#GIVE US SEASON 2 BECAUSE HOW CAN YOU DROP A MASTERPIECE AND DISAPPEAR FOR WHAT FEELS LIKE YEARS

[gardenoblues]

Woe...what a night.

The relief in his eyes when she said she wouldn't judge him so easily. The delight in his face when she said she would've taken it further.

The curious tilt of her head, thinking how he knew she got expelled, and with no hesitation she'd do it again. His reaction to it; the evident joy that he couldn't hide.

Then all goes to hell when he says;

"I knew there was a reason I liked you."

Her face softens as he says it. Thee Wednesday Freakin' Friday Addams.

It sealed it. A validation.

Someone liked how unhinged she was, a normie even, accepted her for who she is. He was different from the snobbish, insufferable elites she had met in the school she didn't want to attend. He gets his hands dirty and not like the Nevermore brats too spoiled to know how a coffee machine works.

And it all made sense at the end why she was so into him too.

Him being a normie was fine.

She couldn't have foresaw or imagine him as an outcast.

But him being both of two worlds was so unexpected, it stung. Everything he did was a mockery of her shortcomings, and they both knew it. Him more than anyone else.

As much as she couldn't stand the fact that being a psychic, a raven, and missing the most crucial part of the puzzle humiliates her to the bone, it didn't change the fact that, yes.

Yes. All was done, blood was shed, tears were wasted and lives were taken.

He was suddenly the monster wreaking havoc in town. Disemboweling bodies in the woods, lying as if it were walking, killed his therapist boy-monster.

He wasn't just Tyler Galpin; a part time barista, and a wide eyed boy ready to comply with her whims.

He was, and is the Hyde.

Walking freely in town wearing the same innocent face that managed to fool her and stayed out of her radar. With his bigot, normie, sheriff father.

All smiles and sunshine in the daylight, but at night the shadows consume him.

"Of course the first boy I'd kiss would turn out to be a psycho killing monster. Guess I have a type."

Yeah girl you have a type.

And it's a temperemental beast with a mind of its own.

And it all started with a cup of coffee he had made for her. And those damn words she held in the back of her mind every time she does something unpleasant or disappoints her family or the head of the wretched school.

"I knew there was a reason I liked you."

But this time, it wasn't Tyler Galpin's voice echoing in her shabby mind.

It was her voice that she tried to suppress as her ribcage claws out of her chest. Denying any hint of affection.

There is always an explanation why things are the way they are, and why people act the way that they do.

And it was in front of her all this time.

Even now that Tyler is splayed bloody in the open.

There it is.

The reason why she liked him.

#wyler #tyler galpin #wednesday addams #wednesday series #ao3 #this may have gotten a little unplanned #but guess it turned out well #GIVE US SEASON 2 BECAUSE HOW CAN YOU DROP A MASTERPIECE AND DISAPPEAR FOR WHAT FEELS LIKE YEARS #the subtle acting in this scene tho 🤌 #hunter and jena have the perfect chemistry together on screen no one should deny that #another wyler brainrot enjoy suckers #if someone can write more or continue this thread lol jk #this scene made me a solid wyler fan frfr #when he said that line i just knew they'd be end game because why else would have been that iconic? #there was no need for it to hit that hard it they're not gonna end up together okay??!! #okok I'll stop

[imagine-loki]

Unofferable, Part II

TITLE: Unofferable, Part II

CHAPTER NO./ONE SHOT: Chapter 4, The Plan AUTHOR: unofferable-fic ORIGINAL IMAGINE: Imagine courting Loki in secret for a number of years. While you’re both more than happy with the arrangement and are genuinely in love, you can never make your relationship public because of your status as a mortal servant.

RATING: M

NOTES/WARNINGS: Fluff, language, Loki being offended by Earth things. Playlist: “I Found Peace” — Ruth Barrett, “December, 1963 (Oh, What a Night!)” — Frankie Valli  & the Four Seasons, “Nocturne No. 2” — Frédéric Chopin, “Brother” — The Brilliance

The morning of their second day on Midgard, Ellie awoke first. Beside her, Loki remained fast asleep, and she took a moment to cuddle closer to him and study his peaceful face. It was a rare occasion, waking before him, so she always made sure to get her money’s worth. A sleeping Loki was a sight to behold.

Well, she thought to herself. Loki is certainly a sight to behold in general, but he’s particularly pleasin’ while sleepin’.

It was the only time Ellie had ever seen him completely free of worries or doubts, seemingly completely content and at peace with himself. It was probably a bit selfish, but she loved the fact that she was the only one to see him in such a manner. The ease with which he lay there mesmerised her. His face held no rigidness, his eyes remained calm and unmoving, and his thin lips were softly pursed. The slow rise and fall of his chest kept her calm and very nearly lulled her back to sleep. But it didn’t take long for him to finally wake, shifting slightly in his early morning haze. 

She didn’t fight him as he pulled her body closer to his, but merely chuckled instead. “I don’t think I’ll ever get over how much of a cuddler you can be.”

“Do not act as though you hate it,” he replied, voice rough at this hour. “And good morning to you too.”

“G’mornin’, Loki.”

He hummed deeply, unceremoniously lifting her so that she lay flat a top him. “It certainly is a good morning.”

With her hands laying flat and interlaced on his chest, she settled her chin down against them so that she could watch him comfortably. “How did you sleep? I sensed nothin’ other than ease from you, which was nice.”

“I slept well, love, thank you. And I could sense no nightmares from you, much to my relief.”

“I think havin’ you close by without fear of bein’ caught helps. As well this lovely city in which we can enjoy ourselves.”

“I agree. Dublin has very nearly won me over.”

“Damn! That’s a tough task to manage. Did you have anythin’ specific on the agenda today?”

“Bar laying in bed with you all day? No.”

She rolled her eyes at the shit-eating grin her wore. “Not a chance. We spent all night in bed and today is our last full day here! We should do somethin’.”

“Your wish is my command. Did you have anything in mind?”

“I’d love to see some of the museums,” she pondered. “I’m pretty sure that the National Gallery and the Natural History Museum are only a short walk away.”

“Then visit them we shall.”

A smile slowly formed on her lips at his obedience and she lightly traced one finger along his collarbone. “I’m lovin’ this.”

“Loving what?” he asked, mimicking her movements and lightly running a hand down her spine.

“You bein’ so pliant and willin’ to do whatever I wish.”

“I am always willing to abide by your wishes.” He tilted his head slightly and met her gaze. “I would give you the world if I could.”

“You know you don’t have’ta do that,” she reassured him. “As long as I can have you, then I’m good.”

“And I you, Ellie.”

“I’m glad we could see eye to eye on this. Now if you’ll excuse me, I goin’ t’go take a shower.”

“An excellent idea!” Loki swiftly sat up in the bed and, before Ellie could blink, picked her up bridal style. “A shower is just what we need.”

“I meant on my own, but I suppose there’s no harm in allowin’ you to join me.”

“Of course not. I promise you shan’t be complaining when I wash your hair so gently that you nearly fall back asleep!”

All she did was smile as he carried them into the bathroom and stepped into the shower. With the promise of a relaxing and intimate time with him, she could hardly argue as he turned on the shower and warm water began to fall upon her head.

* * *

“Where to?”

Outside the Shelbourne, Ellie and Loki stood hand in hand, washed, dressed, and ready to take on the day.

“I was thinkin’ we could visit the Natural History Museum first?” she suggested, nodding in its direction. “They have loads of stuffed animals on display and I thought it’d be cool to see what they look like up close. Plus, the National Gallery is right beside it so then we can look at some of the exhibitions… How’s that sound?”

“A splendid idea. Why don’t we—”

Before Loki could get another word in, a crowd cheering interrupted the conversation. Ellie looked up in confusion to see a vehicle drive by the front of the hotel. The only issue was, it was unlike any vehicle she had seen on her trips to Midgard. It looked more like a yellow and blue boat on wheels and was carrying a fair amount of people inside, who she assumed were the ones doing the yelling. For some reason, each person wore a cheap looking horned helmet.

“What in the name of the Nine Realms,” Loki began slowly, looking at the boat/car thing in utter contempt. “Is that?”

“‘Viking Splash Tour’,” Ellie said, reading the text on the side of the vehicle aloud. Then she noticed a name printed near the front. “Hey! It has your name on it!”

“It what?!” he practically screeched, drawing some attention from passersby as he narrowed his eyes at the vehicle. “How dare that monstrosity use my name!”

Biting down on her lip to hold back laughter, she shook her head. “Calm down, love. I think it’s just some sorta tourist attraction—”

“How dare it even associate me with that offensive eyesore! And why are they wearing such impractical helmets?” he demanded. “They are tarnishing not only a Prince of Asgard, but our culture!”

“Here, you can’t be one to slag them about helmet impracticality!”

“I can and I will,” he grumbled, glaring at the offensive ‘monstrosity’ until it turned the corner and disappeared from sight. “My helmet is glorious and you are not to say another word.”

“In that case, let’s just go to the museum and you can forget all ’bout that…thing.”

Though the walk around the corner didn’t take long, the Trickster was still reeling after witnessing some of Ireland’s more kitsch attractions. That being said, he quietened down when they arrived at the Natural History Museum, a long, white brick building at the end of a small winding path opposite Merrion Square. Although she had expected it to be busy, it was particularly quiet that morning, and as the couple walked through the front doors, Ellie couldn’t help but stare at the massive room before her. It was full to the brim with cabinets and displays that contained many varieties of stuffed animals. After reading through a small pamphlet, they discovered that the ground floor was called the Irish Room, and contained fauna native to her home country. She was amazed to see the massive, seven-foot tall skeletons of Irish Elk, which had been extinct for some time. They slowly walked through the exhibit, seeing the mammals, the birds, the sea life, as well as the insect life, before venturing to the second floor to see the Mammals of the World exhibit. The bats intrigued her, the giraffes amazed her, and the tigers reminded her of reading the Jungle Book as a child. Loki seemed particularly fond of the wolves and snow leopards in parallel cabinets. Though he would never make a massive deal out of it, he seemed impressed with the vast number of creatures on display and perhaps he was just happy to do as Ellie asked. While he was also unfamiliar with the wildlife of Midgard, for her, it was the first time she would see any such animals in real life, though she was from this realm.

Afterwards, it was on to the National Gallery of Ireland. As was usually customary, the exhibitions were free for all visitors on the day the couple visited. It was busier than their previous excursion, but thankfully not crowded. The display, Masterpieces from the Collection, was where they spent most of their time. As part of a special presentation, highlights of the Gallery’s collection were mounted in the lower galleries and featured a selection of European and Irish paintings and sculpture from the early Renaissance to the twentieth century. They slowly moved through the rest of the gallery afterwards, neither daring to utter a word in the mostly silent rooms. That being said, sometimes Ellie would whisper a comment every now and then for his ears only and tried to get as close as possible to see the smaller details on different paintings. They spent over an hour there, making sure to get in every piece that they could. At first, she was worried that he would grow bored, but Loki seemed more than happy to learn of what Midgard’s artists had to offer. While she loved the Rest on the Flight into Egypt by Rembrandt van Rijn, he was transfixed by the Taking of Christ by Caravaggio. They both stared unabashedly at the work of Jack B. Yeats and Claude Monet as well. Once they left the gallery, they grabbed a bite to eat and a drink in a nearby café. Here, they picked each others brains for ages, asking what the other thought of different pieces and artists. They prattled on and on until their plates were cleared and their cups empty. 

As they walked down Nassau Street and passed Trinity College with the intention of stopping in to view the Book of Kells, another passerby unexpectedly bumped into Ellie’s shoulder, causing her to drop the pamphlets she collected from the museums. She would have stumbled had she not been holding on to Loki’s arm. She grunted slightly at the contact and her lover pulled her close as the man turned his attention to her.

“I’m so sorry, ma’am,” he apologised with a distinct American accent. “I should have been paying more attention.”

“You are right,” Loki agreed with a small growl. “You should have been paying closer attention, you clumsy—”

“It was just an accident,” Ellie cut him off, gently rubbing his arm but giving him a ‘please don’t start’ look. “It’s fine, sir, really.”

“It’s certainly not fine,” the stranger disagreed, removing his sunglasses to convey his sincerity. “I didn’t hurt you, did I?”

“Not at all,” she reassured him and went to bend down to collect her lost pamphlets.

“Allow me,” the man insisted, squatting down to collect them before she could argue. “It’s my fault you dropped them anyway.”

As he picked up the scattered items, Ellie gave him a quick once over, along with the other man who stood next to him. He was wearing a rather fancy looking black suit with a white shirt and black tie. As he was on the ground, his suit jacket opened slightly, revealing a badge of some kind. Just before he got to his feet again, she noted the abstract eagle emblem on the badge, along with the acronym S.H.I.E.L.D.. She assumed from his friend’s similar attire that they worked together.

Who’s this guy? Police force, or somethin’?

“Are you alright, love?” Loki asked her gently, pulling her from her thoughts.

“I’m grand,” she insisted and gave his arm a squeeze. “Don’t worry.”

“Here you are, ma’am,” the man announced and handed the pamphlets to her. “Again, sincerest apologies.”

“It’s no bother at all, really!”

The man wished them a nice day before he and his companion took their leave, heading off in the original direction from which Ellie and Loki came.

“They were not any normal tourists,” Loki muttered, gently ushering her along once more.

“Did you see his badge? It looked fairly fancy.”

“That it did. I hate to do this because I know that you wished to see more of the city, but I think it is best that we return to the hotel for a little while. We can dine later anywhere you would like, but I would rather return for now, because they did not seem like standard Midgardian guards.”

“Of course,” she agreed and remained close to his side as they turned down a side street and headed back towards the Shelbourne. “I trust your judgement as always.”

They did as Loki suggested and Ellie allowed herself to be led back to their room. As he shut the door behind them, he turned and met her gaze, looking quite serious all of a sudden. “I wished to speak with you.”

She sat down on the bed expectantly. “Oh?”

“With regards the situation on Asgard,” he explained, taking a seat on the chair opposite her. “I think I may have come up with something.”

Immediately her interest grew and she leaned forward in her seat. “Tell me everythin’.”

“Well, we know that my arranged marriage is to come into a action after Thor’s coronation. And we know we cannot go as far as injuring or critically maiming anyone to stop it. But, perhaps it would be possible to delay Thor’s coronation and, as a result, stopping my marriage to Lady Sigyn.”

“Surely delayin’ it will just delay your marriage too, no?”

“Not if that which delays it has to be Odin’s priority. Essentially, we give him a problem that he needs to solve before he can even consider crowning my brother. Eventually, Vanaheim becomes tired of waiting and calls off the arrangement.”

She nodded in agreement, knowing that he was certainly right in his tactics. There was probably no way to permanently prevent Thor from becoming king — not that they even wanted that to happen — but if they could delay it for as long as possible, then they could at least solve their own problems. “And I’m assumin’ you’ve come up with such a problem?”

He grinned slowly, his thin lips stretching out for the first time since the beginning of the conversation. “You know me so well, little one. That I have. Technically speaking, something you said yesterday sparked my attention. Remember when you spoke of my ability to cloak us from Heimdall’s gaze? Well, if I were to do that for someone else — someone who has no place sneaking about Asgard — and then reveal their location at the right moment during Thor’s coronation, Father will have no choice but to put a stop to it.”

“Holy shit, you’re right. He’d have’ta… But is that not insanely risky? Especially if its someone who is a threat.”

“It is, but I would ensure that they could be stopped before hurting anyone. We just need them to be seen and Father alerted as a result. But as of right now, I do not know who I will lead into Asgard or for what reason.”

“Well, we don’t have very much time to decide on that.”

“I know, but I think that once we return to Asgard I can come up with the perfect candidate.”

“And you know I’m here to help if you need me.”

“Of course. And you will be kept completely in the loop with regards my thoughts and ideas, I can assure you.”

“I would hope so,” she chuckled with a smile. “After all, we’re a team, right?”

He met her smile with his own and moved to sit next to her on the bed. “That we are. It is also the best team I could hope for.”

They sealed their plan with a chaste but loving kiss and agreed to spend their last evening on Midgard merely enjoying themselves and not worrying about the impending days ahead. After all, their coming days would provide them no such opportunity to rest or relax. They had to savour it while they still could.

* * *

It was a few days later while in Asgard’s training yard with Loki when Ellie was given the final details of his plan.

“Frost Giants?” she whisper-shouted after he had tackled her to the ground in close combat so that their whispering wouldn’t be noticeable. “Are you mad?”

“Possibly,” he replied, trying to keep her down as she fought him off. “Come now, you know how to dislodge me!”

She growled and did as he asked, twisting her thighs around him so that she could pin him to the ground. “There. Happy now?”

“Most definitely,” he drawled, sweeping his eyes over her body. “I do love when I can look up at you like this, darling.”

“Loki, focus,” she insisted, her breathing levelling out as they trained. “Is that not fuckin’ risky? These are the Jötunns were talkin’ about!”

“I know, but all will be well, I promise.”

Since their return to Asgard, all had been eerily quiet. Loki had to settle back into his princely duties and attended a number of conferences with Thor, the Allfather, and the Allmother. Sometimes, she and Rainger were in attendance, mostly to wait on the princes while they listened and learned of the new duties expected of them. If Ellie’s presence was not required, she attended to other tasks that Loki asked of her, usually involving picking up items from the local market, and returning or taking books from the library. If he needed nothing of her, she was usually sent to assist Frigga’s handmaidens in whatever they required. Though they didn’t get very much time to themselves anymore with everything going on, they still got to train together, sometimes with the company of Lady Sif. After all that happened on Alfheim, Odin didn’t argue with her training, considering it saved her life before. So now, as long as it didn’t affect Loki’s own duties, he allowed them to do as they wished.

“From what you’ve told me of Jötunns, they’re Odin’s sworn enemies. Wouldn’t they try to kill you on the spot if you went near them?”

“Not when I give them a tempting offer,” he explained further, getting to his feet once she had gotten off him. He eyed the edge of his dagger before continuing. “Not when I give them a chance to take back what was once theirs.”

For a beat, she was unsure of his riddles, but once she remembered the only item in Asgard that previously belonged on Jotunheim, she raised a brow at him. “The Casket of Ancient Winters.”

“The one and only.”

“But that lies within Odin’s vault.”

“That it does. And I will allow the Frost Giants access.”

After years of being schooled on Asgard by both scholars, Frigga, and Loki himself, Ellie was quite familiar with the treasures that were locked inside the Asgardian weapons vaults. The Casket of Ancient Winters was an artefact from the realm of Jotunheim and was originally used by Laufey, King of the Frost Giants, to enslave Midgard over a thousand years before. Odin stopped him and took the powerful casket for safe keeping in the vaults, along with a number of other deadly relics. It was no secret that the Jötunns would do anything to get the artefact back.

As the couple got back into their offensive stances, Ellie pressed him for questions. “And how exactly are you gonna stop them from takin’ the casket?”

“Odin will sense anyone who gets inside the vault, so he will let the Destroyer handle them; they are no match for it.”

“While I think this plan is a little insane, I can’t fault you for the facts you’re givin’ me.”

“Watch you feet,” he commanded, taking a swing at her as she elegantly dodged him. “This plan is perfect. And it will definitely delay Thor’s coronation and my marriage as a result. Odin will not rest until he finds those responsible, but he will never suspect me or you.”

Despite his words, Ellie couldn’t help but feel apprehensive. This was very serious — if either of them was found out, they could be convicted of treason. As she circled him and took a swipe with her left hand, she muttered nervously. “This is a risky game we’re playin’, Loki.”

Without warning he grabbed her wrist, bringing her in close and subduing her with a firm hold. He leaned in close, whispering as he spoke. “If it means ending this unfair marriage, giving Thor more time to learn to be a calm and concise king, and ensuring that you will be mine for the rest of our lives, then it will be worth the risk.”

His words left her momentarily stunned, but after taking a few seconds to compose herself, she looked at him with a newfound determination. “As long as no one is hurt and your marriage is the only thing ruined by this scheme, I’m onboard.”

Her answer brought a smile to his face. “Then we have ourselves a plan.”

“Loki!”

The booming voice of Thor brought the couple’s conversation to a close and Ellie looked up to see the soon-to-be king striding towards them in delight. “Hi, Prince Thor.”

“Hello, little Midgardian,” he replied cheerily. “How goes your training? I hope my brother is not being too harsh on you?”

“Only as harsh as I deserve. He’s a good teacher.”

“You flatter me,” Loki said, studying the dagger in his hand. “But you are not wrong.”

Thor laughed heartily before he spoke again. “I hope you do not mind, Ellie, but I wished to speak with my brother alone for a moment.”

“Of course.” She was quick to sheath her daggers, purposely avoiding making them disappear with seiðr due to Thor’s presence. “I’ll leave you’s to it. Do you need anythin’ of me before I go, Prince Loki?”

“Not at present, little one. Not until this evening as I wish to dine privately in my quarters.”

“I’ll organise it.” She gave them a small bow before she took her leave, unable to shake the uneasy feeling in her gut despite the confidence behind Loki’s words. While she hoped they would succeed, there was a part of her that couldn’t help but be terrified with what had to be done.

* * *

Loki watched Ellie leave, rather wishing that he was going with her than having this conversation. Not that he disliked talking to his brother, but he knew that she was anxious about his plan. He couldn’t fault her for it either, but he only wished to comfort her and reassure her that they would succeed. Thor directed them over to the edge of the training yard where they took a seat on one of the benches.

“Firstly,” Thor began steadily. “I owe you an apology.”

Loki’s tone was, of course, sarcastic. “Oh? What for?”

“For not defending you when Fandral said…what he said at my feast. You did not deserve that treatment.”

“You are correct; I did not, but I expect nothing less from Fandral, considering he is a vain lout.”

While the God of Thunder cracked a smile at his comment, he pressed onwards with his explanation. “Well, I want you to know that I am sorry for not saying anything at the time. I have only just come to realise that the new things required of you must be hard to carry out.”

“You mean my marriage to Lady Sigyn?” he asked, slightly miffed with the turn in the conversation.

“Yes! I had forgotten about what is expected of you in my excitement to become king. I know your displeasure is not merely because you do not wish to be tied down, but is because you do not want to be separated from your secret lover.”

Ah yes, so Thor did indeed recall some details Loki previously shared. “I had assumed you had forgotten such things.”

“It is hard to forget such a thing as you falling in love with some poor woman,” he chuckled. “I am both impressed and amazed that she has put up with you all this time.”

Choosing to ignore the semi-insulting comments, Loki agreed with his sentiment. “She is all that and more, brother, I can assure you.”

“Then I am sorry Father has put such a task before you.”

“Such is the curse of being a prince I suppose,” he replied with an angry frown, wishing he would never be made to do such a thing. “I am beginning to think that I would rather give up my title than never be with her again.”

While Loki kept his eyes on his hands cupped tightly together, he felt Thor’s surprised gaze on him. “Your sentiment continues to amaze me. Have you perhaps considered speaking with Father about it? He may reconsider if he sees how enamoured you are with this maiden.”

A grim laugh escaped the Trickster at the suggestion. “You and I both know that that would be a dead end. Princes do not marry for love — it is all about political conquest and financial gain. He would sooner banish her from Asgard if he knew of our secret courtship.”

“Perhaps if we both spoke with him!” Thor suggested in a hopeful tone. “Mother would certainly support it.”

Already knowing Frigga’s opinion, he nodded. “I am sure she would, but Father’s word is the one that matters most.”

“Well he will surely change it if he is approached by all three of us! He cannot deny his son some happiness, surely?”

Thor’s words left a bitter taste in Loki’s mouth. When had Odin ever allowed him some happiness? So far, he disapproved of most things that brought him joy. “You optimism is misplaced, brother. It is hopeless at this rate.”

The eldest Odinson scoffed before he clapped Loki on the back. “Well we will hardly get anywhere with that attitude! I will think about it and come up with a plan myself.”

“Do not approach Father about this!” Loki hissed, pointing a finger at Thor. “You are not to speak a word about my lover without my knowledge!”

“I shan’t!” Thor insisted, getting to his feet. “But if you insist on being so negative, then I will come up with a plan that will surely work.”

While Thor’s sentiment warmed Loki’s heart somewhat, he couldn’t help but shake his head at his brother’s ignorance. Surely he knew it was hopeless? Perhaps if he knew the people involved, he would realise just how grave such a thing was. He watched the Thunderer leave before he was once again informed that a solution would be found. He sat in the yard on his own for a few moments more, thinking his own solution over again in his head. He couldn’t help but wonder if Thor would happily assist Loki in his scheme if he was aware of all the factors; of the truth. Would he sacrifice his own crowning to ensure Loki and Ellie’s happiness?

Somehow, he doubted it.

#Loki #Lover #Angst #Submitted fic #submission #unofferable-fic #unofferable Part II #chapter 4

[auburnfamilynews]

Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports

Tough loss, frustrating loss... see our thoughts from right after the game.

Yesterday felt a lot like the Florida game, except that we didn’t play from behind for the entirety of this one in Baton Rouge. Auburn lost to LSU by a field goal, and had every chance to not only lead for the duration, but possibly pull away. Inaccuracies from Bo Nix and the steady inability to find running room up the middle doomed a great defensive effort by the good Tigers, and now Auburn sits at 6-2 overall. What did we think? Find out below:

SNAP JUDGMENTS

Not good enough on offense to win these games. No sign that we will be at any point. Great on defense. Whatever.

Fastest player in the world, 3 catches, 33 yards, 0 touchdowns.

-Son of Crow

This defense is elite, don’t judge them on getting burned late. They played some 95 snaps.

Derrick Brown is in the discussion for best Auburn defensive lineman of all time. He may not have the sack numbers but the way he shuts down interior running is insane.

Throwing that ball before the half was the correct call. Was it the perfect play call? I don’t know, it wasn’t the best ever, but it wasn’t bad. If Seth high points the ball (like he does ALL the time) that’s a drop at worst, PI or catch at best. He had the inside position.

Bo has to be better. If he hits those slants in the 3rd quarter and just gets the defense some rest and field position, Auburn wins. Ultimately, the game came down to him in the 4th, and it was too little too late. He’s a freshman. As frustrating as it is, that’s what you have to expect in August when you decide to start a true freshman. You’ve got to let him grow, and no, you can’t just yank him for Joey.

Should Joey have played more? Yeah, probably. But guys, let me break it to you — he’s not a better passer than Bo. You pick a young quarterback, YOU HAVE TO LET HIM DEVELOP.

The hopes for winning the SEC are pretty much dead. Let’s go mess up somebody who still has dreams. The season’s not a loss.

-Ryan Sterritt

Incredible job by Kevin Steele. For most of the night, AU only had 4 guys in the box and 3 DBs on the field. Jamien Sherwood basically was a hybrid S/LB and was outstanding. AU’s defense faced something like 90 plays and gave up only 23 points. They never quit battling and gave AU a chance at the end that seemed impossible to comprehend.

Offensively, things are a mess. Gus’ offense is predicated on running the football yet his senior laden OL can’t move anyone with a pulse. As a result, he asks Bo Nix to sling it but Bo Nix isn’t ready to sling it. I don’t think benching Bo fixes the problem, but I would give Joey a series or two just to see if it injects some energy. But the root ill of this offense is they failed at recruiting elite OL the last 2-3 classes and don’t have the sheme to run an RPO spread attack.

Still think this team beats UGA and you never know with the Iron Bowl in Jordan-Hare. But, it’s hard not to be frustrated watching another defensive masterpiece wasted.

-AU Nerd

Auburn’s defense deserved better. As we’ve come to know over the last few years, they play their tail off and have nothing to show for it. Holding that offense to 23 is mighty impressive and if Auburn’s offense would have just mustered a bit more, OR finished drives like the first one of the second half, we’re having a different discussion right now. I’m amazed at how our offense disappears in these types of games. And only 3 touches for Anthony Schwartz? I don’t get it. You aren’t gonna win games with 15 penalties either.

Whether you like it or not, Gus is gonna ride or die with Bo. I’d like to see Joey get a few more snaps too, but it’s not going to happen. Gus even said postgame they never considered going to Joey.

The Auburn offense will probably hang 45-50 on Ole Miss so we can sit here and wonder where that was in Baton Rouge. I think a 3-1 November is realistic and mabe LSU can go beat Alabama... maybe.

On a positive note: at least we don’t have to wait a month for Auburn Basketball — just 9 more days!

-Will McLaughlin

The offense couldn’t have played much worse and we lost by 3 on the road to the #2 team in the country. Kevin Steele pulled a 3-1-7 defense out of nowhere and gave the country the blueprint to beat LSU... if you have Derrick Brown and Marlon Davidson.

The bad news is LSU made a ton of mistakes and failed multiple 4th and shorts. We can’t count on those stops against UGA and Alabama.

Watch this jackass LSU team lose to Bama. I’ll go ahead and make my pick. Bama 42-27.

-James Jones

I’ve deleted this and rewritten it now three times because while I’m frustrated, I’d rather not react out of emotion. What I’ll say is that we’re stuck. Stuck because of personnel that isn’t good enough to whip equal or better competition across the line of scrimmage. Stuck because the best option Auburn football has at quarterback is a true freshman. Stuck depending on a select few skill position players to bail us out instead of having everyone in a position to contribute. Everyone is frustrated with Bo Nix right now, but I’m telling you, our lack of ability to consistently run the football is the problem with the team. Is Bo Nix ready to beat LSU in Death Valley or Florida in the Swamp? No. No he’s not. But we aren’t good enough up front to bail him out. Is this group going to be good enough at home to ruin Georgia and/or Alabama’s season? That remains to be seen. It’s not what we sign up for at Auburn, but it is where we are today. Stay with this team. Their best game is still in front of them.

-Josh Black

Auburn didn’t win. They could have! There were a lot of chances. Auburn just couldn’t run the ball the way they needed to win. Auburn has two losses to teams that are a combined 15-1. Two losses on the dadgum road, in two of the toughest places to win. Luckily, Auburn doesn’t have another road game this season. Four more contests, all at Jordan-Hare Stadium.

-Josh Dub

***GUEST SNAP FROM LYDIA***

I’m not saying that there aren’t things to criticize, or that everyone needs to be a sunshine pumper. Flaws exist in both wins & losses, but they’re always magnified in a loss.

— O&T Eternal Champ of the Week (@AUSquid) October 27, 2019

Man, it really sucks to know that with the smallest improvement from a pretty terrible game, Auburn wins this one. If Bo Nix hits just a couple of those rough misses, it snowballs. The middle opens up for the run, or the defense gets some rest, or the offense gets momentum, or he gets confidence and hits more. I know the main issue with the team is the lack of true ability to run the football reliably, but we didn’t need to yesterday. This loss hangs squarely on the shoulders of Bo Nix, as tough as that is to say. There were plenty of opportunities to move the ball through the air, and he just couldn’t give the receivers a chance. It wasn’t even that we had drops, or good defense by LSU. More often than not, the ball was completely uncatchable. That’s how close we are, though. If Bo goes 50% through the air, Auburn might have run away with the game. Instead, it’s a 23-20 loss.

There isn’t any more that can be said of the defense except that they may actually shut out Georgia the way the Bulldog offense is going right now, and we’ll win a 6-0 ballgame at home (how hilarious would that be??), and we’ll have a chance to really slow Bama down too. The difference between what the Auburn offense has been on the Plains versus everywhere else is impressive. In the end, Auburn’s lost to two teams with a combined one loss, and the overall record of our opponents is something like 40-24. If we finish 9-3, this is a successful season. Split Amen Corner, and get a chance for 10 wins in the bowl game. Don’t give up on this team, because they’re not going to give up on themselves.

-Jack Condon

from College and Magnolia - All Posts https://www.collegeandmagnolia.com/2019/10/27/20935121/snap-judgments-2-lsu-23-9-auburn-20

#IFTTT #Blogger #auburn #auburn fast #wareagle #AuburnFamilyNews #war eagle #sec #football news #aubu

[williamlwolf89]

Evergreen Content (That People Will Actually Remember)

“Create evergreen content that will always be relevant,” the experts say.

And so you do.

You think of an idea and spend days writing, tweaking, and perfecting every ageless, enduring syllable.

You’re certain you have a winning post on your hands — the kind of evergreen content that can stand the test of time and be spoken of with reverence years later by adoring fans who name their firstborn after you.

But inevitably, after its initial wave of popularity subsides, your masterpiece disappears into the background as newer and newer posts pop up.

Instead of standing the test of time, your timeless content is forgotten.

And the only adoring fan willing to name their firstborn after you is your spouse.

So, what the heck’s happening?

Are the experts wrong? Is evergreen content overrated?

Well, here’s the thing…

The Painful Truth: Most Content (Even Evergreen Content) Will Fade Into Obscurity Days after Clicking “Publish”

It’s sad but true.

Most content, even when it’s excellent, is quickly forgotten.

Sure, it may be popular for a little while. For a few glorious moments, it may be flush with laudatory blog comments, congratulatory emails, and social media love.

But, eventually, its popularity fizzles out.

That’s what makes the idea of “evergreen content” so appealing — it’s supposed to be immune to fickle fancies and flavors of the month.

But here’s the problem:

If your evergreen content is forgettable, being “timeless” is pretty pointless.Click To Tweet

Your content could be relevant and evergreen until the end of time. But if it’s bland, it won’t matter. If it’s boring, no one will care. If it’s forgettable, its timelessness is wasted.

The experts’ advice isn’t wrong — it’s just incomplete.

Because to truly stand the test of time, evergreen content can’t simply be timeless. It needs to be memorable too.

So, here’s what we’re going to do:

We’ll (slightly) tweak the definition for evergreen content;

Go over the five crucial qualities of unforgettable posts (so your evergreen content has a chance to actually be remembered);

Look at the ins and outs of evergreen content, including real-world examples, ideas to help you come up with your own evergreen content, and tips for making your content as good as possible.

Sound good? Let’s dive in.

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What is Evergreen Content?

Evergreen content is timeless, always-relevant content that doesn’t have an expiration date. Like the evergreen trees from which it gets its name, evergreen content never looks like it’s out of season.

That’s a solid, accurate definition for how most people view evergreen content.

But we can do better:

What is Evergreen Content 2.0?

Evergreen content is timeless, always-relevant content that doesn’t have an expiration date. It’s fresh, applicable, and remembered by its readers long after it’s been published.

Timeless? Relevant? Fresh? Applicable? Those are easy.

Write a how-to article for cooking Ramen noodles and you’ve accomplished all four.

But to be remembered? To create something people don’t forget? That’s difficult.

With two million new blog posts published each and every day, getting your posts to stick in the minds of your readers is a Herculean task.

But it is possible.

If you want to create high-quality content people might remember and reference for years — not just days — after you click publish, you need to give it one (or more) of these five qualities:

The 5 Qualities of Unforgettable Evergreen Content

Gives Readers an “OMG!” Moment

Overwhelms the Senses (Including Taste Buds)

Coins a Contagious Catchphrase

Strips You Down and Lays You Bare

Breaks Your Reader’s Lenses

Let’s break down each one.

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1. Gives Readers an “OMG!” Moment

Do you remember the end of Se7en when the villain’s master plan was revealed?

Remember when your mouth dropped open after Darth Vader made the shocking (and often misquoted) revelation that he was Luke’s father?

Remember how stunned you were at the end of The Sixth Sense when you learned Bruce Willis’s character had been wearing a toupee the entire time?

These movies caught us off guard, jolted us to attention, and got us talking.

And years later, we’re still talking about them.

Why is that?

They’re quality movies for sure, but there’s more to it.

As Chip and Dan Heath discuss in their book Made to Stick (affiliate link), our brains filter out consistency in favor of focusing on differences.

So instead of remembering by-the-numbers movies that end exactly how we expected, we remember the ones with unexpected twists and surprising revelations.

Those are the stories that stand out, stick in our minds, and get us talking about them.

If you want your content to be remembered, try surprising your reader.

It’s a tried-and-true method for crafting content that sticks.

How It’s Done

Have you ever come across a headline that stopped you in your tracks?

Why James Chartrand Wears Women’s Underpants is such a headline. It’s surprising, different, and catches you off guard.

But it’s nothing compared to the surprises inside the post.

The first revelation is James Chartrand is actually a woman; however, the big discovery is why she took and continues to prominently use “James Chartrand” as her pen name.

She explains how a simple name change was able to take her from a struggling freelancer to a well-known blogger.

While the result was unintentional, she reaped many benefits from taking on a male persona — an easier time getting writing jobs, more respect for her work, and more recognition.

Undeniably, the post is brilliantly written. That makes it great.

But it’s the surprise factor that makes James’s post so gosh-darn memorable.

How You Can Do It

Creating surprising content is not an easy task, and it requires a well-thought-out idea to achieve it. But here are three ways you can get it done:

#1: Drop a Bombshell

Do you have a secret your readers would find surprising?

You’re a travel blogger who’s never flown on a plane? Do you blog about healthy eating but stuff your face with cake on a weekly basis? Did you once wear an orange tuxedo to a charity gala for the preservation of the endangered Icelandic snow owl?

Tell your readers. Give them your reasons. Get them talking.

#2: Leave Questions Unanswered

While she makes mention of her decision to keep the name in the context of feminism, James doesn’t delve too deeply into the morality of what she is talking about.

She instead leaves it to the audience to ponder — to wonder if they, too, have a bias against women in the workforce. To wonder if they have been the target of this kind of sexism before.

There are lots of questions left by this post that make it an easy one to stew over and discuss with friends and colleagues.

A memorable post will leave your reader with questions to ponder long after they’ve finished reading.

#3: Break the Norm

Let’s be honest…

Most tips, advice, and strategies you find online — regardless of the niche — are unoriginal. You’ve seen them before, and so have your readers.

Want to surprise your audience?

Offer them unconventional advice they haven’t heard a thousand times before. Give them a truly new idea or insight. Provide a simpler technique or shortcut that makes them cry over all the time and effort they wasted doing things the hard way.

A surprising revelation doesn’t have to be extraordinary or outlandish for people to remember it.

Sometimes, it just needs to thwart your reader’s expectations.

Tweetable Takeaway

Want a proven method for crafting content that sticks in your readers’ heads? Surprise them.Click To Tweet

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2. Overwhelms the Senses (Including Taste Buds)

Adding sensory details is a ridiculously-effective way to make your content memorable. It’s so effective, we decided to write the definitive guide on the topic.

Here’s an excerpt:

Remember the final scene in Field of Dreams when Ray Kinsella has a catch with his dad?

You can smell the grass on the field.

You can hear the sound of the baseball hitting their gloves.

And you can feel Ray’s years of guilt melting away as he closes his eyes, smiles, and tosses the ball back to his dad.

(Be honest. You’re crying right now, aren’t you?)

Field of Dreams made you feel like you were in Ray’s shoes, on his field, playing catch with dad.

The scene creates such a vivid experience for many viewers that whenever they think of playing catch, this scene will come up alongside their own childhood memories.

Here’s why:

When you paint a strong scene in your audience’s mind, you make it easier for them to pull it back up from their memory. You’ve essentially bookmarked it for them so they can easily find it when something — a sight, a smell, a sound — reminds them of it.

That’s the power of content that incorporates sensory details.

583 Sensory Words to Take Your Writing from Bland to Brilliant

By using descriptive details to evoke sight, sound, touch, taste, and smell; you can make your content burst to life in your readers’ minds.

This will help your content connect with readers on a personal level, which will help them remember it long after other posts have gone the way of the dodo.

How It’s Done

Few writers are better at descriptive details than Jon Morrow.

In his post 7 Lessons from a Guy Who Can’t Move Anything But His Face, he uses storytelling and descriptive language to help the reader get an idea of what it might feel like to be him; specifically, what it’s like to live with a disability.

Jon’s words help you feel what it’s like to only be able to move your eyes and lips. He helps you feel what it’s like to spend years of your life in hospitals. He helps you feel what it’s like to overcome all of it to live an amazing, blessed life.

Had he simply told his readers facts, the points in Jon’s post wouldn’t have resonated the same way.

Instead, he took them on an emotional journey. The ups, the downs, and everywhere in between.

And they remember him because of it.

How You Can Do It

When writing, use descriptive details to guide your readers’ imaginations.

This can be accomplished through storytelling (when appropriate) and words that convey sensations (i.e. sensory words).

Not sure where to begin? Read these two posts:

The Blogger’s Guide to Telling Stories That Win Hearts and Minds

583 Sensory Words to Take Your Writing from Bland to Brilliant

These posts will teach you the art of storytelling and everything you can possibly need to know about sensory words.

Master these and everything you write will be drenched in descriptive details.

Which means (almost) everything you write will be memorable.

Tweetable Takeaway

Make readers see what you see. Put them in your shoes and take them on an emotional journey.Click To Tweet

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3. Coins a Contagious Catchphrase

“The quicker picker upper.”

“The ultimate driving machine.”

“Melts in your mouth, not in your hands.”

Unless you’re one of the precious few whose brains haven’t been inundated with advertisements over the years, you probably recognize these slogans. You also probably recognize the companies that created them.

That’s what a great slogan, phrase, or title can do.

They’re memorable. They differentiate the brand. They often outline a key benefit.

If you want your evergreen content to have a chance to stay relevant for years to come, present something that’s novel and — this is key — condense it to its essence.

The end result will be a phrase or idea people will immediately associate with your content.

How It’s Done

The post 1,000 True Fans by Kevin Kelly created an idea that was short and sweet: you can make a living doing anything if you have just 1,000 true fans.

He defined this simple, brilliant idea and then spent the rest of his post explaining why it worked and what you had to do to make it work.

Written in 2008, Kevin’s post is still remembered and referenced all these years later.

Why?

Because the phrase “1,000 true fans” condenses its concept into a simple, catchy phrase. And that makes it easier for people to remember and repeat in conversation.

Brian Dean does something similar in his post The Skyscraper Technique, which teaches a useful link-building strategy.

After naming his technique, Brian breaks it down into easy-to-follow steps so his audience can quickly get what they need from his post.

The technique is fairly simple and its title, again, is quite catchy.

You can grasp the concept of Brian’s idea simply by its name. You can visualize it. And you can close your eyes and see it in action.

That helps make it memorable.

How You Can Do It

Ask yourself a few questions…

What is your post about? Can you boil your main idea down into a memorable phrase or title? Does it present a unique perspective or technique? Does it address a real need or concern many people can connect with?

Your phrase should be simple and leave an impression on your audience, whether that’s giving them an “aha” moment or simply piquing their interest so they’ll be curious to hear what you have to say.

And once you have settled on a memorable phrase or title, feature it prominently. Include it in your headline. Repeat it, as needed, throughout your post.

Tweetable Takeaway

Create something useful and your audience will read it. Make it catchy, and they'll remember it.Click To Tweet

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4. Strips You Down and Lays You Bare

If you really want to write a post that resonates with people, you need to connect with them on a deep, personal level. You need to strip your defenses and show your vulnerable side.

This not only sets you apart from all the regular, straight-laced content your audience is exposed to, it helps you relate to them in a way that’s meaningful.

Why do you think Taylor Swift is so popular?

It’s not because she has a better voice than everyone else. It’s not because she’s seven feet tall. And it’s not even because she frequently posts pictures of her cats on Twitter and Instagram.

It’s because her lyrics connect with her audience.

From teardrops getting on her guitar to shaking off the fact that haters insist on hating, Taylor often shows vulnerability in her songs.

This vulnerability endears her to her fans. When they look at her, they see a seven-foot-tall version of themselves. They see a kindred spirit.

And you don’t forget kindred spirits very easily.

How It’s Done

Jon is masterful at showing vulnerability.

In his post On Dying, Mothers, and Fighting for Your Ideas, Jon recounts the story of his mother’s tenacity in the face of his condition, which his doctor labels terminal.

He does this beautifully by telling the story first from his mother’s perspective, then from his own, and — lastly — he ties it into his main point: writers have to fight for their ideas with all the determination and love with which mothers fight for their children.

Such an appeal to the audience’s emotions is powerful. It hits home. It’s memorable.

If you want to make your content memorable, make it personal.

How You Can Do It

There are many, many ways you can show vulnerability in your writing. Here are a few ideas:

#1: Open a Window into Your Life

Like Jon does in many of his posts, you can draw your audience in with a personal story.

This works especially well if it exposes you in some way to the reader or helps them relate to you. When you write, you’re asking your audience to trust you with their time and attention.

Show them why they should feel comfortable trusting you.

#2: Reveal Your Intentions

Do you have personal reasons for writing your post?

Be candid with your audience and tell them why the subject means so much to you.

It’s easy for your audience to see you as just another faceless entity trying to sell them a product or idea.

Break this image by showing them your human side.

#3: Expose Your Fears and Anxieties

Are you writing about a problem or worry your audience has?

Do you share and understand their anxieties?

Let your readers know you are (or have been) in the same boat they are and show them how that makes you more qualified to write about it.

Tweetable Takeaway

Don’t be a superhero. Pull back the curtain and let readers see your struggles.Click To Tweet

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5. Breaks Your Reader’s Lenses

We all view the world through lenses.

These lenses shape our thoughts, our passions, and our beliefs on everything from political issues (“Vote Ron Swanson”) to music (“500 Miles by The Proclaimers is the greatest song of all time”) to the cinema (“Kevin Costner should be in every movie”).

But what if one of the things you’ve believed all your life was turned on its head?

If you want to write content that people will remember in five years, you can’t just give readers random facts.

Hold up a mirror so your readers take cold, hard looks at themselves.

Challenge something your readers hold dear.

Try to change their worldview.

How It’s Done

Few concepts are as ingrained into the American way of life as the eight-hour workday.

That’s why Leo Widrich’s The Origin of the 8-Hour Work Day and Why We Should Rethink It, which attempts to debunk the eight-hour day by showing how it wasn’t a well-thought-out or highly-optimized number, is so intriguing.

Leo doesn’t offer the reader a new number as an alternative. Instead, he says what his reader should be concentrating on is focus; specifically, how well they are able to focus on the task at hand regardless of how much time they have to complete it.

Another way to change worldviews is to expose your readers to the reasons why they hold the beliefs they do. A great example of this is the post Taming the Mammoth: Why You Should Stop Caring What Other People Think.

Written by Tim Urban, this humorous piece takes the audience through a history lesson that tells them why they care so much what people think, and then guides them on how to overcome this crippling fear.

We’re constantly trying to overcome the fear of rejection and embarrassment, so a post telling us why we (foolishly) fear such things definitely hits home.

How You Can Do It

Challenging people’s views in a professional, non-confrontational way isn’t easy, but here are a few ideas to help you do it.

#1: Demolish Beliefs That Lead Them Astray

Look at the commonly held beliefs of your readers and see if you find any of them to be faulty.

Ask yourself questions like:

“What do my readers believe about X that’s untrue?”

“What often-repeated tips and strategies in my niche are — how to put this delicately… — extremely stupid?”

“Are there any beliefs keeping my readers from achieving X result?”

Once you’ve found something faulty, write about it.

That’s what Derek Halpern did when he tackled the “Content Is King” mantra.

It’s what Dries Cronje did when he told bloggers that posting every day was a silly strategy.

And it’s what Jon did when he pointed out the old way of starting a blog is inefficient and a waste of time (and money).

Demolishing your reader’s beliefs in a direct, honest, and non-condescending way is an effective strategy for creating memorable content.

#2: Put Your Readers in Someone Else’s Shoes

A great way to get into your readers’ heads and change their perspective is to present them with a story — whether it’s a real one or a metaphor — and challenge them to ask, “How would I feel if … ?” or “What would I do if … ?”

Just think about your favorite books.

The best are ones where we put ourselves into the shoes of the characters. You’re not reading The Three Musketeers, you are The Three Musketeers.

It’s you fighting with swords, having swashbuckling adventures, and eating delicious candy bars with chocolate-covered fluffy centers.

And once you’re in their shoes, you can more easily see things from their point of view. Suddenly, you’re not viewing the world through your lens. You’re viewing the world through theirs.

That’s what a great story can do. It draws you in. It flips the “sympathize” switch and turns it to “empathize.”

Flip that switch in your reader and it becomes that much easier to flip their perspective.

Tweetable Takeaway

Want to write something people will remember? Turn a commonly-held belief on its head.Click To Tweet

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Congratulations! You now know the five crucial qualities for crafting content that’s unforgettable (as well as the updated evergreen content definition we discussed at the beginning of the post).

You could stop reading right now and create some pretty remarkable content.

But if you’d like to learn more, we’re not finished just yet.

Let’s roll up our sleeves and tackle the nitty-gritty details of evergreen pieces of content:

The Ins and Outs of Evergreen Content

Just Because It’s Evergreen Content Doesn’t Mean You Should Never Update it

Real-World Examples of Evergreen Content

What Evergreen Content is NOT

Evergreen Content Ideas

1. Just Because It’s Evergreen Content Doesn’t Mean You Should Never Update it

There’s a misconception evergreen content never needs to be updated — that you write it, click “Publish”, and then never touch it ever again.

And sure, you can do that, if you like. If it’s a piece of truly evergreen content, it’s going to remain relevant whether you touch it or not.

Does it need to be updated? No. Should it be updated from time to time? Yes.

And these updates should include:

Keyword research to compare it to new content that’s been published;

Making sure the post still fits into your content marketing strategy (and if it doesn’t, modifying it);

Optimizing the piece of content for SEO so Google, Bing, and other search engines will rank it high in SERPs;

Adding FAQ sections, infographics, and the like so your evergreen post gives readers more value;

In short, all content that brings traffic to your blog should be polished from time to time and given a new coat of paint.

Evergreen content is no exception.

2. Real-World Examples of Evergreen Content

Sometimes, the best way to explain something is to show examples.

Let’s look at a handful of evergreen articles you can use as inspiration.

Note: Though these examples are evergreen, they may or may not possess any of the five qualities we discussed earlier. Keep that in mind when browsing.

How to Make Stovetop Popcorn by The Pioneer Woman

It’s hard to get more timeless than a recipe. This how-to article will outlive all of us.

801+ Power Words That Pack a Punch and Convert like Crazy by Jon Morrow

Content related to words, grammar, writing, etc. rarely goes out of date.

15 Quotes that Will Change the Way You Treat People by Marc and Angel

Are all quotes evergreen? No. Many an expert preached the virtues of MySpace back in the day, for example.

But inspirational quotes, uplifting quotes, etc. tend to age like fine wine.

There’s No Painless Way to Kill Yourself by James Altucher

Personal stories never age. Even if details within them are from a bygone era, the stories themselves (and the lessons they teach) are evergreen.

20 Good Character Traits That Will Help Your Kids Grow Up to Be Happy, Successful and Loved By All by A Fine Parent

Articles on parenting, the human psyche, character traits, and similar topics tend to remain relevant for a long time.

The above isn’t a definitive list, but it’s a good starting point. And hopefully, you’ll see a few common themes.

Such as…

3. What Evergreen Content is NOT

Evergreen content can be a lot of things, but it can’t be:

Trendy — trends come and go, and so does trending content

Topical — today’s breaking news article is tomorrow’s yesterday’s news

Related to pop culture — reminder: “dabbing” and “planking” both used to be things

Political (like Presidential elections) — the thing that outraged you today will be replaced by something new next week

Holiday themed — if it’s only relevant once a year, it’s not an evergreen topic

Related to technology — the latest gadget will be old news by the time you finish this post

In short, if it’s on a topic with a short-term lifespan, it can’t be evergreen.

4. Evergreen Content Ideas

Not sure what type of content to create? Here are several evergreen content ideas to get you started:

How-to Posts. Whether it’s showing someone how to cook a recipe or a beginner’s guide for building a treehouse, how-to posts are evergreen go-tos.

Ultimate Guides. You’ll need to keep them up to date to fend off competitors, but ultimate guides for non-trendy topics are evergreen gold.

Inspirational Articles. If it inspires readers, compels them to take action and improve their lives, it’s a great evergreen candidate.

Timeless Quotes. As discussed previously, quotes on tried-and-true topics have long lifespans.

Case Studies. In addition to showing your expertise (and potentially winning you new clients or subscribers), case studies are usually timeless. They also tend to earn backlinks from other websites, which will help you rank higher in Google searches. They’re a good fit for any content strategy.

Tools and Resources. Roundup posts that provide the reader a definitive list of sources are excellent examples of evergreen content. You’ll need to ensure their content stays up to date (since tools/resources come and go), but it’s worth the investment in time.

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It’s Time to Craft Everlasting Gobstoppers of Evergreen Content

With dreams of fame, fortune, and world domination dancing through their heads, ambitious bloggers pour their hearts and souls into creating evergreen content they hope people will remember forever.

Unfortunately, most bloggers don’t know how to create content readers will remember after their cup of morning coffee, much less remember for years and years.

But you do.

You now understand the five crucial qualities content needs to be memorable. And you know what it takes to make evergreen content truly “evergreen.”

The days of being dumbfounded as you watch your latest blogging masterpiece fade into the sunset are over.

Are you ready to create evergreen content people will still talk about in five years?

Then what are you waiting for?

Let’s do this thing.

The post Evergreen Content (That People Will Actually Remember) appeared first on Smart Blogger.

from SEO and SM Tips https://smartblogger.com/evergreen-content/

[claudeleonca]

Evergreen Content 2.0: Timeless Posts People Will Actually Remember

“Create evergreen content that will always be relevant,” the experts say.

And so you do.

You think of an idea and spend days writing, tweaking, and perfecting every ageless, enduring syllable.

You’re certain you have a winning post on your hands — the kind of evergreen content that can stand the test of time and be spoken of with reverence years later by adoring fans who name their firstborn after you.

But inevitably, after its initial wave of popularity subsides, your masterpiece disappears into the background as newer and newer posts pop up.

Instead of standing the test of time, your timeless content is forgotten.

And the only adoring fan willing to name their firstborn after you is your spouse.

So, what the heck’s happening?

Are the experts wrong? Is evergreen content overrated?

Well, here’s the thing…

Pin on Pinterest

The Painful Truth: Most Content (Even Evergreen Content) Will Fade Into Obscurity Days after Clicking “Publish”

It’s sad but true.

Most content, even when it’s excellent, is quickly forgotten.

Sure, it may be popular for a little while. For a few glorious moments, it may be flush with laudatory blog comments, congratulatory emails, and social media love.

But, eventually, its popularity fizzles out.

That’s what makes the idea of “evergreen content” so appealing — it’s supposed to be immune to fickle fancies and flavors of the month.

But here’s the problem:

If your evergreen content is forgettable, being “timeless” is pretty pointless.Click To Tweet

Your content could be relevant and evergreen until the end of time. But if it’s bland, it won’t matter. If it’s boring, no one will care. If it’s forgettable, its timelessness is wasted.

The experts’ advice isn’t wrong — it’s just incomplete.

Because to truly stand the test of time, evergreen content can’t simply be timeless. It needs to be memorable too.

So, here’s what we’re going to do:

We’ll (slightly) tweak the definition for evergreen content;

Go over the five crucial qualities of unforgettable posts (so your evergreen content has a chance to actually be remembered);

Look at the ins and outs of evergreen content, including real-world examples, ideas to help you come up with your own evergreen content, and tips for making your content as good as possible.

Sound good? Let’s dive in.

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What is Evergreen Content?

Evergreen content is timeless, always-relevant content that’s fresh and applicable long after its publish date. Like the evergreen trees from which it gets its name, evergreen content never looks like it’s out of season.

That’s a solid, accurate definition for how most people view evergreen content.

But we can do better:

What is Evergreen Content 2.0?

Evergreen content is timeless, always-relevant content that’s fresh, applicable, and remembered by its readers long after it’s been published.

Timeless? Relevant? Fresh? Applicable? Those are easy.

Write a how-to article for cooking Ramen noodles and you’ve accomplished all four.

But to be remembered? To create something people don’t forget? That’s difficult.

With two million new blog posts published each and every day, getting your posts to stick in the minds of your readers is a Herculean task.

But it is possible.

If you want to create evergreen content people might remember and reference for years — not just days — after you click publish, you need to give it one (or more) of these five qualities:

The 5 Qualities of Unforgettable Evergreen Content

Gives Readers an “OMG!” Moment

Overwhelms the Senses (Including Taste Buds)

Coins a Contagious Catchphrase

Strips You Down and Lays You Bare

Breaks Your Reader’s Lenses

Let’s break down each one.

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1. Gives Readers an “OMG!” Moment

Do you remember the end of Se7en when the villain’s master plan was revealed?

Remember when your mouth dropped open after Darth Vader made the shocking (and often misquoted) revelation that he was Luke’s father?

Remember how stunned you were at the end of The Sixth Sense when you learned Bruce Willis’s character had been wearing a toupee the entire time?

These movies caught us off guard, jolted us to attention, and got us talking.

And years later, we’re still talking about them.

Why is that?

They’re quality movies for sure, but there’s more to it.

As Chip and Dan Heath discuss in their book Made to Stick (affiliate link), our brains filter out consistency in favor of focusing on differences.

So instead of remembering by-the-numbers movies that end exactly how we expected, we remember the ones with unexpected twists and surprising revelations.

Those are the stories that stand out, stick in our minds, and get us talking about them.

If you want your content to be remembered, try surprising your reader.

It’s a tried-and-true method for crafting content that sticks.

How It’s Done

Have you ever come across a headline that stopped you in your tracks?

Why James Chartrand Wears Women’s Underpants is such a headline. It’s surprising, different, and catches you off guard.

But it’s nothing compared to the surprises inside the post.

The first revelation is James Chartrand is actually a woman; however, the big discovery is why she took and continues to prominently use “James Chartrand” as her pen name.

She explains how a simple name change was able to take her from a struggling freelancer to a well-known blogger.

While the result was unintentional, she reaped many benefits from taking on a male persona — an easier time getting jobs, more respect for her work, and more recognition.

Undeniably, the post is brilliantly written. That makes it great.

But it’s the surprise factor that makes James’s post so gosh-darn memorable.

How You Can Do It

Creating surprising content is not an easy task, and it requires a well-thought-out idea to achieve it. But here are three ways you can get it done:

#1: Drop a Bombshell

Do you have a secret your readers would find surprising?

You’re a travel blogger who’s never flown on a plane? Do you blog about healthy eating but stuff your face with cake on a weekly basis? Did you once wear an orange tuxedo to a charity gala for the preservation of the endangered Icelandic snow owl?

Tell your readers. Give them your reasons. Get them talking.

#2: Leave Questions Unanswered

While she makes mention of her decision to keep the name in the context of feminism, James doesn’t delve too deeply into the morality of what she is talking about.

She instead leaves it to the audience to ponder — to wonder if they, too, have a bias against women in the workforce. To wonder if they have been the target of this kind of sexism before.

There are lots of questions left by this post that make it an easy one to stew over and discuss with friends and colleagues.

A memorable post will leave your reader with questions to ponder long after they’ve finished reading.

#3: Break the Norm

Let’s be honest…

Most tips, advice, and strategies you find online — regardless of the niche — are unoriginal. You’ve seen them before, and so have your readers.

Want to surprise your audience?

Offer them unconventional advice they haven’t heard a thousand times before. Give them a truly new idea or insight. Provide a simpler technique or shortcut that makes them cry over all the time and effort they wasted doing things the hard way.

A surprising revelation doesn’t have to be extraordinary or outlandish for people to remember it.

Sometimes, it just needs to thwart your reader’s expectations.

Tweetable Takeaway

Want a proven method for crafting content that sticks in your readers’ heads? Surprise them.Click To Tweet

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2. Overwhelms the Senses (Including Taste Buds)

Adding sensory details is a ridiculously-effective way to make your content memorable. It’s so effective, we decided to write the definitive guide on the topic.

Here’s an excerpt:

Remember the final scene in Field of Dreams when Ray Kinsella has a catch with his dad?

You can smell the grass on the field.

You can hear the sound of the baseball hitting their gloves.

And you can feel Ray’s years of guilt melting away as he closes his eyes, smiles, and tosses the ball back to his dad.

(Be honest. You’re crying right now, aren’t you?)

Field of Dreams made you feel like you were in Ray’s shoes, on his field, playing catch with dad.

The scene creates such a vivid experience for many viewers that whenever they think of playing catch, this scene will come up alongside their own childhood memories.

Here’s why:

When you paint a strong scene in your audience’s mind, you make it easier for them to pull it back up from their memory. You’ve essentially bookmarked it for them so they can easily find it when something — a sight, a smell, a sound — reminds them of it.

That’s the power of content that incorporates sensory details.

By using descriptive details to evoke sight, sound, touch, taste, and smell; you can make your content burst to life in your readers’ minds.

This will help your content connect with readers on a personal level, which will help them remember it long after other posts have gone the way of the dodo.

How It’s Done

Few writers are better at descriptive details than Jon Morrow.

In his post 7 Lessons from a Guy Who Can’t Move Anything But His Face, he uses storytelling and descriptive language to help the reader get an idea of what it might feel like to be him; specifically, what it’s like to live with a disability.

Jon’s words help you feel what it’s like to only be able to move your eyes and lips. He helps you feel what it’s like to spend years of your life in hospitals. He helps you feel what it’s like to overcome all of it to live an amazing, blessed life.

Had he simply told his readers facts, the points in Jon’s post wouldn’t have resonated the same way.

Instead, he took them on an emotional journey. The ups, the downs, and everywhere in between.

And they remember him because of it.

How You Can Do It

When writing, use descriptive details to guide your readers’ imaginations.

This can be accomplished through storytelling (when appropriate) and words that convey sensations (i.e. sensory words).

Not sure where to begin? Read these two posts:

The Blogger’s Guide to Telling Stories That Win Hearts and Minds

581 Sensory Words to Take Your Writing from Bland to Brilliant

These posts will teach you the art of storytelling and everything you can possibly need to know about sensory words.

Master these and everything you write will be drenched in descriptive details.

Which means (almost) everything you write will be memorable.

Tweetable Takeaway

Make readers see what you see. Put them in your shoes and take them on an emotional journey.Click To Tweet

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3. Coins a Contagious Catchphrase

“The quicker picker upper.”

“The ultimate driving machine.”

“Melts in your mouth, not in your hands.”

Unless you’re one of the precious few whose brains haven’t been inundated with advertisements over the years, you probably recognize these slogans. You also probably recognize the companies that created them.

That’s what a great slogan, phrase, or title can do.

They’re memorable. They differentiate the brand. They often outline a key benefit.

If you want your evergreen content to have a chance to stay relevant for years to come, present something that’s novel and — this is key — condense it to its essence.

The end result will be a phrase or idea people will immediately associate with your content.

How It’s Done

The post 1,000 True Fans by Kevin Kelly created an idea that was short and sweet: you can make a living doing anything if you have just 1,000 true fans.

He defined this simple, brilliant idea and then spent the rest of his post explaining why it worked and what you had to do to make it work.

Written in 2008, Kevin’s post is still remembered and referenced all these years later.

Why?

Because the phrase “1,000 true fans” condenses its concept into a simple, catchy phrase. And that makes it easier for people to remember and repeat in conversation.

Brian Dean does something similar in his post The Skyscraper Technique, which teaches a useful link-building strategy.

After naming his technique, Brian breaks it down into easy-to-follow steps so his audience can quickly get what they need from his post.

The technique is fairly simple and its title, again, is quite catchy.

You can grasp the concept of Brian’s idea simply by its name. You can visualize it. And you can close your eyes and see it in action.

That helps make it memorable.

How You Can Do It

Ask yourself a few questions…

What is your post about? Can you boil your main idea down into a memorable phrase or title? Does it present a unique perspective or technique? Does it address a real need or concern many people can connect with?

Your phrase should be simple and leave an impression on your audience, whether that’s giving them an “aha” moment or simply piquing their interest so they’ll be curious to hear what you have to say.

And once you have settled on a memorable phrase or title, feature it prominently. Include it in your headline. Repeat it, as needed, throughout your post.

Tweetable Takeaway

Create something useful and your audience will read it. Make it catchy, and they'll remember it.Click To Tweet

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4. Strips You Down and Lays You Bare

If you really want to write a post that resonates with people, you need to connect with them on a deep, personal level. You need to strip your defenses and show your vulnerable side.

This not only sets you apart from all the regular, straight-laced content your audience is exposed to, it helps you relate to them in a way that’s meaningful.

Why do you think Taylor Swift is so popular?

It’s not because she has a better voice than everyone else. It’s not because she’s seven feet tall. And it’s not even because she frequently posts pictures of her cats on Twitter and Instagram.

It’s because her lyrics connect with her audience.

From teardrops getting on her guitar to shaking off the fact that haters insist on hating, Taylor often shows vulnerability in her songs.

This vulnerability endears her to her fans. When they look at her, they see a seven-foot-tall version of themselves. They see a kindred spirit.

And you don’t forget kindred spirits very easily.

How It’s Done

Jon is masterful at showing vulnerability.

In his post On Dying, Mothers, and Fighting for Your Ideas, Jon recounts the story of his mother’s tenacity in the face of his condition, which his doctor labels terminal.

He does this beautifully by telling the story first from his mother’s perspective, then from his own, and — lastly — he ties it into his main point: writers have to fight for their ideas with all the determination and love with which mothers fight for their children.

Such an appeal to the audience’s emotions is powerful. It hits home. It’s memorable.

If you want to make your content memorable, make it personal.

How You Can Do It

There are many, many ways you can show vulnerability in your writing. Here are a few ideas:

#1: Open a Window into Your Life

Like Jon does in many of his posts, you can draw your audience in with a personal story.

This works especially well if it exposes you in some way to the reader or helps them relate to you. When you write, you’re asking your audience to trust you with their time and attention.

Show them why they should feel comfortable trusting you.

#2: Reveal Your Intentions

Do you have personal reasons for writing your post?

Be candid with your audience and tell them why the subject means so much to you.

It’s easy for your audience to see you as just another faceless entity trying to sell them a product or idea.

Break this image by showing them your human side.

#3: Expose Your Fears and Anxieties

Are you writing about a problem or worry your audience has?

Do you share and understand their anxieties?

Let your readers know you are (or have been) in the same boat they are and show them how that makes you more qualified to write about it.

Tweetable Takeaway

Don’t be a superhero. Pull back the curtain and let readers see your struggles.Click To Tweet

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5. Breaks Your Reader’s Lenses

We all view the world through lenses.

These lenses shape our thoughts, our passions, and our beliefs on everything from political issues (“Vote Ron Swanson”) to music (“500 Miles by The Proclaimers is the greatest song of all time”) to the cinema (“Kevin Costner should be in every movie”).

But what if one of the things you’ve believed all your life was turned on its head?

If you want to write content that people will remember in five years, you can’t just give readers random facts.

Hold up a mirror so your readers take cold, hard looks at themselves.

Challenge something your readers hold dear.

Try to change their worldview.

How It’s Done

Few concepts are as ingrained into the American way of life as the eight-hour workday.

That’s why Leo Widrich’s The Origin of the 8-Hour Work Day and Why We Should Rethink It, which attempts to debunk the eight-hour day by showing how it wasn’t a well-thought-out or highly-optimized number, is so intriguing.

Leo doesn’t offer the reader a new number as an alternative. Instead, he says what his reader should be concentrating on is focus; specifically, how well they are able to focus on the task at hand regardless of how much time they have to complete it.

Another way to change worldviews is to expose your readers to the reasons why they hold the beliefs they do. A great example of this is the post Taming the Mammoth: Why You Should Stop Caring What Other People Think.

Written by Tim Urban, this humorous piece takes the audience through a history lesson that tells them why they care so much what people think, and then guides them on how to overcome this crippling fear.

We’re constantly trying to overcome the fear of rejection and embarrassment, so a post telling us why we (foolishly) fear such things definitely hits home.

How You Can Do It

Challenging people’s views in a professional, non-confrontational way isn’t easy, but here are a few ideas to help you do it.

#1: Demolish Beliefs That Lead Them Astray

Look at the commonly held beliefs of your readers and see if you find any of them to be faulty.

Ask yourself questions like:

“What do my readers believe about X that’s untrue?”

“What often-repeated tips and strategies in my niche are — how to put this delicately… — extremely stupid?”

“Are there any beliefs keeping my readers from achieving X result?”

Once you’ve found something faulty, write about it.

That’s what Derek Halpern did when he tackled the “Content Is King” mantra.

It’s what Dries Cronje did when he told bloggers that posting every day was a silly strategy.

And it’s what Jon did when he pointed out the old way of starting a blog is inefficient and a waste of time (and money).

Demolishing your reader’s beliefs in a direct, honest, and non-condescending way is an effective strategy for creating memorable content.

#2: Put Your Readers in Someone Else’s Shoes

A great way to get into your readers’ heads and change their perspective is to present them with a story — whether it’s a real one or a metaphor — and challenge them to ask, “How would I feel if … ?” or “What would I do if … ?”

Just think about your favorite books.

The best are ones where we put ourselves into the shoes of the characters. You’re not reading The Three Musketeers, you are The Three Musketeers.

It’s you fighting with swords, having swashbuckling adventures, and eating delicious candy bars with chocolate-covered fluffy centers.

And once you’re in their shoes, you can more easily see things from their point of view. Suddenly, you’re not viewing the world through your lens. You’re viewing the world through theirs.

That’s what a great story can do. It draws you in. It flips the “sympathize” switch and turns it to “empathize.”

Flip that switch in your reader and it becomes that much easier to flip their perspective.

Tweetable Takeaway

Want to write something people will remember? Turn a commonly-held belief on its head.Click To Tweet

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Congratulations! You now know the five crucial qualities for crafting content that’s unforgettable (as well as the updated evergreen content definition we discussed at the beginning of the post).

You could stop reading right now and create some pretty remarkable content.

But if you’d like to learn more, we’re not finished just yet.

Let’s roll up our sleeves and tackle the nitty-gritty details of evergreen content:

The Ins and Outs of Evergreen Content (in 604 Words)

Just Because It’s Evergreen Content Doesn’t Mean You Should Never Update it

Real-World Examples of Evergreen Content

What Evergreen Content is NOT

Evergreen Content Ideas

1. Just Because It’s Evergreen Content Doesn’t Mean You Should Never Update it

There’s a misconception evergreen content never needs to be updated — that you write it, click “Publish”, and then never touch it ever again.

And sure, you can do that, if you like. If it’s a piece of truly evergreen content, it’s going to remain relevant whether you touch it or not.

Does it need to be updated? No. Should it be updated from time to time? Yes.

All content that brings traffic to your blog should be polished from time to time and given a new coat of paint.

Evergreen content is no exception.

2. Real-World Examples of Evergreen Content

Sometimes, the best way to explain something is to show examples.

Let’s look at a handful of evergreen articles you can use as inspiration.

Note: Though these examples are evergreen, they may or may not possess any of the five qualities we discussed earlier. Keep that in mind when browsing.

How to Make Stovetop Popcorn by The Pioneer Woman

It’s hard to get more timeless than a recipe. This how-to article will outlive all of us.

600+ Power Words That’ll Pack Your Writing with Emotion by Jon Morrow

Content related to words, grammar, writing, etc. rarely goes out of date.

15 Quotes that Will Change the Way You Treat People by Marc and Angel

Are all quotes evergreen? No. Many an expert preached the virtues of MySpace back in the day, for example.

But inspirational quotes, uplifting quotes, etc. tend to age like fine wine.

There’s No Painless Way to Kill Yourself by James Altucher

Personal stories never age. Even if details within them are from a bygone era, the stories themselves (and the lessons they teach) are evergreen.

20 Good Character Traits That Will Help Your Kids Grow Up to Be Happy, Successful and Loved By All by A Fine Parent

Articles on parenting, the human psyche, character traits, and similar topics tend to remain relevant for a long time.

The above isn’t a definitive list, but it’s a good starting point. And hopefully, you’ll see a few common themes.

Such as…

3. What Evergreen Content is NOT

Evergreen content can be a lot of things, but it can’t be:

Trendy (trends come and go)

Topical (today’s breaking story is tomorrow’s yesterday’s news)

Related to pop culture (reminder: “dabbing” and “planking” both used to be things)

Political (the thing that outraged you today will be replaced by something new next week)

Holiday themed (if it’s only relevant once a year, it’s not an evergreen topic)

Related to technology (the latest gadget will be old news by the time you finish this post)

In short, if it’s on a topic with a short lifespan, it can’t be evergreen.

4. Evergreen Content Ideas

If you’re still stumped for evergreen content ideas, here’s a quick list to get you started.

How-to Posts. Whether it’s showing someone how to cook a recipe or how to build a treehouse for their children, how-to posts are evergreen go-tos.

Ultimate Guides. You’ll need to keep them up to date to fend off competitors, but ultimate guides for non-trendy topics are evergreen gold.

Inspirational Articles. If it inspires readers, compels them to take action and improve their lives, it’s a great evergreen candidate.

Timeless Quotes. As discussed previously, quotes on tried-and-true topics have long lifespans.

Tools and Resources. Roundup posts that provide the reader a definitive list of sources are excellent examples of evergreen content. You’ll need to ensure their content stays up to date (since tools/resources come and go), but it’s worth the investment in time.

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It’s Time to Craft Everlasting Gobstoppers of Evergreen Content

With dreams of fame, fortune, and world domination dancing through their heads, ambitious bloggers pour their hearts and souls into creating evergreen content they hope people will remember forever.

Unfortunately, most bloggers don’t know how to create content readers will remember after their cup of morning coffee, much less remember for years and years.

But you do.

You now understand the five crucial qualities content needs to be memorable. And you know what it takes to make evergreen content truly “evergreen.”

The days of being dumbfounded as you watch your latest blogging masterpiece fade into the sunset are over.

Are you ready to create evergreen content people will still talk about in five years?

Then what are you waiting for?

Let’s do this thing.

About the Author: When he’s not busy telling waitresses, baristas, and anyone else who crosses his path that Jon Morrow once said he was in the top 1% of bloggers, Kevin J. Duncan is the Blog Editor and Social Media Manager for Smart Blogger.

The post Evergreen Content 2.0: Timeless Posts People Will Actually Remember appeared first on Smart Blogger.

from SEO and SM Tips https://smartblogger.com/evergreen-content/

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The Best Simpsons Episodes (With Showing My Work)

In one episode of the Simpsons, Homer and Lisa have a fight, and Lisa disappears, and Marge askes Homer where she went, and Homer responds that she better be out making him a great big chocolate apology cake. I don’t even remember what episode that’s from. It’s just a line that sticks out in my head about once a week. The point is, the Simpsons is the funniest show anybody has ever made. It’s probably responsible for 75% of my sense of humor. Probably every male between the ages of 25 and 35 can say the same thing.

But what episode is the best? Here is my top ten. And I’m not here to say this is the definitive top ten, or that you’re stupid if you don’t agree. The Simpsons is like music, it’s just here to enrich your life. You probably have your own top ten, but this is mine:

Season 2:

Lisa’s Substitute

Season 3:

When Flanders Failed

Season 4:

Homer the Heretic

Mr. Plow

Lisa’s First Word

I Love Lisa

Whacking Day

Season 5:

Homer’s Barbershop Quartet

Rosebud

Homer the Vigilante

Homer and Apu

Homer Loves Flanders

Bart Gets an Elephant

Sweet Seymour Skinner’s Baaadaaasssss Song

The Boy Who Knew Too Much

Season 6:

Lisa’s Rival

Homer Badman

Grampa vs. Sexual Inadequacy

Bart’s Comet

A Star is Burns

The Springfield Connection

Lemon of Troy

Who Shot Mr. Burns Pt 1

Treehouse of Horror V (The Shinning, Time and Punishment, Nightmare Cafeteria)

Season 7:

Home Sweet Homediddly-Dum-Doodily

Lisa the Vegetarian

King-Size Homer

Mother Simpson

Team Homer

Two Bad Neighbors

Raging Abe Simpson and His Grumbling Grandson in The Curse of the Flying Hellfish

Summer of 4 Ft. 2

Season 8:

Bart After Dark

Lisa’s Date with Density

Hurricane Neddy

Brother From Another Series

Homer vs. the Eighteenth Amendment

Grade School Confidential

Burns Baby, Burns

Season 9:

Lisa’s Sax

The Cartridge Family

The Two Mrs. Nahasapeemapetilons

Lisa the Skeptic

The Joy of Sect

Lisa the Simpson

Simpson Tide

Criteria:

Every episode will be judged on the following criteria:

Does it have a jaw-dropping hilarious joke?

How many good jokes does it have?

Does it have something that stands out to me instantly? Like for example great big chocolate apology cake?

Is it good, in addition to being funny? The Flying Hellfish Episode is hilarious and also a really cool episode of tv

Is it sweet or sincere? Lisa’s Substitute isn’t that funny, but it’s really sweet and has a great message

Other

Lisa’s Substitute:

Jaw-dropping hilarious joke: none I can think of

Lots of good jokes: I actually can’t think of a single great joke from this episode. Something abo Bart running for office and everyone being too cool to actually vote for him, maybe

Something that stands out instantly: Yes, the ending, which isn’t funny at all, it’s totally serious, but it chokes me up

Is it good: Absolutely. One of the sweetest episodes of all time. Lisa’s substitute tells her incredible things about life and her future, and then Homer has a moment of great parenting and is smart enough to appreciate it.

Is it sweet: Yes. Maybe the sweetest and most sincere episode of the series.

This is a great episode but not quite funny enough to make the cut.

When Flander’s Failed:

Jaw-dropping hilarious joke: No

Lots of good jokes: Yes. Barney becomes a sex symbol as soon as he puts on a “Kiss Me I’m Lefthanded” shirt

Something that stands out instantly: Yes, the ending, which is actually really sweet and sincere, but also kinda funny

Is it good: It’s great. Homer has an arc where he goes from being a jealous neighbor to being a total dickhead and then to redeeming himself with a great moment of decency. He also requires four beers to do it. It’s also just a good story.

Is it sweet: Yes. I’m a sucker for the sweet episodes. I love the ending to this one, where Homer wrangles the whole town to help Ned, and the whole town is willing because of Ned’s decency. I love good guy Homer.

This isn’t as moving as Lisa’s Substitute, but it’s funnier. But I can still find a better sweet/funny episode. This one doesn’t quite make the cut.

Homer the Heretic:

Jaw-dropping hilarious joke: Almost. The sequence of Homer skipping church and having the greatest morning ever, complete with wrapping a waffle around a stick of butter, and enjoying a football game that replaces a news talk show on TV for no reason, is a masterpiece.

Lots of good jokes: This episode stands out for having one of the best sequences of the series, but it slows down a little in the second half. It picks up at the end though when Homer fantasizes Ned’s house burning down while he relaxes in the hammock.

Something that stands out: Yes, the skipping church sequence.

Is it good: It’s funny and clever but doesn’t have its own story arc that is particularly strong on its own.

Is it sweet: Not particularly. Ned does a good thing for Homer, and I suppose if you think faith is a good thing you’ll enjoy the ending.

A great one, maybe not quite funny enough to make the cut.

I Love Lisa:

Jaw-dropping hilarious joke: Not quite.

Lots of good jokes: Oh god yes. It says “choo” on it and there’s a picture of a train! Homer using Ralph to do yardwork. Chief Wiggum shooting a nut and then threatening the rest of the nuts. “Everyone knows I’m the best actor in this ridiculous school!” “I am not a butt.” Bart as John Wilkes Booth. The George Washington play inspiring the bullies to go learn more about American history. The soundtrack, which bookends the episode with “Monster Mash.” This is when the Simpsons hits its 3 hilarious jokes per minute stride.

Something that Stands Out: For some reason “I choo-choo-choose you has always stuck out in my head. And as a fan of the season of fall I’m also a fan of the fall episodes. When I was a kid fall was an actual season.

Is it good: Yes. It’s not amazing, but any show that makes its own President’s Day episode gets some points from me.

Is it sweet: Kinda. The ending is a good resolution. If Homer is the primary joke maker of the show and Bart is the little asshole who’s too charismatic to hate, then Lisa is the heart, and secretly the best character.

This one didn’t make my first cut because I assumed my affection for it was nostalgia, but it definitely makes the list.

Bart Gets an Elephant:

Jaw-dropping hilarious joke: Ehhhh maybe not, but it has about three that are damn close.

Lots of good jokes: A guy who works in a peanut shop giving an extended monologue about how he was right to initiate a training for how to deal with a rampaging elephant even though everyone laughed at him, but then getting trampled anyway because he took too long to deliver the monologue is the highlight of this one, but there are dozens of others.

Something that Stands out: Not particularly, other than that when I think about this episode I think about just how many highlights it has. Barney Gumble is trapped inside an oil pit for some reason. As soon as he is rescued he lights up a cigarette and the tar on his body causes him to catch fire. He doesn’t even smoke!

Is it good: Yes. I love most Bart episodes, especially the ones that show that deep down Bart is just a sweet kid who’s weird enough to fall in love with a pet elephant.

Is it sweet: Not really. Maybe a little.

This will probably make the cut.

Lisa’s Rival:

Jaw-dropping hilarious joke: Sugar.

Lots of good jokes. Yep. Bart gets Milhouse on the FBI’s Most Wanted List, then tips off the FBI as to his location.

Something that Stands Out: I don’t know why, but I’ve always loved that during the saxophone competition between Lisa and her rival, all the other kids are dancing. To me that’s why the Simpsons isn’t just hysterical, it’s also good and decent in a way that none of its descendants ever really were. There’s something so wholesome about all these kids just appreciating good saxophone music.

Is it good: Yes. It’s great. Lisa learns a lesson and makes a friend.

Is it sweet: Yes. Most Lisa episodes usually are.

I love this episode. It is near and dear to my heart, and not even for the jokes as much as for the story.

Grampa Vs. Sexual Inadequacy:

Jaw-dropping hilarious joke: Yes. They didn’t start chasing us until you turned on that chase music.

Lots of good jokes: Yes. Dozens. Mostly in the middle, when Homer and Abe go into business together.

Something that stands out: Chase music.

Is it good: It’s great. One of my favorite serious moments at the end where Homer and Abe come to terms with the fact that they’re both screw ups.

Is it sweet: Yeah.

Is the middle section of this episode strong enough to carry a slightly less memorable beginning, and a weaker side-story? Possibly.

A Star is Burns:

Jaw-dropping hilarious joke: McBain 4, Let’s Get Silly.

Lots of good jokes: Upon further inspection, these are loafers isn’t even the funniest part of this episode, which ends with George C. Scott winning an Oscar for stealing Hans Moleman’s idea for a movie. Yes.

Something that Stands Out: I always thought Man Gets Hit By Football looked like a pretty damn good movie.

Is it good: Yes. I actually love that they did a crossover episode with the Critic, even though Matt Groening apparently hated it.

Is it sweet: Not particularly.

This episode has so many highlights that it has to at least be in consideration.

Lemon of Troy:

Jaw-dropping hilarious joke: I don’t think so.

Lots of good jokes: Yes, this episode in fact ups the ante on jokes per second. The fake wig that makes Bart look like the Beatles. The Homer doppleganger who bites into a lemon and pretends not to hate it.

Something that stands out: Not that I can think of.

Is it good: Yes, as a story this is one of my favorite episodes ever. I don’t know why. Maybe it just reminds me of being a kid.

Is it sweet: Not particularly.

I love this episode so much, there’s no way it doesn’t make the top ten.

Treehouse of Horror V:

Jaw-dropping hilarious joke: I’ve always loved Homer turning the car around twice to lock the house doors.

Lots of good jokes: This is the best Treehouse of Horror episode so it automatically warrants consideration. Anyway, yes, there are lots of good jokes. Nightmare Cafeteria is slightly weaker than the other two for comedy, but it’s the scariest of the three.

Something that stands out: It always bugged me that Homer turned down a rich and fancy life with no sisters-in-law because he couldn’t stick around for another 10 seconds to see that it rained donuts.

Is it good: I’m starting to wonder if maybe the Treehouse of Horror where Willie haunts the kids’ dreams isn’t better than this one. But no, don’t overthink this. These are three perfect mini-stories.

Is it sweet: Um, Willie keeps trying to save the day?

I don’t think this will make the cut but it is glorious.

Team Homer:

Jaw-dropping hilarious joke: I can quote the entire “that team sure did suck last night” sequence, up to the ensuing conversation Homer has with his children.

Lots of good jokes: Oh god yes. Every damn minute of this masterpiece.

Something that stands out: I mean I’ve seen teams suck before, but they were the suckiest bunch of sucks that ever sucked.”

Is it good: Yes, mostly just for how funny it is.

Is it sweet: No.

This is when these episodes start to get so funny that trying to rank them is kind of impossible and not even really that satisfying. But this has always stood out in my mind and will make the top ten.

Raging Abe Simpson:

Jaw-dropping hilarious joke: not really

Lots of good jokes: Yes. It really isn’t fair that a pelican chooses to land on Abe’s head and drop a fish in his pants at the exact moment when Mr. Burns is questioning his dignity.

Something that stands out: Abe, unlike his son, was actually quite the badass when he was younger.

Is it good: Yes. If this episode cracks the top ten it will be on the strength of its plot, which is possibly my all time favorite Simpsons plot (btw, all-time favorite subplot in an otherwise lesser episode is a tie between Homer going into the grease business and Homer going into the sugar business, which now that I think about it is in Lisa’s Rival, which means that episode is definitely shooting into the top ten)

Is it sweet: Yeah, Bart spends time with his grandpa and realizes that he’s actually cool.

Summer of 4 Ft. 2:

Jaw-dropping hilarious joke: “Hey he looks just like you poindexter!” “What are you talking about you got the dud right here! Stand up for yourself poindexter.”

Lots of good jokes: Yes. This is one of those episodes where the main plot is a relatively straight story about Lisa, while the Homer subplot steals all the best moments. I bet if I dissected this further most of my favorite episodes would be like that. The Bart subplot is also hysterical. “They must have seen you.”

Something that stands out: The whole Mystery Date sequence should be played on a loop on a tv screen on my tombstone, just so my mourners can enjoy it for eternity.

Is it good: Yes, like almost all Lisa episodes.

Is it sweet: Yes, like almost all Lisa episodes.

Lisa’s Date with Density:

Jaw-dropping hilarious joke: Not quite, although I’ve always been a fan of “you kissed a girl, that is so gay!”

Lots of good jokes: Yep.

Something that stands out: Another one where you realize that Lisa Simpson really is an amazing person.

Is it good: Yes.

Is it sweet: Kind of.

I didn’t do this episode justice with that description, but it is one of my favorites.

Homer vs. the 18th Ammendment:

Jaw-dropping hilarious moment: I think there are about 7.

Lots of good jokes: Rex Banner is having a birthday party where his subordinate cops take him out for ice cream, but he can’t enjoy it because he can’t catch the beer baron. That’s about the 97th funniest part of this episode.

Something that stands up: This might be the funniest episode of the whole show. I don’t know what it’s competition would be.

Is it good: It’s amazing.

Is it sweet: Homer saves Wiggum’s job, maybe?

A top ten. Possibly number 2 of all time.

Burns Baby, Burns:

Jaw-dropping hilarious moment: Too Many Grandmas.

Lots of good jokes. Yes. I was kinda down on this one for some reason before I started but there’s no way it isn’t a top ten.

Something that stands out: Too Many Grandmas. There are just way too many grandmas.

Is it good: Oh god yes.

Is it sweet: In no way.

A masterpiece. Probably a top five.

The Two Mrs. Nahasapeemapetilons:

Jaw-dropping hilarious moment: Yes.

Lots of good jokes: Yes.

Something that stands out: Yes.

Is it good: Yes.

Is it sweet: Actually, yes.

My favorite episode. This one isn’t even that hard for me. It gets slightly less funny at the end, but that’s like saying sex with Kate Upton got a little bit difficult at that one point where you had to think about baseball to keep from cumming too early. This is the banging Kate Upton of Simpsons episodes.

The Joy of Sect:

Jaw-dropping hilarious moment: Actually, I don’t think so.

Lots of good jokes: Yes. Tons. Many of which are almost jaw-dropping.

Something that stands out: This is one of the weirder episodes, and one with one of the best plots.

Is it good: Yes. Amazing.

Is it sweet: maybe?

There’s no way this doesn’t make the list

10. I Love Lisa

9. Burns Baby, Burns

8. Bart Gets an Elephant

7. The Joy of Sect

6. Lisa’s Rival

5. Lisa’s Date with Density

4. Team Homer

3. Lemon of Troy

2. Homer vs. the 18th Amendment

1. The Two Mrs. Nahasapeemapetilons

[claudeleonca]

Evergreen Content 2.0: Timeless Posts People Will Actually Remember

“Create evergreen content that will always be relevant,” the experts say.

And so you do.

You think of an idea and spend days writing, tweaking, and perfecting every ageless, enduring syllable.

You’re certain you have a winning post on your hands — the kind of evergreen content that can stand the test of time and be spoken of with reverence years later by adoring fans who name their firstborn after you.

But inevitably, after its initial wave of popularity subsides, your masterpiece disappears into the background as newer and newer posts pop up.

Instead of standing the test of time, your timeless content is forgotten.

And the only adoring fan willing to name their firstborn after you is your spouse.

So, what the heck’s happening?

Are the experts wrong? Is evergreen content overrated?

Well, here’s the thing…

The Painful Truth: Most Content (Even Evergreen Content) Will Fade Into Obscurity Days after Clicking “Publish”

It’s sad but true.

Most content, even when it’s excellent, is quickly forgotten.

Sure, it may be popular for a little while. For a few glorious moments, it may be flush with laudatory blog comments, congratulatory emails, and social media love.

But, eventually, its popularity fizzles out.

That’s what makes the idea of “evergreen content” so appealing — it’s supposed to be immune to fickle fancies and flavors of the month.

But here’s the problem:

If your evergreen content is forgettable, being “timeless” is pretty pointless.Click To Tweet

Your content could be relevant and evergreen until the end of time. But if it’s bland, it won’t matter. If it’s boring, no one will care. If it’s forgettable, its timelessness is wasted.

The experts’ advice isn’t wrong — it’s just incomplete.

Because to truly stand the test of time, evergreen content can’t simply be timeless. It needs to be memorable too.

So, here’s what we’re going to do:

We’ll (slightly) tweak the definition for evergreen content;

Go over the five crucial qualities of unforgettable posts (so your evergreen content has a chance to actually be remembered);

Look at the ins and outs of evergreen content, including real-world examples, ideas to help you come up with your own evergreen content, and tips for making your content as good as possible.

Sound good? Let’s dive in.

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What is Evergreen Content?

Evergreen content is timeless, always-relevant content that’s fresh and applicable long after its publish date. Like the evergreen trees from which it gets its name, evergreen content never looks like it’s out of season.

That’s a solid, accurate definition for how most people view evergreen content.

But we can do better:

What is Evergreen Content 2.0?

Evergreen content is timeless, always-relevant content that’s fresh, applicable, and remembered by its readers long after it’s been published.

Timeless? Relevant? Fresh? Applicable? Those are easy.

Write a how-to article for cooking Ramen noodles and you’ve accomplished all four.

But to be remembered? To create something people don’t forget? That’s difficult.

With two million new blog posts published each and every day, getting your posts to stick in the minds of your readers is a Herculean task.

But it is possible.

If you want to create evergreen content people might remember and reference for years — not just days — after you click publish, you need to give it one (or more) of these five qualities:

The 5 Qualities of Unforgettable Evergreen Content

Gives Readers an “OMG!” Moment

Overwhelms the Senses (Including Taste Buds)

Coins a Contagious Catchphrase

Strips You Down and Lays You Bare

Breaks Your Reader’s Lenses

Let’s break down each one.

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1. Gives Readers an “OMG!” Moment

Do you remember the end of Se7en when the villain’s master plan was revealed?

Remember when your mouth dropped open after Darth Vader made the shocking (and often misquoted) revelation that he was Luke’s father?

Remember how stunned you were at the end of The Sixth Sense when you learned Bruce Willis’s character had been wearing a toupee the entire time?

These movies caught us off guard, jolted us to attention, and got us talking.

And years later, we’re still talking about them.

Why is that?

They’re quality movies for sure, but there’s more to it.

As Chip and Dan Heath discuss in their book Made to Stick (affiliate link), our brains filter out consistency in favor of focusing on differences.

So instead of remembering by-the-numbers movies that end exactly how we expected, we remember the ones with unexpected twists and surprising revelations.

Those are the stories that stand out, stick in our minds, and get us talking about them.

If you want your content to be remembered, try surprising your reader.

It’s a tried-and-true method for crafting content that sticks.

How It’s Done

Have you ever come across a headline that stopped you in your tracks?

Why James Chartrand Wears Women’s Underpants is such a headline. It’s surprising, different, and catches you off guard.

But it’s nothing compared to the surprises inside the post.

The first revelation is James Chartrand is actually a woman; however, the big discovery is why she took and continues to prominently use “James Chartrand” as her pen name.

She explains how a simple name change was able to take her from a struggling freelancer to a well-known blogger.

While the result was unintentional, she reaped many benefits from taking on a male persona — an easier time getting jobs, more respect for her work, and more recognition.

Undeniably, the post is brilliantly written. That makes it great.

But it’s the surprise factor that makes James’s post so gosh-darn memorable.

How You Can Do It

Creating surprising content is not an easy task, and it requires a well-thought-out idea to achieve it. But here are three ways you can get it done:

#1: Drop a Bombshell

Do you have a secret your readers would find surprising?

You’re a travel blogger who’s never flown on a plane? Do you blog about healthy eating but stuff your face with cake on a weekly basis? Did you once wear an orange tuxedo to a charity gala for the preservation of the endangered Icelandic snow owl?

Tell your readers. Give them your reasons. Get them talking.

#2: Leave Questions Unanswered

While she makes mention of her decision to keep the name in the context of feminism, James doesn’t delve too deeply into the morality of what she is talking about.

She instead leaves it to the audience to ponder — to wonder if they, too, have a bias against women in the workforce. To wonder if they have been the target of this kind of sexism before.

There are lots of questions left by this post that make it an easy one to stew over and discuss with friends and colleagues.

A memorable post will leave your reader with questions to ponder long after they’ve finished reading.

#3: Break the Norm

Let’s be honest…

Most tips, advice, and strategies you find online — regardless of the niche — are unoriginal. You’ve seen them before, and so have your readers.

Want to surprise your audience?

Offer them unconventional advice they haven’t heard a thousand times before. Give them a truly new idea or insight. Provide a simpler technique or shortcut that makes them cry over all the time and effort they wasted doing things the hard way.

A surprising revelation doesn’t have to be extraordinary or outlandish for people to remember it.

Sometimes, it just needs to thwart your reader’s expectations.

Tweetable Takeaway

Want a proven method for crafting content that sticks in your readers’ heads? Surprise them.Click To Tweet

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2. Overwhelms the Senses (Including Taste Buds)

Adding sensory details is a ridiculously-effective way to make your content memorable. It’s so effective, we decided to write the definitive guide on the topic.

Here’s an excerpt:

Remember the final scene in Field of Dreams when Ray Kinsella has a catch with his dad?

You can smell the grass on the field.

You can hear the sound of the baseball hitting their gloves.

And you can feel Ray’s years of guilt melting away as he closes his eyes, smiles, and tosses the ball back to his dad.

(Be honest. You’re crying right now, aren’t you?)

Field of Dreams made you feel like you were in Ray’s shoes, on his field, playing catch with dad.

The scene creates such a vivid experience for many viewers that whenever they think of playing catch, this scene will come up alongside their own childhood memories.

Here’s why:

When you paint a strong scene in your audience’s mind, you make it easier for them to pull it back up from their memory. You’ve essentially bookmarked it for them so they can easily find it when something — a sight, a smell, a sound — reminds them of it.

That’s the power of content that incorporates sensory details.

By using descriptive details to evoke sight, sound, touch, taste, and smell; you can make your content burst to life in your readers’ minds.

This will help your content connect with readers on a personal level, which will help them remember it long after other posts have gone the way of the dodo.

How It’s Done

Few writers are better at descriptive details than Jon Morrow.

In his post 7 Lessons from a Guy Who Can’t Move Anything But His Face, he uses storytelling and descriptive language to help the reader get an idea of what it might feel like to be him; specifically, what it’s like to live with a disability.

Jon’s words help you feel what it’s like to only be able to move your eyes and lips. He helps you feel what it’s like to spend years of your life in hospitals. He helps you feel what it’s like to overcome all of it to live an amazing, blessed life.

Had he simply told his readers facts, the points in Jon’s post wouldn’t have resonated the same way.

Instead, he took them on an emotional journey. The ups, the downs, and everywhere in between.

And they remember him because of it.

How You Can Do It

When writing, use descriptive details to guide your readers’ imaginations.

This can be accomplished through storytelling (when appropriate) and words that convey sensations (i.e. sensory words).

Not sure where to begin? Read these two posts:

The Blogger’s Guide to Telling Stories That Win Hearts and Minds

581 Sensory Words to Take Your Writing from Bland to Brilliant

These posts will teach you the art of storytelling and everything you can possibly need to know about sensory words.

Master these and everything you write will be drenched in descriptive details.

Which means (almost) everything you write will be memorable.

Tweetable Takeaway

Make readers see what you see. Put them in your shoes and take them on an emotional journey.Click To Tweet

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3. Coins a Contagious Catchphrase

“The quicker picker upper.”

“The ultimate driving machine.”

“Melts in your mouth, not in your hands.”

Unless you’re one of the precious few whose brains haven’t been inundated with advertisements over the years, you probably recognize these slogans. You also probably recognize the companies that created them.

That’s what a great slogan, phrase, or title can do.

They’re memorable. They differentiate the brand. They often outline a key benefit.

If you want your evergreen content to have a chance to stay relevant for years to come, present something that’s novel and — this is key — condense it to its essence.

The end result will be a phrase or idea people will immediately associate with your content.

How It’s Done

The post 1,000 True Fans by Kevin Kelly created an idea that was short and sweet: you can make a living doing anything if you have just 1,000 true fans.

He defined this simple, brilliant idea and then spent the rest of his post explaining why it worked and what you had to do to make it work.

Written in 2008, Kevin’s post is still remembered and referenced all these years later.

Why?

Because the phrase “1,000 true fans” condenses its concept into a simple, catchy phrase. And that makes it easier for people to remember and repeat in conversation.

Brian Dean does something similar in his post The Skyscraper Technique, which teaches a useful link-building strategy.

After naming his technique, Brian breaks it down into easy-to-follow steps so his audience can quickly get what they need from his post.

The technique is fairly simple and its title, again, is quite catchy.

You can grasp the concept of Brian’s idea simply by its name. You can visualize it. And you can close your eyes and see it in action.

That helps make it memorable.

How You Can Do It

Ask yourself a few questions…

What is your post about? Can you boil your main idea down into a memorable phrase or title? Does it present a unique perspective or technique? Does it address a real need or concern many people can connect with?

Your phrase should be simple and leave an impression on your audience, whether that’s giving them an “aha” moment or simply piquing their interest so they’ll be curious to hear what you have to say.

And once you have settled on a memorable phrase or title, feature it prominently. Include it in your headline. Repeat it, as needed, throughout your post.

Tweetable Takeaway

Create something useful and your audience will read it. Make it catchy, and they'll remember it.Click To Tweet

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4. Strips You Down and Lays You Bare

If you really want to write a post that resonates with people, you need to connect with them on a deep, personal level. You need to strip your defenses and show your vulnerable side.

This not only sets you apart from all the regular, straight-laced content your audience is exposed to, it helps you relate to them in a way that’s meaningful.

Why do you think Taylor Swift is so popular?

It’s not because she has a better voice than everyone else. It’s not because she’s seven feet tall. And it’s not even because she frequently posts pictures of her cats on Twitter and Instagram.

It’s because her lyrics connect with her audience.

From teardrops getting on her guitar to shaking off the fact that haters insist on hating, Taylor often shows vulnerability in her songs.

This vulnerability endears her to her fans. When they look at her, they see a seven-foot-tall version of themselves. They see a kindred spirit.

And you don’t forget kindred spirits very easily.

How It’s Done

Jon is masterful at showing vulnerability.

In his post On Dying, Mothers, and Fighting for Your Ideas, Jon recounts the story of his mother’s tenacity in the face of his condition, which his doctor labels terminal.

He does this beautifully by telling the story first from his mother’s perspective, then from his own, and — lastly — he ties it into his main point: writers have to fight for their ideas with all the determination and love with which mothers fight for their children.

Such an appeal to the audience’s emotions is powerful. It hits home. It’s memorable.

If you want to make your content memorable, make it personal.

How You Can Do It

There are many, many ways you can show vulnerability in your writing. Here are a few ideas:

#1: Open a Window into Your Life

Like Jon does in many of his posts, you can draw your audience in with a personal story.

This works especially well if it exposes you in some way to the reader or helps them relate to you. When you write, you’re asking your audience to trust you with their time and attention.

Show them why they should feel comfortable trusting you.

#2: Reveal Your Intentions

Do you have personal reasons for writing your post?

Be candid with your audience and tell them why the subject means so much to you.

It’s easy for your audience to see you as just another faceless entity trying to sell them a product or idea.

Break this image by showing them your human side.

#3: Expose Your Fears and Anxieties

Are you writing about a problem or worry your audience has?

Do you share and understand their anxieties?

Let your readers know you are (or have been) in the same boat they are and show them how that makes you more qualified to write about it.

Tweetable Takeaway

Don’t be a superhero. Pull back the curtain and let readers see your struggles.Click To Tweet

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5. Breaks Your Reader’s Lenses

We all view the world through lenses.

These lenses shape our thoughts, our passions, and our beliefs on everything from political issues (“Vote Ron Swanson”) to music (“500 Miles by The Proclaimers is the greatest song of all time”) to the cinema (“Kevin Costner should be in every movie”).

But what if one of the things you’ve believed all your life was turned on its head?

If you want to write content that people will remember in five years, you can’t just give readers random facts.

Hold up a mirror so your readers take cold, hard looks at themselves.

Challenge something your readers hold dear.

Try to change their worldview.

How It’s Done

Few concepts are as ingrained into the American way of life as the eight-hour workday.

That’s why Leo Widrich’s The Origin of the 8-Hour Work Day and Why We Should Rethink It, which attempts to debunk the eight-hour day by showing how it wasn’t a well-thought-out or highly-optimized number, is so intriguing.

Leo doesn’t offer the reader a new number as an alternative. Instead, he says what his reader should be concentrating on is focus; specifically, how well they are able to focus on the task at hand regardless of how much time they have to complete it.

Another way to change worldviews is to expose your readers to the reasons why they hold the beliefs they do. A great example of this is the post Taming the Mammoth: Why You Should Stop Caring What Other People Think.

Written by Tim Urban, this humorous piece takes the audience through a history lesson that tells them why they care so much what people think, and then guides them on how to overcome this crippling fear.

We’re constantly trying to overcome the fear of rejection and embarrassment, so a post telling us why we (foolishly) fear such things definitely hits home.

How You Can Do It

Challenging people’s views in a professional, non-confrontational way isn’t easy, but here are a few ideas to help you do it.

#1: Demolish Beliefs That Lead Them Astray

Look at the commonly held beliefs of your readers and see if you find any of them to be faulty.

Ask yourself questions like:

“What do my readers believe about X that’s untrue?”

“What often-repeated tips and strategies in my niche are — how to put this delicately… — extremely stupid?”

“Are there any beliefs keeping my readers from achieving X result?”

Once you’ve found something faulty, write about it.

That’s what Derek Halpern did when he tackled the “Content Is King” mantra.

It’s what Dries Cronje did when he told bloggers that posting every day was a silly strategy.

And it’s what Jon did when he pointed out the old way of starting a blog is inefficient and a waste of time (and money).

Demolishing your reader’s beliefs in a direct, honest, and non-condescending way is an effective strategy for creating memorable content.

#2: Put Your Readers in Someone Else’s Shoes

A great way to get into your readers’ heads and change their perspective is to present them with a story — whether it’s a real one or a metaphor — and challenge them to ask, “How would I feel if … ?” or “What would I do if … ?”

Just think about your favorite books.

The best are ones where we put ourselves into the shoes of the characters. You’re not reading The Three Musketeers, you are The Three Musketeers.

It’s you fighting with swords, having swashbuckling adventures, and eating delicious candy bars with chocolate-covered fluffy centers.

And once you’re in their shoes, you can more easily see things from their point of view. Suddenly, you’re not viewing the world through your lens. You’re viewing the world through theirs.

That’s what a great story can do. It draws you in. It flips the “sympathize” switch and turns it to “empathize.”

Flip that switch in your reader and it becomes that much easier to flip their perspective.

Tweetable Takeaway

Want to write something people will remember? Turn a commonly-held belief on its head.Click To Tweet

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Congratulations! You now know the five crucial qualities for crafting content that’s unforgettable (as well as the updated evergreen content definition we discussed at the beginning of the post).

You could stop reading right now and create some pretty remarkable content.

But if you’d like to learn more, we’re not finished just yet.

Let’s roll up our sleeves and tackle the nitty-gritty details of evergreen content:

The Ins and Outs of Evergreen Content (in 604 Words)

Just Because It’s Evergreen Content Doesn’t Mean You Should Never Update it

Real-World Examples of Evergreen Content

What Evergreen Content is NOT

Evergreen Content Ideas

1. Just Because It’s Evergreen Content Doesn’t Mean You Should Never Update it

There’s a misconception evergreen content never needs to be updated — that you write it, click “Publish”, and then never touch it ever again.

And sure, you can do that, if you like. If it’s a piece of truly evergreen content, it’s going to remain relevant whether you touch it or not.

Does it need to be updated? No. Should it be updated from time to time? Yes.

All content that brings traffic to your blog should be polished from time to time and given a new coat of paint.

Evergreen content is no exception.

2. Real-World Examples of Evergreen Content

Sometimes, the best way to explain something is to show examples.

Let’s look at a handful of evergreen articles you can use as inspiration.

Note: Though these examples are evergreen, they may or may not possess any of the five qualities we discussed earlier. Keep that in mind when browsing.

How to Make Stovetop Popcorn by The Pioneer Woman

It’s hard to get more timeless than a recipe. This how-to article will outlive all of us.

600+ Power Words That’ll Pack Your Writing with Emotion by Jon Morrow

Content related to words, grammar, writing, etc. rarely goes out of date.

15 Quotes that Will Change the Way You Treat People by Marc and Angel

Are all quotes evergreen? No. Many an expert preached the virtues of MySpace back in the day, for example.

But inspirational quotes, uplifting quotes, etc. tend to age like fine wine.

There’s No Painless Way to Kill Yourself by James Altucher

Personal stories never age. Even if details within them are from a bygone era, the stories themselves (and the lessons they teach) are evergreen.

20 Good Character Traits That Will Help Your Kids Grow Up to Be Happy, Successful and Loved By All by A Fine Parent

Articles on parenting, the human psyche, character traits, and similar topics tend to remain relevant for a long time.

The above isn’t a definitive list, but it’s a good starting point. And hopefully, you’ll see a few common themes.

Such as…

3. What Evergreen Content is NOT

Evergreen content can be a lot of things, but it can’t be:

Trendy (trends come and go)

Topical (today’s breaking story is tomorrow’s yesterday’s news)

Related to pop culture (reminder: “dabbing” and “planking” both used to be things)

Political (the thing that outraged you today will be replaced by something new next week)

Holiday themed (if it’s only relevant once a year, it’s not an evergreen topic)

Related to technology (the latest gadget will be old news by the time you finish this post)

In short, if it’s on a topic with a short lifespan, it can’t be evergreen.

4. Evergreen Content Ideas

If you’re still stumped for evergreen content ideas, here’s a quick list to get you started.

How-to Posts. Whether it’s showing someone how to cook a recipe or how to build a treehouse for their children, how-to posts are evergreen go-tos.

Ultimate Guides. You’ll need to keep them up to date to fend off competitors, but ultimate guides for non-trendy topics are evergreen gold.

Inspirational Articles. If it inspires readers, compels them to take action and improve their lives, it’s a great evergreen candidate.

Timeless Quotes. As discussed previously, quotes on tried-and-true topics have long lifespans.

Tools and Resources. Roundup posts that provide the reader a definitive list of sources are excellent examples of evergreen content. You’ll need to ensure their content stays up to date (since tools/resources come and go), but it’s worth the investment in time.

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It’s Time to Craft Everlasting Gobstoppers of Evergreen Content

With dreams of fame, fortune, and world domination dancing through their heads, ambitious bloggers pour their hearts and souls into creating evergreen content they hope people will remember forever.

Unfortunately, most bloggers don’t know how to create content readers will remember after their cup of morning coffee, much less remember for years and years.

But you do.

You now understand the five crucial qualities content needs to be memorable. And you know what it takes to make evergreen content truly “evergreen.”

The days of being dumbfounded as you watch your latest blogging masterpiece fade into the sunset are over.

Are you ready to create evergreen content people will still talk about in five years?

Then what are you waiting for?

Let’s do this thing.

About the Author: When he’s not busy telling waitresses, baristas, and anyone else who crosses his path that Jon Morrow once said he was in the top 1% of bloggers, Kevin J. Duncan is the Blog Editor and Social Media Manager for Smart Blogger.

The post Evergreen Content 2.0: Timeless Posts People Will Actually Remember appeared first on Smart Blogger.

from SEO and SM Tips https://smartblogger.com/evergreen-content/