How to Add an Updated Post Date to Your GeneratePress Site

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In the ever-evolving landscape of content creation, keeping your audience informed about the freshness of your content is crucial. For WordPress users employing the GeneratePress theme, displaying the updated post date alongside or in place of the original publication date can significantly enhance transparency and trustworthiness. This adjustment informs readers that the content has been reviewed, amended, or expanded, ensuring them access to the most current and accurate information. Here’s a detailed guide on integrating an updated post date into your GeneratePress-powered WordPress site.

Table of Contents

Understanding the Significance of the Updated Post Date

Before delving into the “how,” it’s essential to understand the “why.” Showcasing an updated post date offers several benefits:

Enhances SEO: Search engines favor fresh content. An updated date can signal to search engines that your content is current, potentially boosting your rankings.
Increases User Trust: Readers are likelier to trust and value regularly maintained and updated content.
Promotes Engagement: Knowing that content is up-to-date may encourage more interactions and shares from your audience.

Method 1: Using GeneratePress Hooks (Premium Feature)

For users with GeneratePress Premium, the theme’s Hooks feature offers a straightforward way to add an updated post date without touching a single line of code.

Step 1: Activate the Elements Module

Navigate to your WordPress dashboard, go to “Appearance” > “GeneratePress” and ensure the “Elements” module is activated.

Step 2: Create a New Hook

Go to “Appearance” > “Elements” and click “Add New Element.“
Select “Hook” as the element type.
In the Hook field, choose where you want the updated date to appear. For instance, generate_after_entry_title places it right after the post title.
In the text area, enter the PHP code to display the updated date. Here’s a simple example:

<?php if (get_the_modified_time() != get_the_time()) : ?>
    <p class="post-updated">Last Updated: <?php echo get_the_modified_date(); ?></p>
<?php endif; ?>

This code checks if the modified date is different from the original post date and, if so, displays it.

Set the Display Rules to apply this to all posts or specific ones, according to your preference.
Publish your element.

Step 3: Style Your Updated Date (Optional)

You might want to add custom CSS to match your site’s design. Use the Customizer’s “Additional CSS” section or your child theme’s stylesheet. For example:

.post-updated {
    font-style: italic;
    color: #777;
}

Method 2: Editing Your Child Theme’s Template Files

If you’re comfortable with a more hands-on approach or using the free version of GeneratePress, you can add the updated post date by editing your child theme’s template files.

Step 1: Create a Child Theme

If you haven’t already, generate a child theme for GeneratePress. This involves creating a new theme directory, a style.css file with your child theme’s information and a functions.php file.

Step 2: Edit the Single Post Template

Copy the single.php file from the GeneratePress theme into your child theme directory.
Find the section where the post meta (date, author) is displayed.
Insert the following PHP code where you’d like the updated date to appear:

<?php if (get_the_modified_time() != get_the_time()) : ?>
    <p class="post-updated">Last Updated: <?php echo get_the_modified_date(); ?></p>
<?php endif; ?>

Adjust the styling as needed, either directly in style.css of your child theme or via the Customizer.

Conclusion

Displaying an updated post date is a simple yet effective way to keep your content relevant and trustworthy. Whether you opt for the ease of GeneratePress Hooks (for Premium users) or prefer to edit your child theme manually, both methods provide a path to highlight the timeliness of your content. Ensuring your readers have access to the most current information fosters trust, encourages engagement, and potentially improves your search engine rankings—key components of a successful online presence.

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Anastasios Antoniadis

Anastasios Antoniadis is the founder and editor-in-chief of BORDERPOLAR... He is a software engineer, blogger, and avid gamer covering tech, gaming, and coding guides for over 4 years. He is a 2014 graduate of the Department of Informatics and Telecommunications of the University of Athens, an M.Sc. holder in Computer Science, and a Ph.D. student in Program Analysis.