Quick Answer
For search, voice, and "just tell me what to do".
Some products go stale quickly; others stay fresh for years. The difference is often architecture: how content is structured, what makes it timely versus timeless, and how updates can be applied. Products designed for longevity separate timeless principles from timely examples, use modular structures that allow partial updates, and build in mechanisms for continuous freshening.
Key Takeaways:
- Product architecture determines staleness rate
- Timeless and timely content should be separated
- Modular design enables targeted updates
- Some content types age better than others
- Longevity should be designed in from the start
Playbook
Separate timeless principles from timely examples
Use modular structure that allows partial updates
Build in mechanisms for easy content refresh
Choose content types that age well
Create update schedules as part of product design
Common Pitfalls
- Mixing timeless and timely content throughout
- Monolithic structures requiring full rewrites to update
- Trends and references that date quickly
- No plan for updates at product launch
Metrics to Track
Product freshness over time
Update effort required
Customer perception of currentness
Staleness-related complaints
Product lifespan before major revision
FAQ
What content types stay fresh longest?
Principles, frameworks, and fundamental concepts. Specific examples, statistics, and trend references date fastest.
How do I separate timeless from timely?
Put principles in the main content, examples in appendices or modules. When examples date, you update modules without rewriting core content.
Can any product be truly evergreen?
Mostly evergreen, yes. Truly evergreen with zero updates, rarely. Even fundamental topics benefit from periodic freshening.
Related Reading
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