Chris Meabe on How to Create Evergreen Content That Survives Google’s Constant Updates

Chris Meabe , Senior Content Specialist at Foundation Marketing is no stranger to the chaos of algorithm changes. In his talk, “100% Evergreen Articles to Survive Search Updates,” Chris shares how businesses can create content that stands the test of time—even as Google keeps throwing curveballs. From balancing creativity with technical SEO to ensuring your content stays relevant, he breaks down practical steps that can keep your site ranking high, no matter what updates roll in.

1. What’s the biggest SEO trend in 2024, and how should businesses adapt?

The biggest trend is algorithmic adaptation: Google has thrown quite a few updates at us lately, and we’re all trying to figure out how to respond. Businesses should look at which of their and their competitors’ content has succeeded through the updates and shift their strategies accordingly.

2. What’s one common SEO mistake marketers still make, and how can they avoid it?

Marketers are overautomating. A lot of the time, this comes from market pressures and a lack of understanding of what AI is good and bad at. However, the outcome is low-quality content that search engines don’t like. The answer is simple: Figure out what AI can actually do well, and make sure that you’re using it in a way that doesn’t compromise your work.

3. Which tools or resources are essential to staying competitive in SEO today?

New tools and resources are constantly developing, but the most underappreciated are the thought leaders. By following marketers who do original research and report back with results, you can get industry-leading insights without spending all the time digging that they do.

4. How do you balance the technical and creative aspects of SEO for the best results?

The best way to balance these is to have different team members who can focus on different aspects. Have strategists who create frameworks and scaffolding that writers can use to do their creative work in a technically optimized way.

5. What’s your top advice for a business just starting with SEO in 2025?

First, make good content. With solid, helpful content as a base, you can spin your work into gold. But once you’ve gotten started, don’t do it all yourself. Trying to start from scratch is so time-consuming that, especially for founders, it’s not always worthwhile. Find someone experienced you can trust to help out.

6. What’s the key to creating evergreen content despite frequent algorithm changes?

Define your terms, establish expertise, and keep it updated. For more specifics, listen to my talk at BrightonSEO!

7. How do you approach keyword research for long-term content relevance?

It’s similar to any other keyword research you would do, but you’ll want to pay more attention to how volatile the SERPs are and how certain SERP competitors are staying on top of some keywords but not others.?

8. What’s your process for auditing and updating older content to maintain rankings?

Regular audits, updates, and overhauls are absolutely critical for evergreen content. Even if your articles aren’t ranking in the SERPs yet, make sure they are updated regularly if you want them to keep ranking.

Creating evergreen content is crucial, but so is measuring its performance and showing results to your clients. That’s where Swydo comes in. Our automated reporting tool gives you the insights you need to stay ahead of search changes and keeps your clients in the loop. Try Swydo for free and simplify your reporting today.