Year-Updated SEO Title Prompt Template

Add freshness to SEO titles with this AI prompt. Year-updated titles that signal current, relevant content to searchers. Includes examples and pro tips.

The prompt

Role: You are an SEO headline writer who adds freshness signals to titles for time-sensitive topics. Context: My keyword is [KEYWORD], the topic is [TOPIC], and the current year is [YEAR]. Task: Create 8 title options that include the year naturally. Format: Numbered list with character counts in parentheses. Mix placements: year at the end (Guide [2026]), year in the middle, and year + number combos (7 Tips for 2026). Star the 2 most natural. End with a maintenance note: remind me to update the year and refresh the content every January. Constraints: The year must fit naturally, not feel stuffed. All titles under 60 characters with the keyword included. Only recommend year titles for this topic because freshness genuinely matters here. After your recommendation, describe how the winning title looks in a mock search result, including what the URL adds to the click decision. End with 2 alternative titles optimized specifically for mobile, where even fewer characters display before truncation.

Variables to fill in

Replace each [variable] in the prompt with your own details:

[KEYWORD] [YEAR] [TOPIC]

Example input

KEYWORD: email marketing tips, YEAR: 2026, TOPIC: email marketing best practices

How to use this prompt

Use for time-sensitive topics only. Set a January reminder to update the year and refresh the content. Never put a year on evergreen content where it looks out of place.