A trending topic is a subject that gains popularity on social media for a short period of time. It’s important for ecommerce businesses to stay on top of trends to ensure their content is relevant and that they can capitalize on opportunities. Trending topics can take the form of hashtags, keywords and popular videos or posts. They can also include TV premiers, celebrity announcements and social concerns. Trends are determined by algorithms created by each site and show up on pages or within search results. The algorithms are tailored to each user’s location, past searches or likes and who they follow on each platform.
Trending videos include try-on hauls, mini vlogs and food challenges, appealing to viewers who seek entertainment and authenticity. Dance challenges on TikTok continue to be a popular trend, while YouTube Shorts featuring pet tricks encourage viewer participation and showcase creativity. Quick DIY projects are also a popular niche as people look for ways to repurpose household items and showcase their creativity.
When participating in a trend, it’s important to consider the context and tone of your message. Avoid using humor at the expense of others or posting insensitively. Creating insensitive content can cause your brand to lose credibility. For example, a DiGiorno tweet that used the hashtag #WhyIStayed to promote its frozen pizzas was met with backlash because it was seen as insensitive to domestic violence victims and their families.