Written by Rajib Das
Want your YouTube videos to go viral? Creating great content is only half the battle. The other half is making sure your videos are about topics people are actually searching for and interested in. That’s where finding trending topics comes in! If you jump on a trend early, your video can reach a much wider audience and gain more views, subscribers, and overall engagement. In this article, I’ll walk you through some of the best ways to discover what’s hot on YouTube right now, so you can create content that people will love.
Why Trending Topics Matter for YouTube Creators
Before we dive into the “how,” let’s quickly discuss the “why.” Focusing on trending topics can be a game-changer for your YouTube channel. Here’s why:
- Increased Visibility: Trending topics are already attracting a lot of attention. When you create content around these topics, your videos are more likely to be discovered by people who are actively searching for them.
- Higher Search Ranking: YouTube’s algorithm favors videos that are relevant and timely. Targeting trending keywords can boost your video’s ranking in search results.
- More Engagement: People are more likely to watch, like, comment on, and share videos about topics they are currently interested in.
- Channel Growth: By consistently creating content around trending topics, you can attract new subscribers and grow your channel faster.
However, it’s also important to remember to choose trends that align with your channel’s niche and audience. Don’t just jump on any trend; make sure it’s relevant to your content and interests.
Exploring YouTube’s Built-in Features for Trend Spotting
YouTube itself offers some valuable tools for discovering trending content. These are readily available and free to use.
The Explore Tab: Your First Stop for Discovering Trends
The “Explore” tab (often represented by a compass icon) is a goldmine for finding trending videos and topics on YouTube. This tab showcases a variety of content that’s popular right now, based on your location and viewing history. It includes:
- Trending: This section highlights the most popular videos currently being watched in your region. It’s a great way to get a general sense of what’s catching people’s attention.
- Music: Discover trending music videos and artists.
- Gaming: See what games are hot and what gameplay videos are racking up views.
- Movies: Find trending movie trailers, clips, and reviews.
- News: Stay up-to-date on current events and trending news stories.
- Fashion & Beauty: Discover trending looks and tutorials.
Practical Insight: Don’t just passively browse the Explore tab. Take notes on the types of videos that are trending, the keywords they’re using, and the styles of content that are resonating with viewers. Then, brainstorm how you can adapt those trends to your own niche.
The Trending Section: Directly See What’s Hot
Similar to the “Trending” section within the Explore tab, the dedicated “Trending” page (sometimes accessible directly through the YouTube menu or a specific URL) provides a curated list of the most popular videos on the platform at that moment. This is a great resource for quickly identifying what’s capturing the attention of a large audience.
Practical Insight: Pay close attention to the video thumbnails and titles in the Trending section. These are designed to grab attention and entice viewers to click. Analyze what makes them effective and consider how you can use similar techniques in your own videos.
Leveraging Third-Party Tools for Advanced Trend Analysis
While YouTube’s built-in features are helpful, third-party tools can provide even more detailed insights into trending topics and keywords.
TubeBuddy: A Comprehensive YouTube Management Tool
TubeBuddy is a popular browser extension and web application that offers a wide range of features for YouTube creators, including:
- Keyword Explorer: Discover high-volume, low-competition keywords related to your niche.
- Trending Videos: Identify trending videos in your niche and analyze their performance.
- Search Rank Tracking: Monitor your video’s ranking in search results.
- Competitor Analysis: See what your competitors are doing and how they’re performing.
Practical Insight: Use TubeBuddy’s “Keyword Explorer” to find trending keywords that are relevant to your channel. Look for keywords with a high search volume and a low competition score, as these offer the best opportunity to rank well in search results.
vidIQ: Another Powerful Tool for YouTube Growth
vidIQ is another popular browser extension and web application that offers similar features to TubeBuddy, including:
- Keyword Research: Find relevant keywords and analyze their search volume and competition.
- Trend Alerts: Get notified when new trends emerge in your niche.
- Competitor Analysis: Track your competitors’ performance and identify their top-performing videos.
- SEO Optimization: Optimize your video titles, descriptions, and tags for better search ranking.
Practical Insight: Use vidIQ’s “Trend Alerts” feature to stay ahead of the curve and be among the first to create content around emerging trends. This can give you a significant advantage over your competitors.
Google Trends: A Broader Perspective on Search Interest
While not specifically designed for YouTube, Google Trends can be a valuable tool for understanding overall search interest in various topics. This can help you identify broader trends that might be relevant to your YouTube channel.
Practical Insight: Use Google Trends to explore the popularity of different topics over time. Look for topics that are experiencing a recent surge in interest, as these are likely to be trending on YouTube as well.
Turning Trends into Engaging Content
Finding trending topics is only the first step. The real challenge is creating content that’s both relevant to the trend and engaging for your audience. Here are a few tips:
- Put your own spin on it: Don’t just copy what everyone else is doing. Find a unique angle or perspective to make your video stand out.
- Focus on quality: Even if you’re covering a trending topic, your video still needs to be well-produced and informative.
- Engage with your audience: Ask questions, respond to comments, and encourage viewers to share your video.
- Optimize your video for search: Use relevant keywords in your title, description, and tags to help people find your video.
Practical Insight: Be authentic and genuine in your videos. People can tell when you’re just trying to chase a trend, and they’re more likely to engage with content that feels authentic and relatable.
By using these methods and incorporating them into your content strategy, you can significantly boost your video’s chances of success and grow your YouTube channel.
In conclusion, finding trending topics on YouTube is crucial for creators who want to increase their visibility, attract new viewers, and grow their channels. By utilizing YouTube’s built-in features like the Explore tab and Trending section, as well as leveraging third-party tools like TubeBuddy and vidIQ, you can stay ahead of the curve and create content that resonates with a large audience. Remember to always put your own spin on trending topics and focus on creating high-quality, engaging content that your viewers will love. Happy creating!
