Using Semrush to Decide Evergreen vs Trending Topics

By Azon Vault On May 8, 2026

Using Semrush to Decide Evergreen vs Trending Topics

Staring at a blank content calendar wondering whether to bet on a steady evergreen piece or a viral trending topic? You’re not alone. Most content creators struggle to balance long-term traffic drivers with quick engagement spikes — and guessing almost always leads to wasted time and missed goals.

The fix? Data-backed decisions powered by Semrush. Below, we’ll walk through exactly how to use Semrush’s free and paid tools to pick the right mix of evergreen and trending topics for your brand, no guesswork required.

What’s the Difference Between Evergreen and Trending Topics?

Before diving into Semrush tools, let’s clarify the two content types you’re choosing between:

Evergreen Topics

Evergreen content stays relevant for months or years after publishing. Search volume remains steady, and traffic grows slowly over time with minimal updates.

Examples: “How to create a content calendar”, “What is SEO?”
Benefits: Predictable long-term traffic, builds domain authority, low maintenance
Best for: Building foundational traffic, nurturing leads, establishing expertise

How to Use Semrush to Analyze Evergreen Topics

Semrush makes it easy to identify topics with steady, long-term search demand. Follow these steps:

As outlined in Semrush’s official keyword research documentation, search volume trends are the most reliable indicator of evergreen potential. Use these Semrush tools to validate evergreen ideas:

Keyword Magic Tool: Enter a broad niche keyword (e.g., “content marketing”), then filter results by “Trend” (select “Steady” if available, or manually check the 5-year trend graph for flat lines). Steady volume over 5+ years = evergreen potential. Internal link idea: Pair this with our guide to using Semrush Keyword Magic Tool for beginners.
Keyword Difficulty (KD) Check: Evergreen topics often have higher competition, but long-tail evergreen keywords (e.g., “how to create a content calendar for small businesses”) typically have lower KD scores (under 50) and steady volume.
Topic Research Tool: Enter a broad topic, export the results to a spreadsheet, and sort by year-over-year search volume growth. Topics with less than 10% fluctuation in volume year-over-year are safe evergreen bets.

How to Use Semrush to Identify Trending Topics

Trending topics move fast, so you need Semrush tools that surface rising search demand in real time:

Keyword Overview Trend Graph: Enter a potential trending topic, then check the “Trend” tab. Look for a sharp upward slope in the last 3-6 months, or a “Rising” label next to the search volume.
Keyword Magic Tool “Rising” Filter: In the Keyword Magic Tool, toggle the “Trend” filter to “Rising” to see all keywords in your niche gaining search volume fast.
Competitor Spikes: Use Semrush Domain Overview to check your competitors’ top pages. If a competitor’s page saw a 200%+ traffic spike in the last month, check if the topic is trending in Semrush — it’s a sign the trend is still relevant.

How to Decide Between Evergreen and Trending With Semrush Data

Once you’ve identified potential topics, use this framework to pick the right one for your goals:

Align With Content Goals: If your goal is 12-month traffic growth, prioritize evergreen topics with 1k+ monthly searches. For quick brand awareness, pick trending topics with peak search volume 5x higher than average.
Check Resource Bandwidth: Trending topics require publishing within 24-48 hours of the trend peaking. Use Semrush KD scores to confirm: if a trending topic has KD under 40, it’s worth the rush. High KD trending topics will be hard to rank for quickly.
Test and Adjust: Use Semrush Position Tracking to monitor how both content types perform. Most sites see 70% of traffic from evergreen content — adjust your content calendar ratio accordingly.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Ignoring search intent: Semrush labels search intent (informational, transactional, navigational). Even if a trending topic has high volume, skip it if the intent doesn’t match your content.
Chasing only high volume: Trending topics with 100k+ monthly searches often have KD scores over 80. Target mid-volume (5k-10k) trending topics with lower KD for better ranking chances.
Forgetting evergreen updates: Use Semrush to check if your top evergreen posts are dropping rankings. Update them every 6-12 months to maintain traffic.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use Semrush’s free plan to decide between evergreen and trending topics?: Yes, Semrush’s free plan gives limited access to the Keyword Magic Tool and trend graphs. For full access to historical data and competitor analysis, upgrade to a paid Pro plan.
How long do trending topics stay relevant?: Most trending topics peak within 1-2 weeks, but major industry updates (like algorithm changes) can stay relevant for 1-3 months. Use Semrush’s 1-year trend graph to estimate how long a trend will last.
Should I only produce evergreen content?: No, a mix of 70% evergreen and 30% trending works best for most sites. Use Semrush traffic data to adjust this ratio: if trending content brings in 40% of your new users, increase your trending content output.
How do I know if an evergreen topic is too competitive?: Check the Keyword Difficulty (KD) score in Semrush. A KD above 70 means high competition — target long-tail evergreen keywords with KD below 50 instead.

Get Started With Data-Backed Content Decisions

Ready to stop guessing and start growing? Sign up for a 7-day free trial of Semrush Pro to access all the tools mentioned above, plus position tracking, competitor analysis, and more.

Struggling to organize your content mix? Internal link idea: Download our free evergreen vs trending content calendar template to plan your strategy.

According to Semrush’s 2024 State of Content Marketing Report, brands that balance evergreen and trending content see 35% higher year-over-year traffic growth. Don’t get left behind — start using Semrush to guide your topic decisions today.