Need help with evergreen content? Here are 15 ideas!
As I mentioned in my blog The Best Practices of Content Curation Craftsmanship, today’s world is swamped with content yet there are few fresh ideas. Content creation is hard and a consistently high quality of content is even harder. One solution to this content problem is evergreen content.
According to Benjamin Brandall, evergreen content is content that does not go out of date. The core topic of evergreen content will be relevant to readers no matter what is going on in the current news cycle or which season it is. The main theme of the content is something that people do not stop caring about soon.
This magical piece of content continues to drive traffic to your site, so I am sure you want to know more about it. In this blog, I first briefly discuss how to create evergreen content. Then, I will list 15 examples of evergreen content so you can be inspired to write your own. If you need even more inspiration, I end the blog with 4 sources where you can find ideas for evergreen content.
How to create evergreen content
As I have already written extensively about how to create evergreen content in my blog How to Write Evergreen Content, I will only share the brief summary Brandall has made in his article. According to him, there are fundamentally 3 elements to creating evergreen content:
- Make sure there is search demand by doing keyword research and checking Google Trends
- Make your content ‘basic’ as advanced techniques change all the time
- Keep your content up to date
15 examples of evergreen content
Would you like some inspiration for evergreen articles or blog posts? My blog The Ultimate Guide to Evergreen Marketing for Entrepreneurs lists 49 of them, but in my recent research, I have come across 2 articles by Christopher Jan Benitez and Julia McCoy that I found interesting. I will share their ideas here, and if you want even more inspiration, you can read my older blog post.
1. The How-To Article
I think the how-to article is the number one evergreen piece of content. How-to guides have no time stamps. They are relevant whenever a user is looking up the subject. So, writing lengthy and very detailed guide articles means creating prime evergreen content.
These articles can stand the test of time. They can keep users returning and are shared among people seeking the same type of information. How-to articles also have a higher chance of getting shared on message boards or forums.
It is easy to get too general with how-to guides though. Just remember that when you try to appeal to everyone, you usually end up appealing to no one. Also, do not make the mistake of thinking these guides are only for beginners. You can make how-to guides for every level of reader, which will definitely help with specificity.
2. The Case Study Article
Case studies are not suitable for every blog or business (they are best suited for service sector companies), but they are some of the best evergreen content out there. Because these articles tend to be analytic, you do not have to worry about expiration dates. Interested users will continue to refer to case studies no matter how long ago the articles were written.
3. The Tracking Article
Depending on your blog’s topic, a tracking article is something you should consider. Yes, it will take some time to research the topic, but the results are worth the time and labor. Keep track of a trend or a set of data that your readers are very interested in. Present statistics in a historical context, so the numbers are never outdated and update the article regularly. Readers will make your blog the reference point for the information.
4. Reviews
88% of consumers trust online reviews as much as recommendations given to them by people they know. That means that this form of content is a powerful one.
Publishing reviews is a solid form of income and traffic for many blogs. You can get the best traffic numbers with evergreen reviews of products and services. However, not all review articles can be considered evergreen content. For example, if you write a review for a smartphone published this year, the article will only remain relevant for a dozen or so months until a new version of the phone comes up.
5. Listicles
What sets evergreen listicles apart from everything else? That would depend on information that can remain relevant for an extended period.
Length is key for evergreen listicles. The longer it is, the better.
6. Cornerstone Content
Cornerstone content is like a long-form version of FAQs. It is a “Start Here” form of content that will help every first-time visitor become familiar with the subject or market your site covers. Think about the types of questions that you hear a lot from potential customers, and write down the answers to them. Cornerstone content is not just great for evergreen reasons; it can also be an effective tactic for welcoming site visitors into your sales funnel.
7. Statistical Long-Form Posts
Back your claims in your content up with evidence. Statistics are great for this because they are precise and easy to understand.
8. Infographics
Infographics let you compile a large amount of helpful information in a manner that is visually appealing and easy for the reader to get through. Beautiful graphics are required as well as in-depth research and accurate findings, compelling examples, and tight copy. Do not ruin a great infographic by turning it into a novel!
9. Podcasts
What most people do not realize is that podcasts can give you evergreen content in two areas. Naturally, there is the audio side of a podcast. However, you can also make notes and transcripts for your episodes. The longer the episode, the longer the transcript and more opportunities you have to include helpful links and longtail keywords.
10. Influencer Lists
We would all love to be part of an industry influencer list. Nevertheless, you can also gain much attention by creating one of your own. People are always looking for help knowing whom to listen to. Of course, it also helps that these lists can be great for gaining links and shares. After all, if someone was kind enough to call you an “expert” or “influencer,” would you not share that with the whole world?
11. Tool List
Compile a list of helpful tools you can recommend to your readers. You can show them tools they would have otherwise never known about or help them choose between options they were already considering. The longer your list, the more helpful it has the potential to be. People will even return to consult it over and over again as they continue purchasing new tools.
12. Glossary
You could do your audience a huge favor by giving them a place to go to for all the definitions they need regarding a certain topic.
13. A ‘Do Not Make This Mistake’ blog
Explaining common mistakes in a post will make for a very shareable title. While most forms for evergreen content help readers move toward a goal, this version ensures they do not head in the wrong direction. That alone helps it stand out from more common forms of advice. It also grabs attention because it brings up a topic most people may have never considered: that they could be doing something very wrong.
14. History Lesson
Similar to the tracking article, covering the history of a certain subject could remain relevant for years to come and you can always add to it.
15. Expert Interview
Finally, if you are at a complete loss about where to begin with creating evergreen content, interview someone. All you have to do is come up with great questions. This kind of post provides information your readers can trust. After all, it comes from an expert! You can also expect that said expert is going to link to this post, too, which means a lot more traffic.
4 brilliant sources for evergreen content ideas
I think the list above helps you come up with some ideas of your own. However, I can understand it if you need some more inspiration about the actual topics. Louise Myers suggests 4 sources with which you can jumpstart your creativity.
1. Amazon
Many bloggers and solopreneurs use Amazon to find ideas for evergreen content. Go to Amazon, type your keyword into the search box, and narrow your search to books only. Books with an orange banner are best-sellers. You can try Amazon’s “look inside” feature to see the table of contents and a few sample pages. Scan the available preview and if any ideas jump out at you, write them down for inspiration.
2. Podcasts
A great place to look for inspiration is the podcast section of iTunes. The most popular podcasts will be in the top ten. Notice what topics these hosts are covering, as this will show you what topics your audience wants to learn more about. If something sparks an idea, be sure to capture it. But always keep in mind how you could give the topic your own unique twist.
3. Facebook Groups
Sign into your Facebook account and look for the search bar at the top of the screen. You can type your keyword, then click on the “groups” link at the top of the page to filter the results to only show groups.
If a group is open, you might be able to see the latest posts. If the group is closed, you can request to become a member. Once you are inside the group, look around at the discussions members are having. Pay attention to what questions keep coming up, and write a blog post that answers these questions.
4. Videos
Videos are a great way to see what topics others are teaching in your niche. Search sites like YouTube or Vimeo to find these videos. You can tell which videos are the most watched by how many views they have. The more views, the more popular the video is.