Creating content for websites is one of the most exciting jobs in the online business. You are out there, using your own creative senses, doing the thing that you like the most.
As a reward, people from all around the world get to enjoy and comment on your content, giving you feedback or purchasing your products. As good as that may sound, there is a word of caution in this tale.
Every day, the volume of content on the internet is growing larger. People are publishing new material at a rapid pace, and there are no indications that the process will slow down any time soon.
However, people browsing the internet do not have an infinite amount of time to dedicate to online content. They have jobs, a private life, and a lot of other things going on.
They are uninterested in the quantity, only in the quality of content that they find.
With that in mind, the only way to achieve longevity with your online business is to future-proof your content.
And future-proofing it means creating something timeless, something that will never become outdated or out of style. It is a difficult thing to do, but it is possible. Here are the six ways to do it with style!
What Makes Evergreen Content Last Over Time?
Before we discuss ways to future-proof your content, we need to define it first. What qualities define evergreen content, which are the items that stand the test of time?
Some argue that all Google cares about is fresh content. As long as you are releasing new stuff or reworking the old content, you have a chance of ranking high on Google’s SERPs.
However, that does not make much sense. The idea is to create something that will remain relevant, even 20 years from now.
Does the answer hide in the reader demographics?
If the reader base changes every few years, how can we create something that will be useful even for the future generations that will have other interests?
To build the content that will stand the test of time, you need a lot of dedication, hard work, and commitment.
The truth is, no one can really give you a foolproof solution. The only things you can do are listen to advice from experienced writers, follow proven tactics, and focus on long-term customer satisfaction.
As long as you have the right goals in your heart, you will continue to create content of value. Just remember that this is a complex process which requires research and dedication.
Be a Problem Solver
Want to do better? Focus on helping solve problems, rather than writing with the sole intentions of entertaining readers and/or selling a product!
Long gone are the days when people went online only to have fun, watch a movie, or play a game.
Today, we use the internet to look for helpful information and solutions to our problems. Some of the most searched categories online are guides and tutorials on how to do something.
If you aim to future-proof your content, that’s where your focus should be. If you are an expert on a specific topic, write a piece that will answer the readers’ questions.
Furthermore, you need to continually learn and stay up to date with the latest information. If something changes, you need to be there, capture that change, and add it to your content.
Timeless content is not something you create and be done with it. It requires constant updates, and it will evolve over time into a more useful and complete piece of information.
Brand Yourself to Sell Yourself
To set yourself apart from others, you need to build your credibility first.
I am not saying that you cannot create something valuable unless you are famous. However, that plays a considerable role in distributing the content around the world.
Brands are the strongest entities in today’s business, Their word can influence millions of people.
The most efficient way to brand yourself is through the use of videos on social media. You have the opportunity to speak your mind, make a connection with your subscribers, and raise awareness about who you are and what you do.
Remember that every brand needs a purpose, a just cause, and an agenda that helps people through their products and services. A brand delivers quality, trust, and emotional content.
Build Up Your Audience
To reach the goal of branding yourself and publishing timeless content, you need to take small steps.
One of the vital ones is to build your audience. Your content has value only if there are people who need it.
As you grow bigger and gain more followers, you need to make a connection with them.
Learn about their habits, interests, desires, and problems. This valuable piece of information will help you to understand their needs and requirements.
By understanding your readers, you will understand what kind of content they need in the long run.
Learn How to Name / Title Content to Increase Attention
Another essential way to future-proof your content is learning how to name it appropriately.
Here are some simple tips to follow:
Avoid long and complex titles. The name of your content should be straightforward, simple, and concise
Consider the vocabulary of your readers. Do not use words that people might not know.
The title of your content should provide answers to problems and indicate that you offer guidance. That’s why the “how-to” guides or “top X/ best of” articles are the most popular of all.
To better understand the importance of asking questions in your titles, take a look at how Razorfish names their projects. Every topic deals with a significant problem that requires a solution
Avoid creating content that focuses on a current time period. If you want to create something timeless, you should not do things like “Best marketing trends of 2021” because that’s what they will always be.
In 5 years, no one will care what the best marketing trends of 2021 were. Instead, a title like “Best marketing trends of all time” will draw a lot more attention, and it has the potential to become a piece of evergreen content
Focus on Facts and Statistics
People LOVE statistics and facts. By adding them to your evergreen content, you give your readers verified information.
When you start researching a topic for your content, you need to find as many verified sources as possible. The more, the better.
Speak with professionals and experts in the area, do interviews and Q&A sessions, and reference everything in your posts and articles.
People want a professional opinion. By using this approach, you are not only creating a piece of content. You are also building a database of knowledge, supported with links towards various sources, expert advice, and high-level information that has no expiration date.
Future-Proof Your Content, and Live Forever Through Words!
Hopefully, these six ways to future-proof your content will help you to understand this complex process better.
This is one of the ways to achieve immortality and build something that will last for many years to come.
We remember many writers who left us a long time ago, and we still read their books with excitement and awe. That’s what your goal should be!
Feature Image Credit: CC 0; Public Domain. Image sourced from pixabay.com.
Disclaimer: The views and opinions stated in this post are that of the author, and Return On Now may or may not agree with any or all of the commentary.
This guest post brought to you courtesy of Return On Now, Professional Austin SEO and PPC Services Company.
Samuel Watters
Latest posts by Samuel Watters (see all)
- 6 Ways to Future-Proof Your Content - May 18, 2021
