045 How to Find Trending Topics Without Losing Hours of Your Life

In today’s fast-paced digital world, finding trending topics can feel like searching for a needle in a haystack—except the haystack is the entire internet, and the needle keeps moving! Staying on top of trends is essential for bloggers, marketers, and content creators, but let’s face it: the process can eat up more time than it should. You sit down for a quick search, and suddenly, two hours are gone, and all you’ve found is a cat meme from 2012.

Fear not! Finding trending topics doesn’t have to be a time-consuming rabbit hole. In this post, we’ll walk through how to find relevant, up-to-date trends without burning daylight. By using the right tools, refining your search methods, and sticking to a streamlined approach, you’ll soon be the trend master without losing your precious time.

Why Finding Trending Topics Matters

Before we dive into the time-saving methods, let’s quickly revisit why finding trending topics is so crucial. In today’s crowded content landscape, trends give you the edge to stand out. Whether you’re running a blog, YouTube channel, or social media account, focusing on popular topics helps you:

Increase visibility: More people search for trending topics, so your chances of being discovered rise.
Engage your audience: Content related to hot topics encourages interaction, shares, and comments.
Stay relevant: Being on trend shows your audience that you’re in touch with what’s happening now.

With that in mind, let’s get into the methods that will help you find trending topics fast.

1. Use Google Trends (The Right Way)

Google Trends is one of the easiest and most effective tools to see what people are currently searching for. It provides data on the popularity of search queries across different regions and timeframes. Here’s how to use it efficiently:

Go straight to the trending searches: Instead of manually typing keywords and exploring vague search interest data, use the “Trending Searches” feature. This shows what’s trending right now, both globally and locally.
Refine by category: Narrow your search by selecting a category like technology, health, or business. This way, you only see trends that align with your niche.
Leverage the ‘Related Queries’ section: Once you have a trending search in mind, the related queries feature helps you uncover more nuanced angles on the topic, which can spark content ideas.

2. Dive into Social Media Platforms

Social media platforms are a goldmine for finding trending topics in real-time. However, aimlessly scrolling through your feeds can quickly become a time trap. Here’s how to get the most out of social media without losing hours:

Twitter’s Trending Tab: Twitter has a dedicated “Trends” tab that highlights the most talked-about topics worldwide or based on your location. Use this to your advantage by scanning the list for topics that align with your niche.
Reddit’s Front Page and Popular Communities: Reddit’s “front page” is a curated selection of the hottest posts, and you can also explore trending topics within specific subreddits related to your interests. Check out Reddit’s “r/Popular” to see what’s resonating across the platform.
Facebook’s Explore Feed: Facebook has an “Explore Feed” where you can find trending stories and posts. By following pages or groups within your niche, you can get insights into which conversations are heating up.

3. Set Up Google Alerts for Hot Keywords

Rather than constantly searching for trending topics, let Google bring the trends to you. Google Alerts is a handy tool that sends you email notifications whenever new content related to a specific keyword appears online. To use it effectively:

Choose your keywords wisely: Focus on a few keywords relevant to your niche, such as “digital marketing trends,” “new fitness tips,” or “fashion trends 2024.” Keep the terms broad enough to capture a variety of content but not so broad that you’re overwhelmed with irrelevant info.
Adjust frequency and sources: Set the alerts to deliver content once a day, so you’re not distracted by multiple emails. You can also choose specific sources (news, blogs, etc.) to narrow down the type of information you receive.
Use alerts for competitor monitoring: You can set up alerts not just for keywords but also for mentions of competitors. This way, you’ll get notified when your competitors are making waves with new content.

4. Utilize BuzzSumo for a Content Research Powerhouse

If you’re serious about finding the right trending topics, BuzzSumo is your go-to tool. BuzzSumo aggregates the most shared content across all major social platforms, showing you exactly what’s gaining traction. Here’s how to maximize your time on it:

Enter your keyword or niche: BuzzSumo will return a list of articles, blogs, or posts that are trending based on the number of social shares.
Analyze the content type: Take note of whether the popular content is a video, blog post, or infographic. This can help you decide what format to use when creating your own content.
Identify influencers: BuzzSumo also highlights influencers who are driving conversations around trending topics. Following these individuals or collaborating with them can amplify your reach.

5. Scan Industry Blogs and News Sites

Sometimes, the simplest solutions are the best. Bookmark a handful of the top blogs and news sites in your industry and check them once a day. These sites usually cover trending stories and emerging trends that are worth paying attention to. For example:

Tech Industry: Scan sites like TechCrunch, Wired, and The Verge for what’s new in technology.
Business and Marketing: Sites like HubSpot, MarketingProfs, and Neil Patel’s blog are great for spotting upcoming trends in marketing and business.
Health and Wellness: For health-related trends, look at Healthline, WebMD, or MindBodyGreen.

These sites do a lot of the heavy lifting for you, curating hot topics in your niche so you can create content based on them without spending hours hunting.

6. Use YouTube’s Trending Section

YouTube’s trending section is another fantastic way to spot topics that are gaining traction. Whether you’re a video creator or not, these trends can inspire blog posts, social media content, or even product ideas. Here’s how to do it:

Head to the trending tab: YouTube’s trending page offers real-time insights into what’s popular, and you can filter by categories like music, gaming, news, or general trending videos.
Look at the comments section: Sometimes the gold lies in the comments. Viewers often suggest additional ideas or raise questions that you could address in your own content.

7. Repurpose Old Content with a Trending Twist

If you’re running low on time but still want to capitalize on trends, consider repurposing older content. Look through your archives for popular posts that can be refreshed with a trending topic twist. For instance:

Update an old blog post: If you wrote an article on social media marketing two years ago, refresh it with updates about recent trends like AI-driven content or TikTok marketing strategies.
Turn an old post into new formats: A popular blog post from the past could be repurposed into a video, infographic, or podcast episode that incorporates current trends.

Conclusion

Finding trending topics doesn’t have to mean hours of endless searching. With the right tools and strategies, you can efficiently stay on top of what’s popular in your industry without wasting time. Tools like Google Trends, BuzzSumo, and Google Alerts allow you to streamline the process, while quick scans of social media platforms and industry blogs help keep you in the loop. The key is to be smart about your searches and stay focused.

By following these tips, you’ll be able to find trending topics fast, giving you more time to focus on what you do best: creating amazing content.