How to Find when an Article was Published?

There are several ways to find the exact date of an article’s publication. This article has been made to help you find out if a post, case, study, article, or blog is outdated, new, or has been recently updated and how you can find out when Google started ranking it.

Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you uncover the publication dates!

1. Check for a Visible Date on the Page

Let’s start with the most obvious way.

Most websites prominently display the publication date near the article title, below the author’s name, or at the end of the post. Look out for:

• Header or Footer Dates: News articles typically show dates near the title or byline.
• Meta Tags on Blogs: Many blogs include dates just below the blog post title or within the byline.

If you can’t find it at first glance, try using the “Find” feature in your browser (CTRL + F or CMD + F on Mac) and search for keywords like “Published,” “Posted,” or “Updated.”

2. Check the URL Structure

Some websites include the publication date within the URL itself. For example, an article URL may look like this:

www.example.com/2024/09/29/how-to-find-when-an-article-was-published

In this case, the structure reveals that the article was published on September 29, 2024. However, not all websites follow this format, so you may need to look elsewhere.

3. View Page Source or Inspect the Meta Data

If the article doesn’t display the date on the page, you can dig a bit deeper by inspecting the HTML source code of the page:

• Right-click anywhere on the webpage and select “View Page Source” or “Inspect.”
• Once in the source code, use the “Find” feature to search for keywords like datePublished or dateModified.

Websites often store this information in meta tags. For example, you may find something like this:

This line indicates that the article was published on September 29, 2024, at 12:00 PM.

4. Use Archive Tools like the Wayback Machine

If you’re trying to find the publication date for an older article or one that has been updated many times, you can use web archiving tools such as the Wayback Machine (archive.org). Here’s how:

1. Go to the Wayback Machine.
2. Enter the article’s URL.
3. Select the earliest snapshot to estimate when the article first appeared online.

This method is useful for sites that regularly update their content but don’t always display historical publishing dates.

5. Use Google Search Operators

Google’s search operators can be incredibly handy for finding publication dates. Use the “inurl” or “site” operators in combination with a date filter to find when an article was indexed by Google.

For example:

site:example.com "How to Find when an Article was Published?"

After searching, click Tools and set a custom date range to narrow down when the article was published.

6. Leverage Social Media Sharing Dates

If the article has been shared on social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn, you can track its first appearance by checking the post’s timestamp.

For example:

• On Twitter, search for the article URL and see when it was first tweeted.
• On Facebook, the first few shares might reveal the approximate date when the article was posted.

7. Use Third-Party SEO Tools

If you know the date of the article’s publication but are curious when search engines like Google crawl through that specific page, there are a few tools to help you.

These can show exactly when an article that was published, actually started ranking.

SEO software like Ahrefs, Moz, or SEMrush often index and store information about when search engines first crawl an article. Simply enter the article’s URL into one of these tools, and you may uncover valuable insights, including the original publication date, any updates, and visibility trends over time.

Why Knowing the Publication Date is Important?

Identifying the publication date of an article is crucial for several reasons:

• Content Relevance: In marketing, you want to ensure that your references are timely, especially when citing industry trends or data that might have changed. (If you want more info, we have an article on how content drives sales.)
• SEO: Search engines often prioritize fresh, updated content. Ensuring you’re referencing the latest material can improve the authority of your content.
• Credibility: Outdated information can lead to errors, incorrect claims, or weakened arguments, especially in highly dynamic industries like marketing, technology, and health.

Final Thoughts

Finding when an article was published might seem tricky at first, but with the right tools and techniques, it’s easier than you think. Whether you’re verifying the freshness of an article for research, content creation, or SEO optimization, these methods will help you confidently pinpoint the publication date and keep your marketing strategy on track.

If you’re ever unsure or need assistance with ensuring your content and SEO are fresh and relevant, our team at AgilePR can help. Get in touch for expert content strategies that keep you ahead of the curve!