How to add concrete numbers and dates to your content
Concrete numbers, percentages and dates make a page citable, while vague claims are skipped by answer engines. Add specific figures with their sources, put a date on every statistic, and review all of the numbers at least once a year so they stay accurate.
By ratemysite.ai editorial team. Updated .
How do you fix it?
- Find vague phrases such as "many", "fast", "popular" or "significant improvement" in the text.
- Replace each with a specific figure, such as "loads in 1.8 seconds" or "used by 12,000 stores".
- Add the source and the year beside each statistic, linking to the original where possible.
- Keep your own numbers honest: state the sample size and period of any data you collected.
- Re-run the audit and confirm the Data density check passes.
What is data density?
Data density is the share of a page made of specific, checkable facts such as figures, dates, names and limits, rather than general statements. Assistants prefer such passages because a number can be verified and quoted, while "many businesses see great results" cannot. Compare two product pages: one says "fast shipping", the other says "ships in 2 business days". Only the second gives an assistant a fact it can quote and check.
How do I add numbers without making them up?
Start with what you really know: your own measurements, prices, limits, versions and dates. Then add sourced figures from official reports and studies, noting the year. Write the number in the sentence, not in an image. Avoid false precision, such as "47.3%" with no source. If a figure is an estimate, say so. Put a reminder in your calendar to refresh dated statistics every 12 months, since a 2019 figure on a 2026 page looks stale.
How much does this check matter?
- This check is worth about 1.5% of the overall score.
- A finished report is reused for 24 hours before you can re-analyze it.
- Each page is fetched with a timeout of 10 seconds, and HTML larger than 2 MB is not audited.
What else do people ask?
- How many numbers should a page have?
- A few meaningful ones are better than many. Aim for at least one concrete figure in each major section.
- What if I do not have my own data?
- Cite a reliable source, or state a clear rule of thumb, with the reasoning, so the reader knows it is an estimate.