A Gen Z's Guide To Finding Relevant, Trending Topics in Your Niche By Using Trending Searches (and How to Turn it into Social Media Content!)
In this blog:
Why should I stay on top of trending searches in my niche?
How do I find trending searches in my niche?
I found some trending topics, how do I turn them into social media content?
Why should I stay on top of trending searches in my niche?
As we know, the trend CYCLES on social media is progressively getting smaller and smaller. What was trending a few days or weeks prior may be redundant and overused by the time you get around to it on your content calendar.
Ex: The Roman Empire trend content coming out a month after its initial explosion. “Well, my Roman empire is… X” REBECCA, PU LEASE! The trend has been exhausted and has already cycled through TikTok, Instagram Reels, AND YouTube Shorts… 🫣
Trend CYCLES will quickly come and go, thus you have to create content surrounding them on the fly.
Trend SEARCHES, however, reflect a significant rise in search volume for a topic specific to a niche! These trends hold much more longevity, allowing the content planning and creation process to be much easier and ultimately, provide better value to your audience.
How do I find trending searches in my niche?
My absolute favorite method to conduct this research is through PINTEREST, the loml!
It’s completely free to do with a Pinterest account, and the cherry on top is that Pinterest is known to be ahead of the curve when it comes to these trending topics. If you need proof, just take a look at Pinterest Predicts 🫡
This data is extremely helpful to look at when planning social media content because:
You can see what your audience is truly interested in
You are able to brainstorm ways to provide VALUE around said topics
You can be one step ahead of your competitors within the trend cycle
Here is a little rundown about the tool from Pinterest themselves:
“The Pinterest Trends tool displays a historic view of the top search terms across different regions and countries. You can use it to learn when people start searching for various keywords, find out what content is popular on Pinterest, and see what’s trending specifically among your audience.
You can use the trends table to see what content is popular, and when people start searching for different keywords on Pinterest. The table will reflect data from the region you’ve selected. You need a Pinterest account to access this section of Pinterest Trends.
Navigate to Pinterest Trends
Click the directional chevron down icon below Region at the top-right to select which region you want to see data from
Scroll down to the table below Discover trends
Filter the data according to Trend type, End date, Interests, Keywords, Age, and Gender as needed
You’ll be able to view popular keywords, see whether a trend is seasonal, and review the weekly change, monthly change and yearly change of a particular trend. Click the trend to view it on a graph.”
I found some trending topics, how do I turn them into social media content?
Great question! As a ~freelance social media manager~ this happens to be my jam 🤭
First, ask yourself these questions:1️⃣ What products or services do I provide that align with these trends?
2️⃣ Could I create content or resources that would provide value around these trending searches?
3️⃣ If so, how can I incorporate these terms into the actual content itself?
4️⃣ Who is your target audience within these searches, what platform are they on, and how can you create content to engage with them?
To explain the thought process that goes through my head, I’ll use a trending topic from the health and wellness niche (because I have conveniently already created a Reel around them).
If I sold products or provided services within this industry, here’s what I do after answering the questions above.
I would pick one trend to focus on: Somatic Yoga!!!
If I was unfamiliar with the topic, I’d spend time researching and learning about its appeal to my audience or benefits.
I’d connect its benefits or unique selling points to my brand.
Imagine I sell ~essential oils~
Here’s my thought process behind Somatic Yoga & Essential Oils:
↳ Somatic Yoga is about a mind-body connection during movement
↳ It can be practiced in the form of stretching
↳ Somatic stretching helps people feel more relaxed by releasing tension physically and energetically in the body
↳ Essential oils are proven to work with your amygdala to dissolve intense emotional charge
↳ Using essential oils during somatic stretching will level up the mind-body connection by targeting another one of your senses
↳I should make a post surrounding the deeper benefits one could experience by combining essential oils AND somatic stretching
↳I could also make a post about the best essential oils to use during the somatic practice to target specific needs (ex: Use chamomile to reduce stress)
Lastly, you create the content and bring your ideas to life!!!
(If you need help on the content creation side, I got you)
I hope this helps 🫶🏼 Let me know if you have any questions OR any social media tips + tricks you’d like to see next! 🫡
In case we haven’t met, how rude of me to yap for this long without introducing myself. Hi, I’m Kate!
I’m a social media marketer specializing in social strategy and content creation for founders who want to level up on TikTok and Instagram.
Be sure to SAVE this blog post if you want to stay ahead of the curve!
If you’re feeling extra inspired, check out my Instagram where I share my tips to help business owners like you level up their socials! (Orrrr if you’re more of a hands-off kind of person, I happen to offer full-service social media management packages)!
Xoxo,
Kate
