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Should New YouTubers Focus on Trends or Evergreen Content?
Starting a YouTube channel is exciting, but quickly hits a wall: what kind of videos should you actually make? For new creators with under 1,000 subscribers, figuring out a content strategy can feel overwhelming. You might be stuck with a lack of content ideas or struggling to get that initial traction you desperately need.
One of the biggest debates is whether to chase trending topics for quick views or build a library of timeless evergreen content. The truth is, for new channels, it's not an either/or decision. A smart content strategy often involves a mix of both.
Let's break down the pros and cons of each, and how new creators can leverage both for growth and discoverability.
Evergreen Content: Building Your Foundation
Evergreen content is video that remains relevant and valuable to viewers over a long period. Think tutorials, how-to guides, in-depth explanations of foundational concepts, or reviews of classic products. These videos may not explode overnight, but they can consistently bring in views and subscribers months or even years after they're published.
Pros of Evergreen Content for New Creators:
- Consistent Discoverability: People will keep searching for these topics over time, providing a steady stream of potential viewers.
- Long-Term View Accumulation: While initial views might be modest, they add up significantly over time, building a solid view count for your channel.
- Authority and Trust: Creating helpful, timeless content establishes you as a knowledgeable resource in your niche, building viewer trust.
- Sustainable Strategy: Reduces the pressure to constantly chase the next big trend, allowing for a more manageable content schedule.
Cons of Evergreen Content for New Creators:
- Slower Initial Growth: It can take time for evergreen videos to rank in search and gain traction, which can be discouraging when you're looking for early momentum.
- Lower Viral Potential: Less likely to generate massive, rapid spikes in views compared to a hit trending video.
Many channels, especially those focused on educational content, build their base on evergreen videos. For example, channels like @Photoshop-Basics (6.53K subscribers) or @PianoTutorialsForBeginners (7.9K subscribers) create content that people will search for whenever they want to learn those skills, providing enduring value.
Trending Content: Catching the Wave
Trending content capitalizes on current popular topics, events, or challenges. This could be anything from a reaction to a viral video, coverage of a recent news story in your niche, or participating in a popular challenge. The key is timeliness – you need to create and publish these videos quickly while the topic is hot.
Pros of Trending Content for New Creators:
- Rapid Discoverability: Tapping into a trending topic can expose your channel to a much wider audience very quickly.
- Potential for Viral Breakouts: A well-timed, well-executed trending video has a higher chance of going viral and bringing a large influx of views and subscribers.
- Boosts Channel Momentum: A successful trending video can provide a significant boost in views and subscribers, giving your channel much-needed early momentum.
Cons of Trending Content for New Creators:
- Short Shelf Life: Once a trend fades, views on that video will likely drop off dramatically.
- Requires Constant Creation: To maintain momentum from trends, you need to constantly find and create content around new topics, which can be exhausting.
- Risk of Low Retention: Viewers who find you through a trending topic may not be interested in your core niche, leading to lower watch time and subscriber conversion.
- Competitive Landscape: Trending topics often attract a lot of creators, making it harder to stand out.
We see smaller channels successfully using trends. For instance, @DrawingBuffer (3.19K subscribers) has a high velocity score and a large number of videos, suggesting they are actively publishing content, likely including some timely or trending topics within their drawing niche to drive discoverability.
The "Both/And" Approach for New Channels
For most new YouTubers, the most effective strategy is a blend of both evergreen and trending content. Think of evergreen content as the foundation that provides stability and long-term value, and trending content as the engine for rapid growth and discoverability.
Here's how to implement this balanced approach:
- Build a Base of Evergreen Content: Identify the core, timeless topics in your niche that people consistently search for. Create high-quality videos addressing these topics. These will be the videos that continue to bring in views over time.
- Strategically Incorporate Trending Topics: Don't just jump on every trend. Look for trending topics that are genuinely relevant to your niche and audience. Can you offer a unique perspective, tutorial, or reaction related to the trend?
- Use Trends for Discoverability, Convert with Evergreen: Use trending videos to attract new viewers to your channel. Once they're there, have clear calls to action and well-organized playlists that guide them to your evergreen content. The goal is to convert trend-based viewers into long-term subscribers who appreciate your core content.
- Analyze and Adapt: Pay attention to which types of videos perform best on your channel. Use analytics to see if trending videos bring in new subscribers and if those subscribers then watch your evergreen content. Subscribr's Channel Intelligence system can help you analyze your performance metrics and velocity scoring to identify exactly what's working and what's not.
How to Find Relevant Trends and Evergreen Ideas
Finding Evergreen Ideas:
- Answer Common Questions: What are the most frequent questions people ask in your niche? Create videos that provide comprehensive answers.
- Solve Common Problems: What challenges do people in your audience face? Create tutorials or guides that offer solutions.
- Explain Foundational Concepts: Break down the basics of your niche for beginners.
- Look at Competitors (Strategically): Analyze successful channels in your niche (especially those slightly larger than yours but not massive) to see what evergreen topics they cover. Use Subscribr's Competitive Analysis tools to study top performers in your niche and identify content gaps you can fill.
Finding Trending Topics:
- Google Trends: A powerful tool to see what topics are currently spiking in popularity. Filter by your region and niche.
- YouTube Search & Explore: See what videos are performing well in your niche right now. Look at the "Explore" tab for trending videos overall.
- Social Media: Pay attention to what's being discussed on platforms like Twitter, TikTok, and Reddit in your niche.
- Industry News: Stay updated on the latest news and developments in your field.
Answering Your Questions
Is evergreen content good for YouTube?
Absolutely. Evergreen content is crucial for building a sustainable YouTube channel. It provides consistent views over time, builds authority, and reduces reliance on the unpredictable nature of trends. While it may not provide instant viral success, it's a key component of a long-term content strategy.
How do you find trending topics for YouTube?
You can find trending topics using tools like Google Trends, by exploring YouTube's trending and popular sections, monitoring social media discussions in your niche, and staying informed about industry news. The key is to look for trends that align with your channel's content and that you can add value to.
Should I make videos on trending topics?
Yes, for new channels, making videos on relevant trending topics can be a smart move for initial discoverability and growth. However, it shouldn't be your only strategy. Use trending content strategically to attract new viewers, and then guide them to your evergreen content to encourage them to become long-term subscribers.
Monetization and Content Strategy
Your content strategy directly impacts your monetization potential. Evergreen content provides reliable, long-term view counts, which contribute to consistent ad revenue over time. Trending content can bring in large view spikes, leading to temporary boosts in ad revenue.
Furthermore, building a library of high-quality evergreen content makes your channel more attractive for affiliate marketing, selling your own products or services, or securing sponsorships, as you demonstrate lasting value and expertise in your niche.
Subscribr's AI Script Writer and Smart YouTube Script Writer can help you develop both evergreen and trending video scripts efficiently. You can use Subscribr's Research Assistant to gather information for both types of content, importing YouTube transcripts, web articles, and documents directly into your workflow.
Conclusion
For new YouTubers navigating the path to their first 1,000 subscribers and beyond, the debate between trends and evergreen content isn't a zero-sum game. A balanced approach that strategically combines the long-term stability of evergreen content with the rapid discoverability potential of trending topics offers the best path for sustainable growth.
Focus on creating high-quality videos that genuinely help your target audience, whether they are searching for a timeless tutorial or reacting to a current event. Analyze your results, learn from what works, and adapt your strategy as your channel evolves. By leveraging both content types and utilizing tools like Subscribr to streamline your workflow and gain insights, you can overcome the challenges of getting started and build a thriving YouTube channel.
