If you want to grow your YouTube channel, staying relevant is key. One of the best ways to do that is by creating content around trending topics. But how do you find what’s trending? It’s not just about blindly jumping on the latest viral meme or challenge; it’s about tapping into what your audience cares about right now.
In this blog, we’ll break down several effective methods you can use to discover trending topics that will not only boost your views but help you build a dedicated and engaged audience.
1. Use YouTube’s Trending Page: The Most Obvious Source
The easiest place to start your search for trending topics is YouTube's Trending Page. This page features popular videos across various categories, such as music, gaming, and news. While this is a great starting point, remember that the videos on this page might not always match your niche. But it will give you an idea of what is currently trending across the platform.
How to Use the Trending Page Effectively:
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Look for Patterns: Notice what kind of videos are being pushed by YouTube in the "Trending" section. Are they mostly related to a specific topic, format, or trend? This could provide valuable insight into what's currently capturing people’s attention.
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Trending Subcategories: YouTube also segments trending content by categories (e.g., Music, News, Gaming). Browse through these sections to find trends relevant to your niche.
2. Explore Google Trends: The Data-Driven Approach
Google Trends is one of the most powerful tools for finding trending topics. It allows you to see real-time trends based on search behavior. You can search for specific terms, compare multiple topics, and narrow the results down by country or region. This is especially useful for finding topics that are not just trending, but are also likely to have long-term interest.
How to Use Google Trends:
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Compare Related Topics: If you're already making videos on a certain topic (e.g., tech reviews), use Google Trends to compare how various products or tech terms are performing. This helps you identify which related topics are gaining more interest.
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Use the “Trending Searches” Tab: This section shows what people are searching for at the moment. You can filter it by country and time frame to find hot topics in your niche.
3. Check Out Social Media: Twitter, Reddit, and TikTok
Social media platforms are often where trends start before they make their way to YouTube. By monitoring trending hashtags, conversations, and discussions, you can identify topics that are about to blow up.
How to Leverage Social Media for Trending Topics:
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Twitter Trends: Twitter’s trending tab shows real-time conversations and hashtags that are gaining traction. Browse these trends to see if anything aligns with your niche.
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Reddit: Reddit is a goldmine for trending discussions, especially niche subreddits. Check the r/YouTube, r/Trending, or specific niche-related subreddits to see what content is being discussed the most.
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TikTok: TikTok trends often spill over to YouTube, especially challenges, viral sounds, and memes. Keep an eye on what’s trending on TikTok and adapt it for YouTube.
4. YouTube Auto-Suggest: The Free and Easy Way
A simple way to discover trending topics is by using YouTube’s Auto-Suggest feature. Start typing a topic in the YouTube search bar and see what suggestions pop up. These are usually the most searched topics related to your query, so they can be a goldmine for video ideas.
How to Use Auto-Suggest Effectively:
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Narrow Down Your Niche: If you’re in the gaming niche, start typing “best gaming tips” or “how to play [game name]” and see what suggestions come up. The more specific you get, the more accurate your suggestions will be.
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Look for Rising Trends: Auto-suggest often shows you search terms that are growing in popularity, even before they hit the top spots in Google Trends. This can give you an edge over other creators.
5. Monitor Industry News Websites and Blogs
Staying up-to-date with industry news is another excellent way to find trending topics. Whether it's tech, gaming, fashion, or lifestyle, there are always new developments in every field. For example, if you're a tech reviewer, following websites like TechCrunch or The Verge will keep you updated on new releases, trends, and innovations in the tech world.
How to Use News Sources:
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Subscribe to Newsletters: Many industry-specific newsletters curate the most important and trending news in your niche. Signing up for these can provide you with a daily or weekly digest of what’s hot.
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Follow Influencers in Your Niche: Industry leaders often have their finger on the pulse of trends. Following their social media accounts and blogs will help you stay ahead of the curve.
6. Use YouTube Analytics to Find Your Own Trends
Your YouTube Analytics holds a treasure trove of information about what’s working on your channel. By looking at which videos are performing well, you can identify patterns in the types of content your audience is most engaged with.
How to Analyze Your Own Data:
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Top-Performing Content: Look at the videos that have gained the most views or engagement recently. What topics do they cover? Are there any common themes between them?
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Audience Demographics: Who is watching your content? Check their interests and what else they’re watching to help refine the types of topics you should be focusing on.
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Traffic Sources: See where your traffic is coming from (e.g., search, suggested videos, etc.). This can give you clues on what types of content are resonating with the broader YouTube audience.
7. Collaborate with Other Creators
Collaborating with other creators is a great way to identify trending topics and grow your reach. By working with someone in your niche, you’ll be able to explore new ideas, discover what’s trending on their channel, and gain access to their audience’s interests.
How to Collaborate Effectively:
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Work on Trendy Challenges: Team up with creators to tackle popular challenges or trending hashtags in your niche.
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Cross-Promote Content: By promoting each other’s content, you can tap into each other’s fanbase, which may lead you to discover what’s trending on their side of the YouTube ecosystem.
8. Follow YouTube Creators’ Insights
Many successful YouTubers, especially those with a significant following, share their thoughts on the trends they’re seeing in the industry. Keep an eye on YouTube creator forums, creator interviews, and industry podcasts to understand what’s coming next.
Conclusion: Staying Ahead of the Curve
Finding trending topics on YouTube isn’t about jumping on every viral trend. It’s about staying informed and being strategic about what’s relevant to your audience. By using tools like Google Trends, social media platforms, YouTube’s Auto-Suggest, and analyzing your own channel’s performance, you can discover the next big thing before it blows up.
Consistency is key, so don’t just rely on trends to grow your channel. Combine trending topics with your unique voice and content style, and you'll stand out in the competitive YouTube landscape.
Now go ahead—start exploring, get creative, and ride the wave of the next big YouTube trend!