Updated 3 examples with current platform screenshots
- Added AI-powered email marketing trends
---

Step 3: Optimize the Rewrite

After rewriting, run a final optimization pass.

Command Usage

/optimize rewrites/marketing-guide-rewrite-2025-03-04.md

What It Does

Same as the optimize step in the Creating Content workflow:

Comprehensive SEO audit
Advanced analysis with 5 Content Analyzer modules
Overall SEO score (0-100)
Priority fixes and quick wins
Publishing readiness assessment

Complete Workflow Example

Identify Content to Update

Use /performance-review or /priorities to identify high-impact update opportunities

Analyze Existing Content

/analyze-existing https://yoursite.com/blog/email-marketing-guide

Review the analysis report in research/analysis-email-marketing-guide-[date].md

Check Priority and Scope

Priority: High (content health score 62/100)
Scope: Major rewrite (70% changes recommended)
Expected Impact: +40% organic traffic

Rewrite Content

/rewrite email marketing guide

Article saved to rewrites/email-marketing-guide-rewrite-[date].md

Review Changes

Read the change summary and verify all improvements align with the analysis recommendations

Review Agent Feedback

Read agent reports and make any additional improvements

Final Optimization

/optimize rewrites/email-marketing-guide-rewrite-[date].md

Address any remaining priority fixes

Publish

Replace the original post on your site (note URL to ensure proper replacement/redirect)

Rewrite Scope Guidelines

Light Update (20-30% changes)

Best for: Content with minor issues or recent posts that need a refresh Typical changes:

Update 3-5 statistics
Add 200-400 words
Optimize meta elements
Add 1-2 internal links
Fix keyword placement issues

Time: 30-60 minutes

Moderate Refresh (40-60% changes)

Best for: Content with good foundation but needs expansion and SEO improvements Typical changes:

Update 5-10 statistics
Add 500-800 words
Add 1-2 new sections
Restructure 2-3 existing sections
Refresh introduction and conclusion
Add 3-5 internal links

Time: 1-2 hours

Major Rewrite (70-90% changes)

Best for: Content with significant gaps, outdated information, or SEO issues Typical changes:

Update 10+ statistics
Add 800-1,500 words
Add 2-4 new sections
Restructure entire article
New introduction hook and conclusion
Comprehensive SEO optimization

Time: 2-4 hours

Complete Overhaul (90%+ changes)

Best for: Content that’s fundamentally outdated or search intent has changed Typical changes:

Essentially a new article on the same topic
New outline and structure
Fresh angle or perspective
All new examples and data
Complete SEO rebuild

Time: 3-5 hours (similar to writing new content)

Tips for Effective Rewrites

Before Rewriting

Review Original Performance: Check analytics to understand what worked and what didn’t
Study Competitors: Look at what changed in top-ranking articles since your original publication
Check for New Developments: Research industry trends or changes that affect the topic
Verify URL Strategy: Decide if you’ll keep the same URL (recommended for SEO) or redirect

During Rewriting

Preserve What Works: Don’t throw away effective sections just to make changes
Focus on Gaps: Use competitive analysis to guide where you add content
Update Everything: When you reference dates, make sure “recent” actually means recent
Maintain Voice: Ensure updated sections match your current brand voice
Track Changes: Keep notes on major updates for your change summary

After Rewriting

Compare Before/After: Verify the rewrite is actually better than the original
Check All Links: Ensure internal and external links still work and are relevant
Update Publish Date: Indicate when the content was last updated
Monitor Performance: Track rankings and traffic after republishing
Update Internal Links: Make sure other articles linking to this content still make sense

Common Update Scenarios

Scenario 1: Quick Win Update

Situation: Ranking position 11-15, content is 80% good Strategy: Light update (30 minutes)

Fix keyword placement issues
Add 2-3 internal links
Update meta description
Refresh 2-3 outdated stats

Expected Result: Move to page 1 (positions 8-10)

Scenario 2: Declining Performance

Situation: Previously ranked well, now dropping Strategy: Moderate refresh (1-2 hours)

Analyze what changed in SERP
Add missing sections competitors now cover
Update all statistics and examples
Improve SEO optimization

Expected Result: Recover previous rankings or improve

Scenario 3: Competitive Gap

Situation: Competitors have surpassed you with more comprehensive content Strategy: Major rewrite (3-4 hours)

Expand content to match or exceed competitor length
Add all sections competitors cover
Provide unique insights they don’t have
Comprehensive SEO overhaul

Expected Result: Competitive positioning restored, potential to outrank

Scenario 4: Search Intent Shift

Situation: Search intent has changed from informational to commercial Strategy: Complete overhaul (4-5 hours)

Restructure content to match new intent
Change focus from education to conversion
Add product comparisons or buying guides
Update CTAs for commercial intent

Expected Result: Align with current search intent, improve rankings

Measuring Rewrite Success

Track these metrics after republishing:

Rankings: Monitor position changes for target keywords (2-4 weeks)
Organic Traffic: Compare traffic before/after rewrite (4-8 weeks)
Engagement: Check bounce rate, time on page, scroll depth
Conversions: Track goal completions or conversions from the page
Impressions & CTR: Monitor in Google Search Console

Set a calendar reminder to check performance 30 days after republishing. This gives search engines time to re-crawl and re-rank your content.

Next Steps

Learn about Creating Content from scratch
Explore Landing Pages for conversion-focused updates
Understand Publishing to WordPress

Getting Started

Core Concepts

Workflows

Commands

Advanced Commands

Agents

Data Sources

Integrations

Documentation Index

​Overview

​When to Update Content

​Step 1: Analyze Existing Content

​Command Usage

​Examples

​What It Does

​Analysis Output

​Content Health Score (0-100)

​Quick Wins

​Strategic Improvements

​Detailed Analysis Reports

​Rewrite Recommendations

​Example Analysis Output

​Step 2: Rewrite the Content

​Command Usage

​Example

​What It Does

​Rewrite Strategy

​What to Keep

​What to Update

​What to Add

​What to Remove

​Change Summary

​Step 3: Optimize the Rewrite

​Command Usage

​What It Does

​Complete Workflow Example

​Rewrite Scope Guidelines

​Light Update (20-30% changes)

​Moderate Refresh (40-60% changes)

​Major Rewrite (70-90% changes)

​Complete Overhaul (90%+ changes)

​Tips for Effective Rewrites

​Before Rewriting

​During Rewriting

​After Rewriting

​Common Update Scenarios

​Scenario 1: Quick Win Update

​Scenario 2: Declining Performance

​Scenario 3: Competitive Gap

​Scenario 4: Search Intent Shift

​Measuring Rewrite Success

​Next Steps

Build docs developers (and LLMs) love

Overview

When to Update Content

Step 1: Analyze Existing Content

Command Usage

Examples

What It Does

Analysis Output

Content Health Score (0-100)

Quick Wins

Strategic Improvements

Detailed Analysis Reports

Rewrite Recommendations

Example Analysis Output

Step 2: Rewrite the Content

Command Usage

Example

What It Does

Rewrite Strategy

What to Keep

What to Update

What to Add

What to Remove

Change Summary

Step 3: Optimize the Rewrite

Command Usage

What It Does

Complete Workflow Example

Rewrite Scope Guidelines

Light Update (20-30% changes)

Moderate Refresh (40-60% changes)

Major Rewrite (70-90% changes)

Complete Overhaul (90%+ changes)

Tips for Effective Rewrites

Before Rewriting

During Rewriting

After Rewriting

Common Update Scenarios

Scenario 1: Quick Win Update

Scenario 2: Declining Performance

Scenario 3: Competitive Gap

Scenario 4: Search Intent Shift

Measuring Rewrite Success

Next Steps