When it comes to content marketing, not all blog posts are the same. Some bring traffic for years, while others go viral for a short time and then fade away. These are the two main content strategies: Evergreen content and Trending content.
If you want to grow your website, it’s important to understand the difference, when to use each, and how to combine them.
1. What is Evergreen Content?
Evergreen content is content that stays relevant for a long time. Just like evergreen trees that remain green all year, these blog posts continue to attract traffic month after month.
Examples of evergreen content:
- “How to Start a Blog in Nigeria (Step-by-Step Guide)”
- “Top 10 Healthy Nigerian Meals for Weight Loss”
- “Beginner’s Guide to SEO”
Benefits of evergreen content:
- Brings consistent traffic over time.
- Builds authority in your niche.
- Requires only small updates to stay fresh.
If you want long-term growth, evergreen content should be the backbone of your strategy.
2. What is Trending Content?
Trending content focuses on current events, viral topics, or hot news. It attracts a lot of attention quickly but usually fades after the trend passes.
Examples of trending content:
- “2025 Election Results in Nigeria – What You Need to Know”
- “Latest iPhone 17 Features and Price in Nigeria”
- “Cristiano Ronaldo’s Viral Goal Celebration”
Benefits of trending content:
- Can bring a sudden traffic boost.
- Helps you stay relevant in your industry.
- Great for social media engagement.
If you want quick exposure and buzz, trending content works well.
3. Evergreen vs Trending Content (Main Differences)
| Feature | Evergreen Content | Trending Content |
|---|---|---|
| Lifespan | Long-term (months/years) | Short-term (days/weeks) |
| Traffic | Slow and steady growth | Quick traffic spike |
| Best For | SEO, authority, long-term traffic | Social media, brand visibility |
| Example | “SEO Content Writing Guide” | “Google’s Latest Algorithm Update” |
4. Which One Should You Choose?
The truth is: you need both strategies.
- Evergreen content builds your foundation. It keeps bringing visitors even when you’re not actively posting.
- Trending content gives your site a temporary boost and can help you go viral.
A smart strategy is to create 70% evergreen content and 30% trending content. This way, you have steady long-term growth while still riding the wave of current topics.
5. How to Combine Evergreen and Trending Content
Here are practical tips to balance both strategies:
- Plan your evergreen topics first
- Write detailed guides, tutorials, and resources that will always be useful.
- Add trending content around hot topics
- Cover industry news, new product launches, or viral events.
- Update evergreen posts with trending details
- Example: Update a “Social Media Marketing Guide” with the latest TikTok trend.
- Use trending content to boost evergreen posts
- If you write about a viral tech update, link it back to your evergreen “Beginner’s Guide to Tech Tools.”
Conclusion
Both evergreen content and trending content are important for a strong content marketing strategy.
- Use evergreen content for long-term SEO growth and authority.
- Use trending content for quick visibility and engagement.
- The winning formula is combining both.
Think of evergreen content as your roots and trending content as your flowers — together, they make your content strategy stronger and more attractive.