How to Remove Dates from Blog Posts on Shopify

Have you ever wondered why some blog posts don’t display dates, while others do? Removing dates from your Shopify blog posts can help keep your content evergreen, which means it stays relevant regardless of when a reader stumbles upon it. This can be particularly useful for posts that provide timeless information or insights. But why would someone want to do that, and how can you achieve it on Shopify?

We're going to walk through the process of removing dates from blog posts on Shopify. From understanding why this might be beneficial to providing detailed, step-by-step instructions, we'll cover everything you need to know. Whether you're a Shopify newbie or a seasoned store owner, you'll find helpful tips and tricks along the way.

Why Remove Dates from Blog Posts?

First things first, why would you want to remove the date from your blog posts? It might seem like a minor detail, but it can significantly impact how your content is perceived. Let’s explore a few reasons why you might consider making this change:

• Evergreen Content: Some blog posts contain information that remains relevant over time. Displaying a date can make the content appear outdated, even if the information is still valid.
• Perception of Freshness: Visitors often look for the newest information. If they see a date from a few years ago, they might assume the content is obsolete and move on, even if it's still valuable.
• SEO Considerations: While not a direct ranking factor, search engines do take user engagement into account. If users bounce quickly due to perceived outdated content, it could affect your rankings.

Interestingly enough, removing dates can also encourage readers to focus on the quality of your content rather than how current it is. It’s like a little trick to keep your audience engaged with what really matters—the value of your message.

Understanding Shopify’s Blog System

Before we jump into the how-tos, it’s good to have a basic understanding of how Shopify handles blogs. Unlike traditional blogging platforms like WordPress, Shopify’s primary focus is ecommerce. However, it does offer blogging functionality, which can be a great tool for content marketing.

In Shopify, blogs are managed much like other content types, with templates that dictate how the posts appear on your site. This means that most changes to the appearance of your blog, such as removing dates, require adjustments to the theme’s code. But don't worry—it's not as scary as it sounds!

Shopify themes use a coding language called Liquid, which is designed to be both powerful and accessible. Once you get the hang of it, you'll find that making tweaks and adjustments to your Shopify store isn't nearly as daunting as you might think.

Backing Up Your Theme

Before making any changes to the theme code, it’s wise to back up your current theme. This way, if anything goes wrong, you can quickly revert to the original version without losing any work or breaking your site.

Here’s how you can do it:

• Go to your Shopify admin panel and click on Online Store in the left-hand menu.
• Under Themes, you’ll see your current theme. Click Actions and select Duplicate.
• This creates a backup copy of your theme. You can rename it for easy identification.

With your theme safely backed up, you’re ready to dive into the modifications. It’s like creating a safety net before performing a daring acrobatic stunt—always a smart move!

Locating the Blog Template

To remove the date from your blog posts, you’ll need to edit the template that controls how blog posts are displayed. This involves accessing the theme files. Let’s find out how to locate the correct template:

Follow these steps:

• In your Shopify admin, navigate to Online Store > Themes. Find your active theme and click Actions, then Edit code.
• In the left sidebar, look for the Sections or Templates folder. This is where most of the blog-related files are located.
• Look for a file named something like article-template.liquid or blog-template.liquid. These files control the layout of your blog posts.

Once you’ve found the right file, you’ll be ready to make the changes necessary to hide those pesky dates. Think of it as finding the right page in a book before you start highlighting the important parts.

Editing the Theme Code

Now comes the part where you’ll actually remove the date from your blog posts. It’s a little bit of code magic, but with a few simple tweaks, you’ll have things looking just the way you want.

Here’s what you need to do:

• Open the file you identified in the previous step.
• Use the search function (usually Ctrl + F or Cmd + F) to find where the date is displayed. Look for Liquid tags like {{ article.published_at }} or something similar.
• Once you find it, you can either delete this line or comment it out by wrapping it in {% comment %} and {% endcomment %} tags.

After making these changes, save the file. With any luck, your blog posts will now display without dates. It’s like taking a time machine to make your content timeless!

Testing Your Changes

Great job on making those changes! Now, it’s time to see if everything worked as expected. Testing is an important step to ensure that your edits didn’t inadvertently affect other parts of your site.

Here’s how to test:

• Navigate to your blog on the frontend of your Shopify store.
• Check multiple blog posts to ensure that the date is no longer displayed.
• Look for any unexpected changes or errors on the page.

If everything looks good, then you’re all set! If not, you can always revert to your backup theme and try again. Sometimes, coding is a bit of trial and error, like perfecting a recipe until it tastes just right.

Considering SEO and User Experience

While removing dates can keep your content looking fresh, it’s important to consider the broader implications for SEO and user experience. Dates can provide context for your readers, especially in rapidly changing fields where the latest information is crucial.

Here are a few things to keep in mind:

• Relevance: Ensure that the content you choose to hide dates for is truly evergreen. For timely topics, displaying the date might still be important.
• User Trust: Some readers appreciate knowing when content was published, as it helps them gauge its relevance and accuracy.
• Technical SEO: Make sure that removing dates doesn’t interfere with structured data and metadata, which can provide important context to search engines.

Balancing these considerations can help you make informed decisions about which posts to remove dates from, ensuring that your blog continues to serve your audience effectively.

Alternative Approaches to Date Management

If you’re not quite ready to remove dates altogether, there are alternative strategies to consider. You might want to display the last updated date instead, which can offer a middle ground by showing readers that the content is actively maintained.

Here’s how to implement this:

• Similar to the previous steps, locate the blog template file.
• Instead of removing the date, replace the publication date with the last updated date using something like {{ article.updated_at }}.

This approach tells your readers that you keep your content current while still providing them with useful time-related context. It’s like saying, “Hey, I’m still relevant, and here’s proof!”

Communicating with Your Audience

Finally, if you decide to remove dates or make other significant changes to your blog, consider communicating this to your audience. Transparency can go a long way in maintaining trust and engagement.

Here are some ideas:

• Write a brief note or update on your blog explaining the change and the reasoning behind it.
• Use your social media channels to share insights into your content strategy and engage with your community.
• Consider a FAQ section to address any questions your readers might have about the changes.

By keeping your audience informed, you’re fostering a sense of community and openness. It’s like inviting them into your creative process and showing them that their experience matters to you.

Final Thoughts

Removing dates from your blog posts on Shopify can be a strategic move to keep your content looking fresh and engaging. We've covered why this might be beneficial, how to do it, and some potential impacts on SEO and user experience. Remember, the key is to make informed decisions that best serve your content and audience.

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