In a general sense, trending describes topics or hashtags that are popular on a social media platform at a given moment. They are identified by algorithms that monitor a given audience’s likes, shares, and engagement levels to determine what topics or content are getting the most attention. Trending topics can cover anything from current events and news stories to celebrities or pop culture.
Trending is an indication that a topic is gaining traction and receiving more visibility and engagement on a particular social media platform, such as Twitter or TikTok. It can also be applied to a variety of other areas, from fashion or entertainment to the stock market or weather patterns. Trends can be temporary or last for a longer period of time, depending on the topic or issue.
A trend can begin with one person or tweet and quickly gain traction as more people start sharing and engaging with it. A trend can also be influenced by the timing, relevance, and quality of the content. The higher the quality of a post, the more likely it is to stay at the top of a list of trending topics.
To use trends in your marketing strategy, make sure they align with the overall goals of your brand. Creating content that is timely, relevant, and creative will help your brand attract and engage the right audience. Trending content can be a great way to boost the visibility of your business and attract new customers.
You can find trends by visiting the homepage of a particular social media platform or using a search engine. Google Trends, for example, provides data visualizations and information about the popularity of a topic or keyword over a specific time period. Facebook’s “Trending” section displays trending hashtags or topics on its website and app, as well as in the Explore page for Twitter and Instagram. Each of these sites offers options to personalize the trends you see based on your location and interests.
The algorithm that drives trending is constantly analyzing what the public is interested in to identify new subjects or ideas for users to discuss and share. This is why it’s important to remember that a trend can change quickly, and what’s trendy today might not be the case tomorrow.
To take advantage of trends, it’s best to create content that is relevant to the topic and shows your personality and brand. A great example of this is when brands joined the conversation around a viral phenomenon known as “The Dress.” The simple question of whether the dress was white and gold or blue and black stirred an incredible amount of buzz, and many companies created content that cheekily compared their products to the controversial image. You can see examples of trend-inspired content on X’s “Trending Now” page or TikTok’s “For You” page. These platforms use algorithms to show you the most relevant trending content based on your interests and location. They’re also great ways to stay updated on breaking news and events.