How to find trending topics? 10 Different Tools

10 different tools that can help you find trending topics, from Google Trends to BuzzSumo and more.

1. Google Trends

How it works: Google Trends provides real-time data on the popularity of search queries. You can search for specific keywords or explore general trending topics globally or regionally. It breaks down trending searches by categories (e.g., technology, sports) and allows you to filter by time (e.g., past hour, past month).
Usage: If you’re trying to find trends within a specific industry, you can search for related terms and analyze how interest in them changes over time. Additionally, Google Trends offers a feature called "Related Queries," which suggests associated terms that are on the rise.

How it works: Twitter shows real-time trending topics tailored to your location or a broader global view. By accessing Twitter’s "Explore" section, you can see what people are tweeting about in real-time.
Usage: To track trends, you can monitor hashtags, keywords, or phrases that frequently appear in tweets. Using tools like TweetDeck, Hootsuite, or Brandwatch, you can create keyword filters to monitor discussions around your brand, competitors, or industry topics. These tools allow you to watch trends evolve in real-time and assess user sentiment around those topics.

How it works: Reddit is a user-driven content platform where trending topics emerge based on upvotes and discussions. Subreddits (topic-specific forums) often have a "Hot" or "Top" section that surfaces the most engaged content for a given time period.
Usage: Explore subreddits relevant to your industry and track what topics users are upvoting or discussing the most. For example, a tech company can monitor /r/technology for trending gadgets or innovations. Tools like Reddit Insight and TrackReddit can also help you track mentions or conversations about specific keywords.

How it works: BuzzSumo tracks how content is shared and engaged with across social media platforms. You can search by topic or keyword, and BuzzSumo will show you the most shared content and the influencers driving those conversations.
Usage: You can use BuzzSumo to find the most shared articles, videos, and infographics related to your niche. For example, if you search for "AI startups," BuzzSumo will display content that’s currently trending based on social shares, helping you uncover popular discussions in that space.

How it works: LinkedIn curates news stories and trending topics based on user activity and engagement from the professional community. LinkedIn’s "Trending News" section highlights popular articles, conversations, and news stories relevant to industries like tech, finance, and healthcare.
Usage: To find industry-specific trends, LinkedIn’s Trending Topics feature allows you to see what professionals are reading and discussing. LinkedIn is particularly valuable for B2B brands or those interested in professional trends like management, marketing, or emerging industries.

How it works: YouTube’s "Trending" section features the most-watched and engaged-with videos across different categories. These include entertainment, news, gaming, and more.
Usage: If you're looking for trending topics in video format or visual content, YouTube can provide insights into what people are talking about. For example, brands in industries like beauty or technology can monitor YouTube to see what influencers are creating and the topics that are generating buzz.

How it works: TrendHunter identifies consumer trends and innovations in various industries, such as fashion, technology, and business. The platform uses a mix of data analysis and human curation to identify microtrends before they become mainstream.
Usage: Businesses can use TrendHunter to discover emerging consumer preferences or market shifts. If you're launching a new product, you can browse TrendHunter for early signals about growing consumer interests and adapt your marketing strategy accordingly.

How it works: Glimpse is a tool that helps you track emerging trends by analyzing data from social media and search engines. It highlights topics that are gaining momentum based on user engagement and interest levels.
Usage: Use Glimpse to identify hot topics in your industry by exploring trending conversations and related search queries. This can be particularly useful for marketers and content creators looking to align their strategies with what’s currently capturing public interest.

How it works: Feedly is a news aggregator that lets you subscribe to multiple sources, such as blogs, news websites, and industry publications, and organizes them into a single feed. You can create specific keyword alerts or "feeds" for trending topics in your niche.
Usage: To stay updated on emerging trends, you can set up keyword-based feeds. For instance, if you're in finance, you could create feeds for terms like "ESG" or "fintech" to monitor news and articles as they are published across the web.

How it works: Exploding Topics is a trend discovery tool that identifies rapidly growing trends before they become mainstream by analyzing search volume and social mentions. It’s designed to find early-stage trends across a variety of industries.
Usage: The platform provides you with a list of emerging topics that are gaining search interest. You can use it to spot trends in their infancy and act before they fully take off. This can be especially useful for product launches, marketing campaigns, or content creation strategies.