BuzzSumo Evergreen Content Filter: A Complete Guide

Struggling to create content that stays relevant months (or years) after you hit publish? You’re not alone. Most blog posts lose 90% of their traffic within 3 months of going live. As HubSpot research notes, evergreen blog posts generate 3x more qualified leads than time-sensitive news pieces, making them a critical part of any content strategy. But what if you could identify content ideas that consistently drive traffic for years? Enter the BuzzSumo Evergreen Content Filter.

What Is the BuzzSumo Evergreen Content Filter?

BuzzSumo is a leading content research and social media analytics tool used by marketers to find high-performing content, track competitors, and plan effective content strategies. The Evergreen Content Filter is a specialized feature designed to surface content that maintains steady engagement over long periods, rather than short-term viral hits.

Unlike the default BuzzSumo search view, which prioritizes content with the most shares in the last 24 hours, 7 days, or 30 days, the Evergreen Filter highlights pieces that have sustained high share counts, backlinks, and search traffic for 6 months, 1 year, or even longer. It uses a proprietary evergreen score to rank content based on how consistently it performs over time, taking the guesswork out of identifying long-lasting content ideas.

Why Use the BuzzSumo Evergreen Content Filter?

Whether you’re a solo blogger or a marketing team lead, the Evergreen Filter offers clear, measurable benefits for your content strategy:

• Find proven, low-risk content ideas: You’re building on content that’s already shown it resonates with audiences for years, instead of guessing if a trending topic will last.
• Save hours of research time: No need to manually check 50+ blog posts to see if they’re still driving traffic – the filter does the work for you.
• Boost long-term SEO rankings: Evergreen content accumulates backlinks and domain authority over time, helping your site rank higher for target keywords.
• Repurpose content across channels: High-performing evergreen pieces can be turned into videos, podcasts, email courses, and social media series to reach new audiences.
• Outperform competitors: Most brands chase viral trends, leaving a gap in high-quality, evergreen content that you can fill.

How to Use the BuzzSumo Evergreen Content Filter: Step-by-Step

Using the Evergreen Filter is straightforward, even if you’re new to BuzzSumo. Follow these 7 steps to find winning evergreen content ideas:

1. Log in to your BuzzSumo account and navigate to the Content Research tab from the top navigation bar.
2. Enter your target keyword, niche topic, or competitor domain in the search bar at the top of the page.
3. Locate the Evergreen filter in the left-hand sidebar under the "Content Filters" section.
4. Select your preferred time range for evergreen content: options include "Last 6 months", "Last year", and "All time".
5. Add optional filters to narrow results: choose content type (articles, infographics, videos), set minimum share/backlink counts, or filter by language and domain.
6. Sort results by Evergreen Score (highest first) to see the most consistently performing content at the top of your list.
7. Click into individual results to view their performance graphs, backlink profiles, and top shared pages to inform your own content creation.

Pro Tip: Combine with Backlink Filters

For even better SEO results, add a minimum backlink filter after applying the Evergreen Filter. Content that is both evergreen and has 50+ high-quality backlinks is far more likely to rank well in search engines and drive consistent organic traffic to your site.

3 Practical Ways to Apply Evergreen Filter Insights

Finding evergreen content is only half the battle – here’s how to turn those insights into a winning content strategy:

1. Create Upgraded Versions of Top Evergreen Content

If a 2-year-old "Beginner’s Guide to Email Marketing" has 12k shares and 600 backlinks, create a more comprehensive, up-to-date version. Add 2024 data, new case studies, free templates, and better visuals to offer more value than the original.

2. Fill Content Gaps in Evergreen Niches

Notice that all top evergreen content for "Small apartment gardening" is text-heavy? Create a video series, infographic roundup, or interactive quiz to capture audiences who prefer visual or interactive content.

3. Repurpose High-Performing Evergreen Pieces

Take your top evergreen blog post and turn it into a 5-part email course, a podcast episode, or a series of TikTok/Instagram Reels. This lets you reach new audiences without creating net-new content from scratch.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Even with the right tool, it’s easy to make missteps when working with evergreen content. Steer clear of these 3 errors:

• Using too short a time range: Filtering only for "last 6 months" evergreen content may cause you to miss older, high-performing pieces that are still driving steady traffic.
• Ignoring performance trends: Always check the engagement graph for each piece – if shares and backlinks have dropped sharply in the last 3 months, the content may be outdated.
• Copying instead of improving: Don’t just rewrite top evergreen content. Add unique insights, original data, or a fresh perspective to stand out from the original.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Is the BuzzSumo Evergreen Content Filter available on all plans?
A: No, the Evergreen Filter is only available on BuzzSumo’s Pro, Plus, and Enterprise plans. Free and basic plans do not include access to this feature.

Q: How is evergreen content different from viral content?
A: Viral content gets a massive spike in traffic and shares in a very short time, then fades quickly. Evergreen content maintains steady traffic, shares, and backlinks for months or years after publication.

Q: Can I use the Evergreen Filter for competitor research?
A: Yes! Enter a competitor’s domain in the BuzzSumo search bar, apply the Evergreen Filter, and see exactly which pieces of their content have stood the test of time.

Q: How often should I update evergreen content?
A: Aim to refresh your top-performing evergreen content every 6-12 months to keep data accurate, add new examples, and maintain search engine rankings.

Final Thoughts

The BuzzSumo Evergreen Content Filter takes the guesswork out of content planning, helping you build a library of long-lasting, high-performing content that drives consistent traffic and supports your long-term SEO goals. Instead of chasing fleeting viral trends, you can focus on creating content that works for your audience for years to come.

For more tips on maximizing your content research efforts, check out our guide to BuzzSumo’s keyword research tools.

Ready to stop chasing fleeting viral trends and build a content strategy that lasts? Sign up for a 30-day free trial of BuzzSumo Pro to access the Evergreen Content Filter and start finding high-performing content ideas today.