Introduction
When building a content strategy that ranks on Google, it’s important to ask:
Should I focus on evergreen content or trending content for SEO?
Both have SEO value — but in very different ways.
This article breaks down the search engine optimization (SEO) benefits of each, so you can make smarter content decisions.
🌲 What Is Evergreen Content?
Evergreen content is timeless, valuable for years, and rarely needs updating.
Examples include:
“How to Start a Blog”
“Benefits of Drinking Water”
“Digital Marketing Strategies for Beginners”
🔥 What Is Trending Content?
Trending content is hot now, but fades fast. It covers:
Breaking news
Viral topics
Seasonal trends
Examples:
“Instagram’s Latest Algorithm Update”
“Best Gadgets for 2025”
⚖️ SEO Comparison: Evergreen vs Trending
📌 1. Traffic Over Time
Evergreen: Steady and consistent
→ Brings organic traffic for months or yearsTrending: Sudden spike, then drops
→ Great for immediate exposure
✅ Winner: Evergreen (long-term ROI)
📌 2. Backlinks
Evergreen: More likely to earn natural backlinks
→ Guides, tutorials, and resources attract steady linksTrending: Gets shares, but rarely long-term backlinks
→ News becomes irrelevant quickly
✅ Winner: Evergreen
📌 3. Search Intent Matching
Evergreen: Matches informational queries
→ Users looking for lasting knowledgeTrending: Matches current events or curiosity
→ Good for “what’s happening now” searches
✅ Winner: Both, depending on the query type
📌 4. Keyword Longevity
Evergreen keywords are searched all year (e.g., “how to cook rice”)
Trending keywords have a short life span (e.g., “Olympics 2024 results”)
✅ Winner: Evergreen
📌 5. Indexing and Visibility
Trending content gets indexed quickly (Google prioritizes fresh topics)
Evergreen content gains more visibility over time
✅ Winner: Trending (for fast indexing), Evergreen (for lasting results)
🔄 SEO Strategy: Combine Both Types
The best SEO strategy doesn’t rely on one or the other.
Use trending content to:
Boost brand visibility
Capitalize on spikes in traffic
Build topical relevance
Use evergreen content to:
Maintain rankings
Attract backlinks
Drive steady traffic
📊 Real Example
A tech blog publishes:
Trending Post: “iPhone 16 Pro Leaked Features”
→ Gets 20,000 views in 1 weekEvergreen Post: “How to Backup Your iPhone to iCloud”
→ Gets 2,000 monthly views consistently for 3 years
Over time, the evergreen article outperforms in both SEO and ROI.
📚 Tips for SEO Optimization
✅ For Evergreen:
Use evergreen keywords (e.g., "how to", "tips", "guide")
Optimize for rich snippets and long-tail search
Update occasionally to stay fresh
✅ For Trending:
Publish fast and early
Use “freshness” tags and timestamps
Add internal links to evergreen posts
🧠 Final Thoughts
Evergreen content is the backbone of SEO.
It builds stable rankings, earns backlinks, and brings consistent traffic.
Trending content gives quick wins and helps your site appear relevant.
👉 The smart move? Use trending topics to drive initial attention, then convert that interest into evergreen resources.
That way, your content strategy benefits from both short-term spikes and long-term SEO growth.