Auto-refresh post/page timestamps and ping Google for recrawls using the Indexing API. Boost SEO visibility without changing your content.

IpodGuy79

<p>Ghost Update is a simple but powerful plugin that makes your WordPress site look alive again by systematically updating post/page timestamps and alerting Google Search to come check it out.</p>
<p>This is perfect for older blogs, abandoned content, or static websites that haven’t changed in a while and are now suffering in search rankings.</p>
<p>Ghost Update offers:</p>
<ul>
<li>✅ Automatic post/page timestamp refresh (without touching content)</li>
<li>✅ Optional random or sequential update order</li>
<li>✅ Force update + recrawl button</li>
<li>✅ Manual Google JSON auth upload & secure storage</li>
<li>✅ Enforced 10-minute cooldown between Google Indexing API pings (for safety)</li>
<li>✅ Simple log viewer + log clearing</li>
<li>✅ Cron toggle — enable/disable auto mode</li>
<li>✅ No product updates, no WooCommerce, no content edits</li>
</ul>
<h3>Cron Behavior</h3>
<p>GhostUpdate uses WordPress’ built-in “pseudo-cron” system, which means scheduled tasks only run when someone visits your site. This includes both automatic post updates and Google Search Console pings.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<p>🔁 WordPress cron is visitor-based<br />
No visitors = no cron runs. It only triggers when a page is loaded by a real user or bot.</p>
<p>🕓 Missed runs = delayed schedules<br />
Cron tasks won’t fire in the background unless triggered by activity. This can cause delays in updates on low-traffic sites.</p>
<p>🧠 One run = one reschedule<br />
A cron job must fire before WordPress will schedule the next one. They don’t “queue up” in advance.</p>
<h3>Options for Low-Traffic Sites</h3>
<p>✅ Keep the plugin’s settings page open in your browser<br />
This keeps cron alive by generating regular page loads.</p>
<p>✅ Use the “Force Update + Recrawl Now” button<br />
Instant update and ping, no waiting or cooldown.</p>
<h3>Reminder</h3>
<p>This behavior is core to how WordPress works. GhostUpdate doesn’t change or override it — it works with it.</p>
<h3>External Services</h3>
<p>This plugin connects to multiple endpoints from Google’s Indexing API to notify Google that a post or page has been updated. This functionality is required to trigger recrawls in Google’s search index.</p>
<h3>What data is sent</h3>
<p>The plugin sends the URL of the updated post or page to the following Google API endpoints. No personal data is transmitted.</p>
<h3>When data is sent</h3>
<p>Data is sent only when a post/page is programmatically republished by the plugin or when triggered manually by the admin.</p>
<h3>External domains contacted</h3>
<ul>
<li><code>https://oauth2.googleapis.com/token</code> — used to obtain an OAuth 2.0 token with a service account</li>
<li><code>https://indexing.googleapis.com/v3/urlNotifications:publish</code> — used to send the updated URL to Google for recrawling</li>
<li><code>https://www.googleapis.com/auth/indexing</code> — used as the OAuth scope to limit access to Indexing API only</li>
</ul>
<h3>Service Provider</h3>
<ul>
<li>Google LLC</li>
<li><a href="https://policies.google.com/terms" rel="nofollow ugc">Terms of Service</a></li>
<li><a href="https://policies.google.com/privacy" rel="nofollow ugc">Privacy Policy</a></li>
</ul>
<p>By using this plugin, you agree to Google’s API terms and policies. The authentication is performed using a Google Cloud service account which you manually upload to the plugin.</p>
<h3>Notes</h3>
<ul>
<li>Posts/pages skipped due to cooldown are <strong>still updated</strong>, just not pinged.</li>
<li>Google will still crawl updated content eventually even if not directly pinged.</li>
</ul>
<h3>License</h3>
<p>GPL v2 — use, modify, share freely.</p>


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