How Trends Work on YouTube

A trend is something that’s popular at a particular point in time. It could be a style of fashion or entertainment, or it could be an overall sentiment toward warmer temperatures (if people are following trends associated with global warming). Trends appear on social media platforms like Twitter and TikTok in the form of hashtags and keywords that generate a high level of activity among users. Once the hashtag or keyword reaches a certain threshold of activity, it’s labeled as “trending” and appears on the platform’s homepage and Explore tab.

Trending is determined by algorithms that use information about who a user follows, their location, and the searches they’ve made to determine what topics they might be interested in. These algorithms help Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok provide users with personalized content on their home timelines, notifications, search results, and profile pages.

When a video or topic becomes a trend on YouTube, it can generate more views and engagement for the creator of the video. This can result in more subscribers, higher ad revenue, and even increased channel earnings. Trending videos typically appear on the Explore tab and have the ability to be featured in a user’s home timeline.

YouTube has strict guidelines for what videos can be displayed in the Trending tab. These include a minimum of 100,000 views, no profanity or mature content, and complying with the site’s community guidelines and policies. YouTube has also been known to remove trends that violate its terms of service. This is a common problem with the system, as it can be easy for users to game the algorithm by posting videos that don’t qualify as trending content.

The trending feature has proven to be an effective marketing tool for many brands. By leveraging this feature, businesses can create a more targeted campaign that allows them to reach their target audience and boost brand awareness. Twitter offers a paid option called Promoted Trends, where businesses can purchase the privilege of appearing on the platform’s homepage and Explore tab, as well as in their users’ timelines.

It’s important to understand how trends work before creating a strategy for your business. While trending isn’t a guaranteed way to gain traction for your videos, it can be an excellent way to reach new viewers and increase engagement on your channels. By understanding what influences trends, you can take the necessary steps to ensure that your videos are included in them. Using a combination of research, creativity, and strategic thinking, you can increase your chances of getting your videos into the Trending tab. If you do, your content may be seen by millions of potential viewers. Good luck!