Evergreen Content 101: Writing Articles That Last

So much hype has been granted to evergreen content that SEO experts have been employing it left and right. However, before jumping on this bandwagon, it would be better if you know its intricacies first. Below are the basics that you need to learn about evergreen content and why producing evergreen content is good for your site.

What Is Evergreen Content?

Evergreen content basically means well-written content about topics that do not go out of date—or at least, not easily.

A suitable namesake of the colour, evergreen content embodies freshness and sustainability of articles posted on websites. It mainly consists of basic information about a certain topic, which would be improved by writing in a style customized to your niche.

Some examples of evergreen content are lists, tips, reviews, and other informative articles with topics that do not easily expire.

What Are The Advantages Of Writing Evergreen Content?

Posting evergreen content on your website has a number of benefits:

It Gives You Authority

Just simply knowing the steps on how to do something and sharing it online increases your chances of being a go-to person within your niche, regardless of how basic your information is. The idea here, however, is to provide information that the people within your industry needs. Being an authority in the niche does not happen overnight, though, so you will have to be consistent in producing quality content.

It Sustains Your Website

The idea of this kind of content is to remain useful irrespective of the time. For instance, “How To…” articles stand the test of time because someone somewhere will definitely need that guide at some point in the foreseeable future. Plus, evergreen content does not need much updating (unless there is new information), unlike news and seasonal articles.

 It Helps Increase Traffic On Your Website

Articles of evergreen quality hardly expire, and this enables them to generate traffic even if you’re not selling them. When your website generates more organic traffic, this equates to a higher ranking on the SERPs for establishing your reputation as a website that provides trusted content.

How To Write Evergreen Content

Now that you are aware of what evergreen content is and how it can help you, it is time to learn how to write one:

1. Make Your Topics Timeless

Since you’re aiming for content that would stand the test of time, avoid writing articles that hint at a particular timeframe. For instance, a profile on a successful startup company that was established this year will definitely generate interest, but the data will be outdated by next year or by the time another startup company follows its footsteps.

Hence, avoid articles that are pegged on current events, news, trends, statistics or reports, and the latest fads in pop culture. Instead, come up with topics along the lines of how-to guides, tutorials, tips, or product reviews.

Check out some blog post ideas for some inspiration.

2. Narrow Your Topics Down

Once you have chosen an umbrella topic (e.g. writing online content), narrow it down to a more specific topic (e.g. how to write an evergreen content). While broad topics are still important, your content will be more hard pressed to rise above the competition since plenty of authors will be covering that topic. With specific ones, however, you can be assured to grab and sustain your readers’ attention.

3. Write For Your Readers, Not For Experts

Evergreen content most likely covers the basic topics within a given niche. As such, it becomes easy to assume that readers already know the ins and outs of a certain topic, hence giving authors the impetus to write for a more “expert” audience. Let go of this assumption.

When producing evergreen content, always think that your readers are beginners. You may be a whiz on a certain topic, but you can’t expect your readers to have the same level of experience as yours.  Give your readers the facts in a straightforward manner without losing your tone as an expert. Keep in mind that producing content, be it online or offline, means you have to put your readers first.

4. Avoid Being Too Technical

Another challenge to being well versed in a topic is the propensity to dispense technical terms. While these terms have value, you should use them sparingly especially in articles made for beginners. If you must include plenty of technical terms, one thing you can do is to write a different article explaining those terms, and then link it to the evergreen content you are posting.

5. Link Related Posts

Since evergreen content allows you to write a number of articles drawn from a broader topic, it would be wise to link them as either related posts or by mentioning them in the articles themselves.

This way, your website will be a one-stop shop for all the possible information your readers might need on a general topic, since they do not have to go to a different website anymore.

Consequently, interlinking posts will make your website generate higher traffic and even better rankings. Your website will also be categorized as a trusted provider of content.

6. Ask For Feedback

Feedback from readers is very important as it gives you an idea of your audience’s reception, whether they found your topic valuable or if you were able to properly get the message across. It would also help you come up with more topic ideas, since you will know what it is they really want.

Encourage your readers to comment on what they think of a specific article. You can also encourage them to suggest topics they would like to be covered in the future. When you continue to publish valuable evergreen content, chances are, they will share it to their networks, which would then enable you to tap into a wider set of audience.

When Should You Write Evergreen Content?

The answer is now!!! A website’s future, especially that of a business engaged in online marketing, relies heavily on content. As such, writing quality articles should be among the top items on your priority list. If you assure your readers that the articles will benefit them greatly, you will reap the harvest of high rankings and a sizeable income.