Should You Delete Old Blog Posts?

70
  January 20, 2022 blogging tips 🕑 7 minutes read
Giant Mountain Wilderness Area New York State.

Giant Mountain Wilderness Area New York State.

 

Deciding whether or not to delete old blog posts makes even seasoned bloggers hesitate.

 

Putting in hard work to publish helpful content makes any blogger think twice about trashing old blog content.

 

Scanning the URL slug for this post reveals the original content I published in 2014. I explained how deleting 3400 blog posts, a blog and brand formed the basis of Blogging From Paradise. Trashing 3000 plus posts was the best blogging decision for me because doing so led to me create this blog.

 

However, I agonized over making this choice because releasing over 6 year’s worth of blogging work scared me. I faced similar fears over the past few days because even though my intuition told me that it was time for another blog overhaul I still feared letting go. Eventually, I decided to let go 1000 plus posts on Blogging From Paradise based on a strong intuitive pull over the past few days.

 

I want to help you decide whether or not to delete old blog posts based on my experience to give you confidence in making your decision. The ego tries to terrify you with the fear of loss versus opening your eyes to what sweet success you can and will gain by improving the overall quality of your blog.

 

Frame your blog as a full body of work. Never think in terms of one blog post to the next blog post to gauge your blog. Consider the:

 

  • quality
  • helpfulness
  • depth
  • optimization
  • thoroughness
  • detailed nature

 

of every single blog post on your blog to consider the collective nature of your blogging campaign.

 

Seeing your blog as a full body of work can help you easily delete any old blog post that does not meet your quality and/or relevance parameters.

 

Before deciding whether or not you should delete old blog posts consider these pros and cons.

 

Pros

 

Prune Your Blogging Tree to Build Credibility

 

I deleted over 1000 blog posts this past week because:

 

  • no one read most of the posts
  • most of the posts were thin
  • none of the posts ranked on Google
  • 100’s of the posts were link-only posts pointing to videos I published to Facebook, Twitter and YouTube

 

Perhaps I have built solid credibility through my in-depth blog posts but I still have not reached the next-level credibility of the top bloggers in the world solely because many posts I recently deleted were good but not great. Pros like Neil Patel, Brian Dean and Adam Connell publish great content every time out. None of these pros ever publishes good, average or mediocre content.

 

My 600 word posts seemed helpful but none of these posts did anything to build an eye-popping, high-level blog and brand. Trashing these posts pruned my blogging tree to largely leave a collection of 1000-3000 word in-depth, detailed blog posts. Note; I am still deleting thin posts or updating these posts with a few hundred extra words to beef up these offerings.

 

Delete old blog posts if the posts do not bolster your:

 

  • credibility
  • brand awareness
  • blogging reputation

 

Let go what does not genuinely build your blogging business with detailed content. Prune your blogging tree to develop even stronger credibility in your blogging niche.

 

Feel Good about Your Content

 

I felt really good about my blog after deleting old blog posts this week. Trashing thin content influenced me to feel better about my blog, brand and business.

 

Deleting thin content also gave me greater confidence in knowing that my updated posts will rank more quickly as Google weighs the full body of blogging work.

 

Doha Qatar

 

True to form, a post I just updated and re-published yesterday ranks #1 on Google for the phrase “blogging for fun and profit”:

 

Blogging for Fun and Profit: 7 Tips

 

Amazing things happen when you feel really good, clear and confident about your blog. Trash old posts that cause you not to feel good and clear on your blog. Release bad-feeling posts not up to your current quality standards. Feel better about the quality of all posts published to your blog. See where these good-feeling vibes take you.

 

Delete Topical Content to Be Relevant to Google and Readers

 

I trashed a few old blog posts celebrating upcoming trips – at those times – because said posts no longer seem relevant for you or Google.

 

I:

 

  • took those trips
  • published posts about those trips

 

Perhaps digging in to the travel time capsule seems neat but I intend to be fully relevant for each piece of content I publish on Blogging From Paradise.

 

Delete any post not evergreen in nature to send a clear signal to Google and readers: all content on your blog is relevant, timely and useful today. Google loves evergreen content. People love knowing that content is up-to-date.

 

Let go outdated posts.  Be relevant to increase your blogging success.

 

Exercise Quality Control

 

One of my Twitter followers recently remarked how I had not proof read a guest post on my blog. On clicking through I realized how the guest post seemed littered with grammatical errors. I immediately deleted the post that had somehow evaded my attention to that point.

 

Reading the post shocked me. I had been mindless enough at that point to publish content without proof-reading the work. I chalked it up to being in a different frame of mind during this stretch but knew that I had to trash this post and other guest posts not up to my writing standards.

 

Delete low quality posts dripping with grammatical errors and typos to attract a high quality readership. Allow your blogging success to expand based on the high quality of every blog post and guest post appearing on your blog.

 

Maintain Brand Consistency

 

I deleted almost all guest posts on Blogging From Paradise this past week because most posts offered good value but did not remain consistent with my blogging brand story.

 

I write how I write. A few guest posts seemed similar to my writing style but most did not match the Blogging From Paradise experience. At the end of the day, bloggers need to delete what does not fit their brand message and overall blogging experience.

 

Let go what you published when you lacked brand clarity. Keep what remains aligned with your blogging brand.

 

Cons

 

Dead Links

 

I created many dead links the week prior while deleting 1000 plus posts on my blog.

 

Readers clicking through to a dead link can lessen your blogging credibility in their eyes.

 

Dead links may also be an inconvenience for fellow bloggers on whose blog you guest posted. However, any seasoned veteran knows that this is part of the blogging business. 1000’s of guest posts I published on various blogs disappeared overnight the moment blogs changed ownership. Professional bloggers know that dead links, guest posts disappearing as blogs change hands and similar events are all part of the pro blogging game.

 

Be prepared to clean up all of the links on your blog pointing to your deleted posts. Fixing these links can consume a significant chunk of your attention and energy if you delete a high volume of blog posts.

 

Possible Google Penalty

 

As always, some bloggers claim that Google heavily penalizes your blog based on deleting a decent chunk of old posts while other bloggers offer more cryptic explanations regarding Google and deleted old blog posts.

 

Cappadocia, Turkey

 

At the end of the day, Google algorithms may penalize websites if users click through to a link that does not deliver an accurate solution to the user intent. My handful of posts ranking on Google prior to my recent mass post purge rank fine as of now but I will scan their performance over the next week to see if Blogging From Paradise suffers from Google penalties.

 

The Verdict

 

Should you delete old blog posts?

 

Weigh the pros and cons based on your specific situation.

 

Assess your full body of work. I published 50-100 in-depth, detailed blog posts building a granite-like foundation for a thriving blogging campaign. But then I watered down this seemingly fabulous foundation with 1000 plus thin posts perhaps good but certainly not great. Why would I make readers sift through thin, mediocre content to access my highly-detailed, rich content?

 

Deleting these old posts was a smart decision for me because the downside of dead links pales in comparison to building rock solid credibility with a collection of highly-detailed, in-depth, 1,500 to 3,000 word blog posts.

 

Do what makes sense for you. If you blogged with great clarity for a while maybe you only need to delete 5-10 blog posts. However, if you have only published high-quality, relevant content you do not need to delete any old blog posts.

 

Beware of Making This Mistake

 

Be far more afraid of holding back your long term success than fearing a high volume of dead links.

 

Beware of making the common but damaging blogging mistake of being afraid to lose:

 

  • low quality links
  • low quality content
  • irrelevant content

 

to the tune of struggling for months or years with your blogging campaign. Bloggers fear deleting the very low quality content forming all of their blogging struggles.

 

Do not fear letting go what needs to go in order for you to succeed. Develop a deeper fear of holding on to what causes your blogging failure.

 

Your Turn

 

Do you routinely delete old blog posts?

 

Or do you fear deleting old blog posts?

 

What pros and cons can you add to this list?

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  1. Kevin Duncan says:
    at 9:30 am

    Hey Ryan,

    This post is yet another example of why I enjoy your blogging — I can relate to you as a blogger!

    No, I’m not blogging from a tropical island (oh, wouldn’t that be nice). But I, too, “let go” of my previous blog before starting the one I have now.

    Many would read this and say, “So what…I delete blogs all the time.” But there is a difference between letting go of a blog you lost interest in (or wasn’t as successful as you wanted it to be), and moving on from a popular blog you still enjoyed.

    Given your success so far with Blogging from Paradise, my assumption is your former blog was quite popular. My former blog (the humor one) had a Google Page Rank of 3 (something my current, newbie blog could only dream of obtaining). It was fairly successful in its day.

    So, maybe it’s because I don’t feel as foolish and alone now since I know another blogger (you) who has done something similar to me, but I’m rooting for your success! Haha. 🙂

    Keep moving onward and upward. You’re doing great!

    Also: Glad to hear you did the redirect.

    Thanks for another entertaining, informative read, Ryan! Have a good one…

    Reply to this comment
    • Ryan Biddulph says:
      at 9:38 am

      Kevin, likewise! Letting go a PR 3 blog is no small feat, especially when you enjoyed blogging there, and saw that gaudy stat. I salute you. Based on the immense success you’re having at beabetterblogger I too know you made a wise move to let go the awesome to make room for the even more awesome. Thanks so much for sharing the awesome comment. You too Kevin 🙂

      Reply to this comment
      • Kevin Duncan says:
        at 12:49 pm

        Ryan,

        Thanks! I certainly hope so. It feels weird having a “new” blog when you’re used to have an old veteran!

        I just replied to your email. Let me know if you didn’t receive it.

        Have a good one!

      • Ryan Biddulph says:
        at 4:05 pm

        Perfect Kevin, I read it, and responded as well….and thanks so much! You too 🙂

  2. Ken Kai says:
    at 11:47 am

    Ryan, what a post!

    Well I guess I wouldn’t be able to give you a proper answer if I would do the same as I haven’t reached that many thousands of posts yet, but I definitely do see your point. I do like the look of your new blog and yeah, it is very specific to your niche at the moment.

    It’s great to see there are a range of people in the world who are interested in this lifestyle and really do pursue it, even though there are obstacles a long the way as with most things in life. Stepping out of the “normal” society (9-5 jobs) and treading into terrority without an upfront salary can be a scare for a lot of the people and they’re absolutely right.

    But you know what? Good.

    Let those who take risks reap the rewards.

    Great article Ryan. Fiji looks great!

    Reply to this comment
    • Ryan Biddulph says:
      at 8:45 pm

      Thanks Ken, and I agree. People who inspired me to live this life were my trailblazers, because they proved to me that you can do it, you can go from employee to globe trotting entrepreneur. Thanks again Ken, and enjoy your day.

      Reply to this comment
  3. Peter Kanayo says:
    at 12:06 pm

    Ryan, really great that you are able to let go. Finding your niche is a great plus to you. I am on my way there, just that a part of me was being stubborn. Ryan, just want to find out if you do offer some form of training. If you reply hit me up on twitter informing me that you’ve done so. MY ID IS @compellinadvert

    Reply to this comment
    • Ryan Biddulph says:
      at 8:42 pm

      Peter, that let go is so huge. It precedes really neat stuff in life, all sorts of cool, exciting new beginnings. I do offer consulting services. I’ll tweet you now. Thanks so much for sharing.

      Reply to this comment
  4. Aditya Nath Jha says:
    at 1:50 pm

    Do consult with some experts bro, each of those posts ( 3600+ ) have links from different places, if possible get those links ( all of them ) to redirect to BloggingFromParadise. It would save you a lot of time and effort!

    Reply to this comment
    • Ryan Biddulph says:
      at 8:38 pm

      Nope Aditya, that’s the secret 😉 I have to let them all go, because they’re old and worn out, and also, my brand is entirely different. Think abundance, not lack, and when you make a clean cut, THAT’S when the magic happens 😉 Thanks dude as always!

      Reply to this comment
      • Aditya Nath Jha says:
        at 4:55 am

        I understand it now bro, time to let go of the past and build something new from base 🙂
        I know that feel!

    • Ryan Biddulph says:
      at 5:50 pm

      The more I look back at this post – after updating some years after – I realize the importance of letting go the old blog, all those posts and the general dead weight I needed to shed. My writing changed dramatically. Frankly, I wrote horribly back them. I would have felt terrible re-directing those 3600 low quality posts to a higher quality site in Blogging From Paradise. Readers would experience a sort of disconnect that jars them, creating confusion and an overall bad look for my blog and brand. Thank goodness I learned this lesson back in 2014. 8 years later I still feel grateful to have realized that letting go is what allows you to grow.

      Reply to this comment
  5. Kim says:
    at 4:36 pm

    Ryan I really enjoyed this post. I am a very new blogger and wanted to know if you had any advice for new bloggers? My target is christian encouragement to women. The other day I blogged about a real life experience and got much more attention. Should I reconsider changing my focus?

    Reply to this comment
    • Ryan Biddulph says:
      at 8:34 pm

      Kim, thanks so much. Stay tuned to my blog for new and veteran blogging tips. Know why you want to blog. Choose a niche you feel passionate about, and always stay on topic. Definitely keep writing about your experiences but relate them to your passionate niche.

      Reply to this comment
  6. Erik Emanuelli says:
    at 5:38 am

    Respect, Ryan.
    This is the first thing that comes into my mind after reading this blog post.
    And if it was an image, it could be like this : O_0

    Respect and warm approval.
    Which means, admiration.

    You’re an example to follow!
    Keep up the great work.

    Happy to have you in my circles of friends, Ryan.
    Have a great week in Fiji, mate.

    P.S. I’ve just linked to this post from my latest article.
    See CommentLuv link. 😉

    Reply to this comment
    • Ryan Biddulph says:
      at 6:29 am

      Thanks Erik! For both linking up to my post, and also, for your unending support. I deeply appreciate you 🙂

      Reply to this comment
  7. Sarupa Shah says:
    at 6:34 am

    BIG congratulations Ryan – when I started my current blog – I did the same thing although no where near as many posts as you – it took a while as it was a letting go and feeling quite vulnerable as it was like saying my past was no longer necessary and in some way of course it isn’t…and now even today I may not be throwing away blog posts metaphorically – I am decluttering business notes, workshops I have delivered and written., books that I meant to complete writing – and starting a fresh without the energy of the pat weighing me down or trapping me in some weird energy. 🙂

    Reply to this comment
    • Ryan Biddulph says:
      at 6:46 am

      Sarupa, thanks so much. That weird energy you speak of, oh, I know it well 😉 Simply letting go what’s outgrown to make room for new and exciting is enough for me to let go, but sometimes those little limiting beliefs creep back in my mind. Then it’s face, embrace and release. Thanks again for commenting and reading Sarupa 🙂

      Reply to this comment
  8. Timothy Torrents says:
    at 9:12 am

    I’m on the fence about creating a new blog. The website that I’m working on now is relatively new (6 months) but the domain name and article topics are not specific to one niche. I mainly publish articles either about internet marketing or self development… So I’m not sure what to do about that. Anyways, great article!

    Reply to this comment
    • Ryan Biddulph says:
      at 4:11 pm

      Timothy, as much as it pains you – and me, thinking about those 6 months of hard work – if the domain and article topics are not niche specific, I’d definitely move in a more specific direction. I only speak from experience, but I’ve also learned from so many pro bloggers that picking a great domain name, and building your blog completely around – and aligned with – that name, including all posts, is a surefire strategy to succeed with. All the best with your decision, and thanks so much.

      Reply to this comment
  9. Sabra says:
    at 10:33 am

    I enjoyed your post, Ryan. It is timely because I just made the decision in the last couple of weeks to stop the blog I have been working on because it just wasn’t really reflecting who I am and what I want to do. Granted, I don’t really have any traffic to speak of, and I certainly don’t have 3400 posts! But I have spent a lot of hours on it, and I kept feeling that I shouldn’t give up on it, because I had heard that a lot of bloggers don’t become successful due to giving up. I am really enjoying your new blog and am looking forward to my own new beginning!

    Reply to this comment
    • Ryan Biddulph says:
      at 4:09 pm

      Sabra, that line is telling….your blog didn’t reflect who you were, and what you want to do. That’s your answer, and it proves that you’re not quitting, but starting a venture intelligently, and with clarity, based on prior experience. Thanks so much for sharing. See you on Triberr.

      Reply to this comment
  10. Tommy Landry says:
    at 11:05 am

    Hey Ryan,

    Looks like you’re really making a huge change in your life and career (and I can’t say I’m not at least a little jealous of all the pics you’ve got linked in the sidebar!). Not a lot of people figure out how to make a living blogging and especially while traveling the world. As an SEO by trade, my first gut reaction to this post was, “But wait, you’re walking away from 3400 pages worth of links?”

    But I get what you’re doing. Your writing style is engaging and interesting, and given your hard work on the social networks, you don’t have to obsess about whether Google is ready to rank you or not. I’ll be watching to see how things go for you. Great case study in walking away from the Google crack pipe to try another angle.

    Best of luck with the new site,
    Tommy

    Reply to this comment
    • Ryan Biddulph says:
      at 4:07 pm

      Hahaha Tommy, the Google crack pipe….man is that accurate! I had that same thought about the 3400 links, more than a few times, but as you noted, our social networks will follow us provided we keep our good name and not stray too much from the previous topic. Thanks so much Tommy, and you have yourself a great week.

      Reply to this comment
  11. Mi Muba says:
    at 2:15 pm

    Hi Ryan
    I don’t know what I call to it; an epic post; a commentary on great blogging advice or gist of three years experience of an energetic blogger.
    It has huge value, very huge inspiration and monumental appeal to keep blogging and never give up may what come.
    Its every word reflect your positive thinking. How a security personnel bravely quit 9 to 5 lifestyle, became a blogging blogger but with a travelling the whole world. No any ordinary guy can do this.
    Four years experience plus full command on blogging and very confident of success with new blog is ample proof of your ultimate success.
    Great post and big appluase for it. Already reshared.

    Reply to this comment
    • Ryan Biddulph says:
      at 4:13 pm

      Mi, I’m deeply humbled by your comment, thanks so much. Last night I was looking at my blog sidebar. It felt surreal. Sometimes, considering my past professional life, I can’t even believe I’m here, and did this, even though it’s really happened. Letting go, having faith and trusting, all were such big parts in this massive shift. Mi, thanks for your support as always 🙂

      Reply to this comment
  12. Aden Clark says:
    at 2:51 pm

    Hey Ryan,

    Its my first time here, but you really struck a chord with me. Ive had to let several other blogs go in the niches im not passionate about as it was just weighing me down and spreading me thin so to speak (this was several years ago). I can only move forward with a blog im passionate about and this should be the same for anyone who wants to create a blog that works.

    Love your blog, you have your own niche here, thats cool.

    Reply to this comment
    • Ryan Biddulph says:
      at 3:44 pm

      Welcome to Blogging From Paradise Aden! I can’t agree with you more. That weighing down feels oh so confining, and restricting, but when we let go, we grow, and fun things begin to happen. We can return to enjoying our craft and naturally, success finds us more easily. Thanks so much for stopping by 🙂

      Reply to this comment
  13. Kelli says:
    at 3:32 pm

    Hey Ryan
    I remember that day you broached the subject of giving up that blog, and it seemed so shocking. But the clarity and energy you had led me to believe you were doing the right thing. Being clear and feeling good are so important for getting the results we want. But, the idea of giving up a PR 3 DA 47 blog with thousands of posts is not something most people would be able to do so easily, no matter how much emotional discord they felt from continuing with a pursuit they just didn’t feel good about any longer.

    While this post is chock full of amazing advice, the most profound is releasing precedes acquiring. We must make room for the good by letting go of what is weighing us down. This takes a degree of faith that can be hard to muster on a consistent basis, but I have seen enough in my own life that has helped me strengthen mine more and more each day. Amazing stuff as always.

    Reply to this comment
    • Ryan Biddulph says:
      at 3:41 pm

      KC, you have seen it in your own life, and me, mine, so it does get a bit easier to release over time. Yep, it’s still highly uncomfortable to let go at times but we can release in minutes or hours, instead of holding on for days, months, or forever. Thanks much as always.

      Reply to this comment
  14. Richard Martin says:
    at 10:21 pm

    A brave thing to do indeed.

    I trashed a blog a few years ago. But unlike you, I didn’t start another blog until a couple of years later. The blog wasn’t in keeping with my personality. It wasn’t me.

    But what I did do, was reimagine and repurpose my hard work. Sure, there was some absolute trash that went into the recycle can, but a lot was saved, edited, and turned into a digital product that I’m now proud of. And a product that still sells today, 3 years on.

    I trashed the blog, and what it stood for. But most of the content. No way.

    I hope you are going to do something similar and repurpose some of your old content in some way?

    Reply to this comment
    • Ryan Biddulph says:
      at 11:56 pm

      Nope Richard 😉 Everything is on a redirect; and it’d have been a book of 675 topics – and I’m not kidding here – so it’s best to let go, to go. I appreciate your strategy though; if you can re-purpose, working off of 1 topic. go for it. Smart move for sure. Thanks so much for sharing and have a great week.

      Reply to this comment
  15. Lauren G Reliford (Queen of Forgiveness) says:
    at 8:40 am

    I respect what you have done. I am big on letting go. (Queen of Forgiveness)

    This blog is definitely you. I can feel your focused energy. I hoping to follow in your footsteps sensei.

    I remember one year that I couldn’t live my life for all of my books. I was so busy reading about how I could live better that I wasn’t even living. So, I simply woke up one day and threw them all away. Being an absolute lover of books. It was a hard task. I looked like I was dying as I pitched the books. But such freedom came after that… a freedom I had never had before.

    Congrats! Can’t wait to catch up on your posts here.

    Reply to this comment
    • Ryan Biddulph says:
      at 10:35 am

      Lauren, that type of letting go, or cleansing session, is what separates the happy people of the world from the rest. This can be the challenge of challenges but from what I’ve seen, you’re doing awesome in the forgiving, and letting go department. Thanks so much for stopping by and sharing!

      Reply to this comment
  16. Adrienne says:
    at 11:52 am

    Hey Ryan,

    I really admire you for doing that but I would have just changed the theme, wrote a post about why I was changing directions and kept on going. BUT, I know you wanted a different URL as well and a different way of doing things so I’m sure that this was the best solution for you.

    I’ve changed directions three times since I started my blog but I didn’t delete anything only because I wanted people to see how green I was having started. I wanted them to see that I got no traffic like I said and no comments. I wanted to prove to them that what I teach works and I’m living proof. Had I deleted all of that and started fresh then I think I wouldn’t have my own work to show.

    I do believe you need to have a clear direction moving forward and although mine isn’t as defined as yours I know that people know what I stand for so that’s a good place to be. It could be better but like you use to be, I can’t help myself.

    I applaud you for taking this step and it all makes sense. I’ve gotten rid of friendships that no longer served me and I don’t really put up with a lot of nonsense anymore either. You have to in order to know who you are and where you’re headed.

    Bravo Ryan and you can teach us all something my friend. Bravo.

    ~Adrienne

    Reply to this comment
    • Ryan Biddulph says:
      at 5:36 pm

      Adrienne, I love your approach. If I weren’t moving in a totally different direction, branding-wise, and niche-wise, I’d likely have done the same. Since I did, it was a little easier decision to make as I felt if an energetic anchor was being lifted when I did the redirect. Amen on the old friendships. It feels amazing to connect only with supportive, positive, inspiring people like yourself Adrienne. I do feel blessed to have established greater clarity in my life, to connect with the high energy leaders of the blogging world. Thanks so much 🙂

      Reply to this comment
  17. Don Purdum says:
    at 5:47 pm

    Hey Ryan,

    Isn’t clarity an absolutely beautiful thing! I get you completely and I fully understand where you are coming from.

    I went through a 24 month ordeal of struggling to answer some very real and deep questions. I had a great, great, great web development company in Dallas, TX but it started to weigh me down. I lost clarity and focus. I questioned a lot of things.

    After struggling for a few years and getting burned by a few partners, I began to realize that I really had clarity all along.

    Ditching it and finding new troubles and problems was the key that ultimately opened up the doors of opportunities for us. We wanted so desperately to come back to Lancaster, PA after being in Dallas for nearly twelve years but we were stuck. We had a house and mortgage and responsibilities.

    Well, it all finally broke. In the last year being back in PA we’ve never been happier or made more money. My life, business, brand; everything is finally right.

    I have clarity, focus, and can execute now. My team is growing, my blog is growing, my business is flourishing. What more could I ask for right now?

    We’ll save that for another article.

    Thanks for the burst of inspiration Ryan. I’m happy I discovered your blog!

    ~ Don Purdum

    Reply to this comment
    • Ryan Biddulph says:
      at 9:33 pm

      Don, oh so true. I’m so happy you’ve found your path – the one intended for you to take – through your current life. You’re happy, because you chose to let go the old and worn out, to receive the new, exciting, fulfilling, and joy-inducing life you live. It’s fascinating too; your community is awesome, your business, thriving, and you are so, so happy….and until you made the shift, the Universe sent you bad business partners, and other not so subtle reminders that it was time for a change. Thanks so much Don, and I’m so happy you are back home in PA, and working a prospering business you love….and I can’t wait to read your article!

      Reply to this comment
      • Don Purdum says:
        at 12:07 pm

        Hi Ryan,

        It’s so true what you said! I had to let go and it was the BEST decision I ever made – next to marrying me amazing wife 21 years ago.

        Sometimes you just have to go through those experiences to see what is happening in your life and business in order to make a change.

        I really appreciate your perspective!

      • Ryan Biddulph says:
        at 12:58 pm

        So true Don, and that is wonderful. I feel the same way with Kelli; the best choice many of us make is selecting the right partner, so we can enjoy life with them, and share our blessings. Thanks again Don. Have a great weekend 🙂

  18. Kenna Griffin says:
    at 12:35 pm

    It’s great that you can have such a positive attitude about having lost so much of your work. I think I actually would have been sick. It’s good that you can see it from that point-of-view.

    Reply to this comment
    • Ryan Biddulph says:
      at 12:54 pm

      Hi Kenna, I actually gained experience 🙂 I also gained clarity, and let go a strong energy anchor, which was pulling me down. It’s much more fun to think gain versus loss…..at least when I’m feeling good lol….thanks so much for stopping by, and see you soon.

      Reply to this comment
  19. Andrew Spence says:
    at 12:58 pm

    Wow.

    When I saw the title of this post it was impossible not to read on. To be honest, I saw your new blog and I was wondering why you had created a new one and not re-designed the old one. Now I get it.

    In life there are things that keep us moving forward refreshed and excited and things that can feel like (as you describ) an anchor weighing us down. You found yours and released it – and I can feel and see the result. Congratulations!

    I think I would have done the same – in fact I did delete about 40% of my old blog posts this year which saw my traffic and rankings plummet of late but now it’s all coming back step by step, and this time bigger and better.

    Maximum respect to you Ryan, I can see this blog is going to the top. Watch out John Chow! 🙂

    Reply to this comment
    • Ryan Biddulph says:
      at 1:14 pm

      Andrew, thanks so much. Perfectly put dude; your blog is coming back bigger and better because you released what you no longer needed, to make room for what you really wanted. The shift may result in a temporary lull, but when things come together, look out. Again thanks so much, for your kind words, and your support Andrew!

      Reply to this comment
  20. Atish Ranjan says:
    at 3:52 pm

    Great to see a new blog! No need to think about what you have deleted and all. The best thing is you did a change. Change is needed in order to make the lives better. Keep it up and good luck

    Reply to this comment
    • Ryan Biddulph says:
      at 6:23 pm

      Atish, well put my man. Change is good, and when we’re getting signals to change, you may as well listen to your intuition. Thanks so much.

      Reply to this comment
  21. Amadeuz Jacob says:
    at 4:47 am

    That must have been a brave step to delete large number of blog posts.

    I admit If I were in your place, I never do that. My..!

    Those 3400 blogs are hard to let go at least for me. Actually, I quietly learn a lot from your tips.

    I think being a blogger means you do only do activity but your major priority is to do business.

    Thanks for this.

    Great article!

    Keep rockin’,

    Amadeuz

    I found this post shared on kingged.com

    Reply to this comment
    • Ryan Biddulph says:
      at 5:13 am

      Amadeuz, it was really tough at first but I knew that letting go and having faith would help me create such a fun, inspired blog as this one is. The letting go precedes the growing 😉 Thanks so much for stopping by and commenting. See you soon!

      Reply to this comment
  22. Frank Joseph says:
    at 3:01 pm

    That was a lot of post going to the….. drain. WoW!

    This is so, well, a hard choice to take.
    And as always, I love your writing style.

    here is what you should do, that will be beneficial to your site as well as your site visitors. 301 redirect all the 404 pages to the homepage? with just a plugin.

    Reply to this comment
    • Ryan Biddulph says:
      at 3:08 pm

      That’s an idea Frank I had thought about….do you have any specific plug ins? If I’m doing a redirect to the main URL already, not sure how to handle this. Thanks for suggesting.

      Reply to this comment
  23. Yashraj Kakkad says:
    at 10:38 am

    Hi there,

    The story touched me! Letting go 3400 posts and that too for a appropriate domain would be tough for me! I surely wouldn’t do this if I were you. I truly appreciate your courage in doing so!

    I need a suggestion from you! My current blog techprobex has a poor domain name. What should I do? Should I delete the blog? If yes, should I move the posts to a new blog?

    Waiting for your opinion!

    Reply to this comment
    • Ryan Biddulph says:
      at 4:20 pm

      Hi Yashraj, it depends on your ideal reader, and your niche. Who are you writing for? What specific, focused niche are you writing about? If the domain isn’t easy to understand for that person, scrap that bad boy. Thanks for reading and enjoy your weekend.

      Reply to this comment
      • Yashraj Kakkad says:
        at 11:01 am

        Hi Ryan,

        I took opinion of some of my bloggers. They say its not complicated, but unique!

        Thanks for your opinion!

        Have a nice day!

      • Ryan Biddulph says:
        at 4:22 pm

        Hi Yashraj, Yep buddy, not too complicated to do but many hate releasing. I figure to grow, you need to let go. Thanks much.

  24. Jen Knoedl says:
    at 2:02 pm

    Wow, good stuff Ryan. Don Purnam suggested I read this post and now I see why. Ugh! I don’t want to let gooooo!
    Ha- but you have inspired me. I will mull it over.
    Thanks Buddy!

    Reply to this comment
  26. Philip Verghese Ariel says:
    at 11:11 pm

    Hey Ryan,
    What an amazing and surprising share!
    Deleting such a lot of content???
    Instead why can’t you update it with the latest information and new links images videos etc…
    After reading this i thought that it is a new content, but later while checking the comments i found it, it’s an updated one with a lots changes.
    Will done my friend, i too have a lots of low quality ones in my blog pvariel for com i must follow your step in this regard, of time permits please do have a look and expecting your valuable suggestions.
    Best wishes and Season’s Greetings
    ~ Phil from Philipscom Associates
    Hyderabad, India.

    Reply to this comment
    • Ryan Biddulph says:
      at 1:04 pm

      I am updating some posts Philip but based on the average human lifespan, I cannot add 500-1000 words or more to 1,000 blog posts. I would run out of time. Deleting the posts to trash thin content is doing wonders for me, for my blog and for you, too.

      Reply to this comment
  27. Lisa Sicard says:
    at 4:33 am

    Hi Ryan, I’m glad to see you update this old post 🙂 I prefer to update than delete but if it’s a really bad old post I do delete it. It does feel refreshing to let good of old crappy blog posts. I love looking at my posts via the “related posts” on the bottom of mine.

    I will often find some old ones there and update them or if impossible to update, delete them. Updating them has made a big difference for my SEO efforts 🙂

    I didn’t have thousands like you, but I do have over 500 and at one point a few years ago deleted over 100 posts.

    It’s like cleaning a closet, updating your wardrobe, and give away what you don’t wear 🙂

    Reply to this comment
    • Ryan Biddulph says:
      at 1:02 pm

      Updating does wonders for SEO Lisa. Aged domains tend to rank easily if you beef up posts the right way. Google loves the URL and its seasoned nature; then you add many helpful details to rank on page 1.

      Reply to this comment
  28. Nikola Roza says:
    at 12:14 pm

    Smart move Ryan, you have nothing to worry about. Those thin articles, especially those where it’s just links or videos probably attracted Google Panda penalty on your domain.
    As Google crawls and reindexes your site, you should expect quite a sizeable jump in traffic. As for the lost links, you don’t have to worry about the lost PageRank for at least 6-9 months, thanks to something called link echo. Basically, Google will still count those links in your favor, even when they see the posts are gone.
    Finally, I know you said in one of your posts you don’t like receiving SEO advice if you haven’t asked for it, but since that post is now probably deleted, my advice to you is to from now on publish 100% keyword focused content.
    I think that earlier 90%+ of your content was opinionated content which can’t rank as it doesn’t target anything.

    Reply to this comment
  29. Lily Ugbaja says:
    at 3:02 am

    Love this Ryan! Excited to hear how this new direction goes.

    Reply to this comment
  30. Marie Leslie says:
    at 10:38 am

    Thanks for such a timely post, Ryan. I am just getting ready to do this on my own website. Time for a huge overhaul, as I reevaluate my blogging direction.

    Good to know I am on the right track.

    Reply to this comment
  31. Elijah Shoesmith says:
    at 1:23 pm

    Glad I came across this in Quora when Lisa S. shared it! Even though my new(er) business website has a low volume of blogs (30), it’s good information to keep in the back of my mind. Also appreciate the insight about broken links, as it’s still a technical aspect I’m learning!

    Reply to this comment
    • Ryan Biddulph says:
      at 4:46 pm

      Thanks for stopping by Elijah 🙂 I just saw your comment after I logged in to fix another dead link here LOL…unending process!

      Reply to this comment

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