Does content have a shelf life for link building efforts?

[nicole.healthline]

Do you think that content (that doesn't have a date attached) has a shelf life? Especially content that is effectively timeless such as a quiz?

I've noticed in my link building efforts that most links are achieved within the first couple of weeks, and that there seems to be a point of diminishing returns. Why do you think that may be?

[AlanBleiweiss]

it's the freshness factor.  Unless we find way to promote such content on a longer-term scale, it's going to be diminishing returns.  It's one of the reasons Google wants fresh content.

[CPLDistribution]

You can attempt to recycle content to try and squeeze more links out of it. For example if you have quiz you could update it with new questions or if say you have written an e-mail cheat sheet you could update it every year to reflect changing techniques and technologies.

You could also look to promote old content in response to new events. An example would be a company who have written an article on steps you can take to prevent your phone being hacked. At present the UK news is dominated by a phone hacking scandal by one of the newspapers, there couldn't be a better time for the companies article to build some links if they can promote it properly.

[nicole.healthline]

What do you think causes the "freshness factor." Someone asked and I wasn't sure how best to explain it. Thanks!

[AlanBleiweiss]

what causes it?  There are new web sites popping up all the time.  And existing sites are already out there with new content on those all the time as well.

While some content, specifically that classified as "evergreen" deserves to be found, the task of determining what older content deserves to remain high as compared to other content is extremely difficult - far from perfect.