In the fast-evolving content game, staying ahead of content trends is crucial.

If you’re still relying on traditional tools like vidIQ or Semrush, you might be missing out on the fresh, emerging topics that can set you apart from the competition.

Why?

Because these tools rely on historical data and widely known keywords, meaning they often miss out on new trends that could be your next big hit.

To truly get ahead, you need tools and strategies that provide real-time insights across platforms, predicting emerging topics before they become mainstream.

This guide introduces some powerful AI-driven platforms and tips for spotting trending topics early.

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Glimpse: AI-powered trend predictions

For knowing trends not only from Google but also platforms like TikTok, Reddit, and X (formerly Twitter), Glimpse is a top choice.

It accurately predicts trends ahead of time and lets users browse trending topics by category, such as business, marketing, and technology.

For example, if you select “business trends,” you’ll see insights into trending topics like CapCut which is an AI-powered video editor, and Descript for social media editing.

These insights can help you align your content with the tools and software gaining popularity right now.

Additionally, Glimpse offers a Chrome extension to layer Google Trends data with its own insights, giving you enriched trend graphs and popular search terms associated with your chosen topic.

Exploding Topics: Discover what’s next

Exploding Topics is another tool that provides early trend insights across various industries.

Its dashboard showcases trends across AI, marketing, tech, and more.

Users can filter by timeframes and niche to pinpoint trending topics in their field.

Suppose you’re interested in creating AI content—topics like “AI video generator” or “Fliki AI” could be areas worth exploring.

Additionally, for hidden trends not directly listed, you can use Google with the search term site:explodingtopics.com inurl:topics.

This trick brings up unique trend pages across specific areas, such as product trends or e-commerce, which are especially valuable if you’re in niche fields like dropshipping.

Outliers on vidIQ: Spotting high-performing content

One way to identify unique trends is by looking for outlier content.

You need to look for the topics that have outperformed the average on less popular channels.

Using tools like VidIQ’s Outliers feature can help pinpoint these high-impact videos.

Simply enter a keyword (like “AI content”) and filter for videos from smaller channels with high engagement rates relative to their subscriber count.

This outlier approach helps ensure you’re focusing on topics that resonate deeply with audiences even on low-subscriber channels, making it easier to gauge the potential for high engagement on similar content.

X (Twitter): Leverage trending topics and hashtags

X’s trending tab is another goldmine for current topics.

Set your location to a key market, like the US, to see what’s currently popular.

You can also dive deeper with Twitter’s advanced search modifiers.

For example, search “AI tools min_faves:50 since:2024-01-01” to display tweets that have been published since 2024 with at least 50 likes about trending AI tools.

This can be particularly useful for getting a sense of which tools or methods are gaining traction on social media.

Additionally, you can also use Tweet Hunter Chrome Extension which allows you to track the most popular tweets from selected accounts over time, giving you a sense of the ongoing interests within your niche.

Reddit: Niche insights and real-time trends

For niche communities and subtopics, Reddit is invaluable.

Let’s say you want to help small YouTubers grow their channels.

By searching for “YouTubers subreddit,” you’ll discover communities like r/NewTubers, where people share popular topics for new creators.

Use Reddit’s sorting options (e.g., top posts for this year) to get a snapshot of what’s working for others.

One trending question on Reddit is how to quickly monetize a YouTube channel, which is a hot topic among new creators.

👉 By focusing on the popular posts, you can tailor content to address the real-time questions and needs of a specific audience segment.

Perplexity: AI-curated topic discovery

When you need to discover trending topics fast, Perplexity is a powerful option.

For example, if you’re in the dieting niche, you could search for “major diet trends in 2024” and set the search focus to “social.”

This returns trending topics from Reddit, like the growing interest in whole foods or breakfast bowls.

Understanding these shifts allows you to strategically align your content with trends that audiences actively seek out.

Niche-specific tools for tailored trends

For industry-specific insights, there are several niche tools worth exploring:

• Product Hunt: Perfect for tech enthusiasts and software developers, Product Hunt lets you view the most popular new products and apps by day, week, or month. Monitoring trends here can offer inspiration for content about the latest apps or tools.
• Apple App Store: Use this to find trending mobile apps. If you’re looking for trending app ideas, search for a popular app in your category to see what the App Store recommends as similar options—this can reveal hidden trends and competitor insights.
• Thieve: Ideal for e-commerce creators and dropshippers, Thieve identifies trending products within the e-commerce space, making it easier to spot product ideas with high market potential.

Conclusion

Finding trending topics early can be your ticket to creating high-impact content that audiences crave.

With tools like Glimpse, Exploding Topics, and Perplexity, you’re no longer limited to the same stale keywords as everyone else.

Instead, you can tap into emerging trends across multiple platforms, fine-tuning your content strategy to resonate with new audience interests.

For creators eager to learn more, consider signing up for my free 7-day course.

This training covers in-depth strategies for creating educational and engaging content, helping you grow your audience and impact in your niche.