When something “trends” on social media, it means it’s enjoying a surge in popularity and visibility. Trends are determined by algorithms that look for keywords, phrases and hashtags on Twitter, Facebook and TikTok. Once these algorithms find a topic or keyword that is getting popular attention, it’s featured in the Trending section on those platforms’ home pages.
A trend can be something as simple as a fad or craze (like wearing bike shorts) or it could be an overall direction, such as the increasing popularity of veganism. Some trends are long-lasting, while others fade away quickly.
YouTube doesn’t have employees who curate the Trending tab; instead, its algorithms analyze videos submitted to the platform and search for certain tags. Those with the highest number of views, engagements and likes appear in the Trending tab. However, the algorithm’s accuracy has come under fire, as it was recently revealed that a video claiming that Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooter Nikolas Cruz was a crisis actor made it to the top of YouTube’s Trending page.
Whether or not you want to participate in a trend depends on your business and brand. If you’re in a retail business, it can be useful to use trends to identify the products people are buying and what types of content are attracting the most views and likes. Ecommerce businesses can also take advantage of trends to make their content more visible to potential customers.
But businesses should always be cautious about using trends. If you misuse them, it’s easy to end up in hot water with the social media platforms and risk losing visibility and traction. For example, Twitter’s rules state that adding non-related keywords or hashtags to tweets in an attempt to boost their exposure is considered “trend abuse” and can result in account suspension.
The term “trend” is also used in the stock market and other industries. For example, a company’s stock price may rise due to increased sales or it might fall because of a poor earnings report or a natural disaster. In either case, the overall direction of the stock is said to be on a positive or negative trend.
Understanding trends can help your business stay ahead of the competition and improve its marketing tactics. Trends can also inspire new ideas and provide insights into what your audience is talking about and searching for. By keeping an eye on these trends, you can be reactive to current events and news that might influence your target audience’s behavior. Taking advantage of trending topics can also create a sense of urgency, which can lead to increased engagement and conversions. This is particularly important for businesses that are trying to promote limited-time offers or deals on their online stores. For instance, if a major political event is happening, you can create a campaign to encourage people to purchase your product during this time. This way, you can increase your sales and revenue. Then, you can use the profits to reinvest into your business or expand it even further.