Date the page and keep it up to date to show that it is current
Description
This criterion checks that the page declares a publication or update date (datePublished or dateModified in JSON-LD, the article:modified_time tag, a <time datetime> element in the main text), that its sitemap entry has a lastmod, and that these dates match within 30 days.
It also checks that the most recent known date is less than 6 months old: declared dates, lastmod, the Last-Modified header, or the last text change seen by iPand since tracking began.
Why it matters for AI engines
A clear, consistent date tells search engines, their AI features and your visitors that the information is current, which matters for prices, opening hours or offers. Google recommends showing the date and declaring it in structured data; it only uses a sitemap’s lastmod if it is consistently and verifiably accurate.
- Without a declared date, nothing distinguishes an up-to-date page from a forgotten one.
- A lastmod that does not follow the page’s real changes may be ignored by Google.
- Google lists changing a page’s date without really changing its content among the signs of content written for search engines.
How to fix it
- 1 Show and declare the update date Show a readable date in the main text, for example “Updated on 12 March 2026”, in a <time datetime="2026-03-12"> element. Declare the same date in dateModified, and the creation date in datePublished, in the page’s JSON-LD structured data.
- 2 Fill in lastmod in the sitemap In your XML sitemap, give the page’s entry a lastmod element in YYYY-MM-DD format. Most CMSs fill it in automatically: check that it changes when the content really changes, not every time the site is rebuilt.
- 3 Align the dates The displayed date, the structured data date and the sitemap lastmod must match: iPand allows a 30-day gap. A gap often comes from a page template that freezes an old date, or from a sitemap that writes today’s date for every page.
- 4 Update the page at least every six months Review the page at least every six months: prices, opening hours, offers, photos, frequently asked questions. Fix what has changed, then update the date. iPand also counts the text changes it sees itself, except those that only affect figures or dates.
Key takeaway
A dated page, with matching dates and reviewed at least every six months, shows that it is current. Change the date when the content really changes, never to look recent.
