Learn how to find, analyze, apply, and measure trends on Instagram, and how to create captivating content that boosts your reach, engagement, and conversion.

Contrarian view. Most social media trend platforms, research, blogs are useless. Why are they useless? Because they are compiled weeks or sometimes even months after the trend has taken place. By that time the audience has moved on. The trend bus has left the station. Want to stay ahead of masses? Have your social media manager dedicate 1-2 hours per day just scrolling the platforms and producing content in real-time. That is how you catch trends. That is how you win social.

How can you use trend research to stay ahead on Instagram?

Instagram is one of the most popular and dynamic social media platforms, where trends can emerge and fade quickly. If you want to grow your audience and engagement, you need to stay on top of what's hot and what's not. Trend research is the process of identifying, analyzing, and applying the latest patterns, topics, and styles that resonate with your target market. In this article, you'll learn how to use trend research to stay ahead on Instagram and create captivating content that attracts and retains your followers.

1 Why trend research matters

Trend research is not just about following the crowd or copying what others are doing; rather, it’s about understanding what your audience wants, needs, and expects from you and how you can deliver value and relevance to them. Trend research can help you discover new opportunities and niches that align with your brand and goals, create content that stands out, and adapt to changing consumer preferences and behaviors. Additionally, trend research can help you enhance your brand image and credibility as a leader and innovator in your industry or niche, as well as boost your reach and visibility through the use of relevant hashtags, keywords, and formats.

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Christina Minshull

CEO, The Brand Audit | Ex-LinkedIn
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Contrarian view. Most social media trend platforms, research, blogs are useless. Why are they useless? Because they are compiled weeks or sometimes even months after the trend has taken place. By that time the audience has moved on. The trend bus has left the station. Want to stay ahead of masses? Have your social media manager dedicate 1-2 hours per day just scrolling the platforms and producing content in real-time. That is how you catch trends. That is how you win social.

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2 How to find trends on Instagram

Finding trends on Instagram can be done in multiple ways, but some of the most effective and accessible ones are the Explore page, hashtags, Insights, and competitors. The Explore page showcases the most popular content based on interests, activity, and location. Hashtags are keywords or phrases that categorize posts and make them searchable. Insights is the analytics tool that Instagram provides for business and creator accounts to track performance and demographic data. Lastly, competitors are accounts that offer similar products or services as you and target the same audience. Following them or using tools like Social Blade or Sprout Social can help identify gaps, opportunities, and best practices for your own content strategy.

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Usama Shahzad

Gold Medalist 🥇 | Social Media Manager | Top Social Media Marketing Voice💡| Branding and Advertising | Campaign Management | Social Media & Marketing Management
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Explore the "Explore" tab on Instagram to discover trending content and hashtags. Instagram's tailors this section to your interests.

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3 How to analyze trends on Instagram

When analyzing trends on Instagram, it's important to ask yourself a few questions. What is the source and context of the trend? Is it related to an event, season, or occasion? Who is influencing it? What is the purpose and message behind the trend? Is it controversial, humorous, or emotional? Additionally, consider the appeal and impact of the trend. How many people are following or participating in it? What is its relevance and alignment to your brand identity, values, and voice? Analyzing trends can help you understand how they relate to your brand, goals, and audience.

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Tabitha Donnell

I used to help big brands with their marketing. Now I work with entrepreneurs to win clients with their LinkedIn profiles + social media accounts → No LinkedIn Experience Required Newsletter → Air Force Veteran
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I’ve got something to say: Let’s cut to the chase: Not every trend aligns with your brand, and not every trend needs to be jumped on. 1. Just because everyone’s doing it doesn’t mean it’s beneficial for your brand. You need a strategy, not a follow-the-herd mentality. 2. If a trend doesn’t align with your brand’s value and identity, ditch it. It’s as simple as that. 3. Is jumping on this trend going to give you ROI? If not, your time is better spent elsewhere. Popularity doesn’t pay the bills. 4. What’s the point of participating in a trend if it doesn’t connect with your audience? Know your audience, what they care about, and stick to it. In short, trends come and go, but your brand’s integrity and reputation are forever.

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4 How to apply trends on Instagram

Analyzing trends is not enough; you need to apply them and see how they work for you. To do so, be selective and strategic when choosing which trends to follow. Plan your content calendar and schedule posts accordingly. Additionally, be creative and original with the trend, adding your own twist and personality to it. Make sure your content is authentic and engaging, providing useful or entertaining value to your audience. Invite them to interact with you by asking for their opinions or feedback, or even inviting them to join or create their own trends.

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5 How to measure trends on Instagram

Measuring trends on Instagram is just as important as applying them. Reach measures the number of unique accounts that have seen your post or story, while impressions show how often your content has appeared on the platform. Engagement tracks the number of actions that users have taken on your post or story, such as likes, comments, and shares. Finally, conversion captures the number of users that have taken a desired action after seeing your post or story. All of these metrics demonstrate how far your content has spread, how much exposure it has gained, how much interest and interaction it has generated, and how effective it has been in driving traffic, leads, or sales.

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6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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Usama Shahzad

Gold Medalist 🥇 | Social Media Manager | Top Social Media Marketing Voice💡| Branding and Advertising | Campaign Management | Social Media & Marketing Management
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Trends on Instagram can change rapidly, so staying agile and responsive is key. Consistency in monitoring trends and adapting your content accordingly will help you stay ahead and keep your Instagram presence fresh and engaging.

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Christina Minshull

CEO, The Brand Audit | Ex-LinkedIn
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If you're aiming to delve into the broader shifts in people's interests, tools like "Google Trends" and "Answer the Public" can be valuable navigators to guide you through the ever-evolving currents of public fascination.

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How can you use trend research to stay ahead on Instagram?

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1 Why trend research matters

2 How to find trends on Instagram

3 How to analyze trends on Instagram

4 How to apply trends on Instagram

5 How to measure trends on Instagram

6 Here’s what else to consider

Social Media Marketing

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How can you use trend research to stay ahead on Instagram?

1

2

3

4

5

6

1 Why trend research matters

2 How to find trends on Instagram

3 How to analyze trends on Instagram

4 How to apply trends on Instagram

5 How to measure trends on Instagram

6 Here’s what else to consider

Social Media Marketing

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