Trending happens when a topic, hashtag or keyword becomes more popular and gains visibility on a social media platform like Twitter, Instagram, TikTok or Facebook. Users can see what’s trending on the platforms’ Explore or Trending pages.

Trends can be influenced by a number of factors. Some of these include: relevance and timing (i.e., trends related to breaking news or viral memes tend to get a lot of attention); virality (i.e., content that goes viral is more likely to trend); and controversy (i.e., trending topics often involve political or religious issues). Trends can also be influenced by geographic location and interests. For example, a user’s location and the people they follow on Twitter may affect what trends for them. Additionally, YouTube’s Trending tab is largely influenced by what people watch on the site.

While trending can be a powerful tool for businesses, it’s important to remember that it’s not necessarily an invitation to jump on the bandwagon. Taking advantage of trends without being authentic or adding value can damage trust and make your business seem stale. In addition, trending can have an expiration date, meaning that what’s hot today might be old news tomorrow.

Using Trends to Drive Traffic

Trending can be a great way to drive traffic to your website or social media channels. However, if you’re not careful, it can be easy to overdo it and create spammy or irrelevant content. You should always try to use trends as a way to generate engagement with your audience. Creating content that is relevant and useful to your viewers will always be more effective than trying to manipulate them for clicks.

Aim to produce content that aligns with your brand’s voice and values. This will help you maintain trust and authenticity with your viewers, even if it doesn’t completely match current trends. Additionally, try to avoid using buzzwords or gimmicks in your content. These are often used as a way to game trends and can be a turn off for viewers.

Don’t ignore your evergreen content, either. While it might not be as popular as a trending topic, you’ll still need to update it regularly and keep it relevant. This will ensure that your content stays fresh and engaging and that you remain top of mind with your viewers.

With the right strategy, you can leverage trends to generate awareness and engagement with your audiences. Be sure to take the time to understand how trends work on each platform and what their rules are. Abusing trends can lead to your account being suspended, so it’s important to be aware of them and stick to the rules. If you’re unsure, reach out to your platform’s support team for more information.