Looking to find trending keywords for SEO and digital marketing?
While you could create content based on any topic that comes to mind, it’s more effective when backed by research, especially SEO-focused research. Simply guessing what will work isn’t a smart strategy for growing your website or business.
The key here is finding trending keywords before big websites with large budgets can dominate the search results. Once you identify these keywords, you’ll be in a prime position to rank. 👑
That’s why you need to use effective strategies for discovering trending topics and keyword research tools that offer data-driven insights.
So, what exactly are trending keywords, and how can they help improve your rankings? Keep reading to discover the answers, along with 10 powerful strategies to find them!
What Are Trending Keywords?
Trending keywords are search terms that are gaining popularity right now. They reflect current interests or events and can be used to create timely content that boosts a website’s visibility and ranking.
For example, terms like “Super Bowl 2025,” “remote work opportunities,” or “new tech gadgets” are trending topics. 📈
In SEO, these keywords might not have much search history, so tools may show them with low or zero volume, but in reality, they could be driving significant traffic.
What Are the Benefits of Keyword Trends?
Top SEO experts and content marketers know that finding trending keywords is a smart use of their time.
These keywords connect your content to what people are actively searching for, making it a strong SEO strategy with significant benefits, including:
- First-mover advantage: By targeting keywords that are just emerging, you can jump ahead of the competition and be an early voice in the conversation.
- Better rankings: Content focused on trending keywords can rank higher on Google and other search engines than more competitive terms.
- Stronger brand perception: Addressing trends shows your brand is in tune with what matters to your audience, boosting your authority.
Pro tip: As trends change quickly, updating your keyword strategy regularly is key to staying ahead.
10 Top Strategies and Tools for Discovering Trending Keywords
There are many ways to find trending topics, discussions, and keywords, whether by exploring online communities or using specialized keyword research tools.
The goal is to spot rising trends that capture attention. In this guide, we’ll cover various techniques to help you discover the best keywords and topics for SEO blogging and other goals.
1. Keyword Research Tools to Get Great Opportunities
Keyword research tools are the primary way for discovering trending keywords because they are fast, data-driven, and reliable. These tools give you valuable insights into search volume, keyword difficulty, potential traffic, and related terms to help you find the best keywords for your content.
The Historical Search Volume data in research tools shows how search volume for terms changes over time. For example, a keyword like “best gaming chair 2025” might be rising as new models are released.
On the other hand, “iPhone 15 review” could be declining as interest shifts to newer models.
Monitoring these trends helps you target emerging topics and avoid outdated ones, keeping your content fresh and competitive.
2. Use Google Keyword Planner for Trending Keywords
Google Keyword Planner is a free tool that helps you discover trending keywords, search volume, and competition levels. You’ll need a Google Ads account in Expert Mode to access it, but once inside, you can explore keyword ideas, track monthly search trends, and analyze cost-per-click (CPC) data.
One of its most useful features is tracking keyword trends over time. For example, if the keyword “mortgage brokers” is seeing a spike in searches, it signals a growing interest. You can also sort keywords by competition and CPC to find profitable opportunities.
For a deeper dive, keyword research tools like keyword magic tools provide even more refined Google PPC data, helping you spot trends early and optimize your strategy.
3. Visit and Read Q&A Sites to Find What People Are Discussing
If your audience is active on Reddit, it’s a goldmine for spotting trending keywords and real-time discussions. The topics people talk about there often reflect what they’re searching for on Google.
Start by searching for a broad term in your niche. Let’s say “home brewing.” You’ll find subreddits like r/Homebrewing and r/Brewing, where users discuss everything from equipment recommendations to fermentation tips.
Sorting posts by “hot,” “top,” or “rising” can highlight emerging trends. For example, if you notice a spike in discussions about “beginner-friendly beer kits” or “low-alcohol craft brews,” those might be growing topics worth covering in your content.
4. Use Forums to Find Emerging Topics
Beyond Reddit and Quora, niche forums and boards provide valuable insights into what people are actively discussing. Google even has a dedicated “Forums” tab to help you find these conversations faster.
If a forum is buzzing about “how to get leads for my skate shop,” you’re seeing real business owners discussing their challenges and ideas. These organic discussions reveal not just rising topics but also why people care about them.
On the flip side, if conversations around “best cryptocurrency wallets” are slowing down, it might indicate fading interest.
Pro tip: By filtering for recent discussions, you can spot recurring questions and emerging trends before they peak!
5. Monitor Industry News and Updates
Keeping up with industry news is one of the best ways to spot trending keywords early.
News, pop culture, and major events drive tons of Google searches, so staying informed helps you tap into emerging topics before they peak.
Follow blogs, subscribe to newsletters, and keep an eye on industry updates. For example, if sustainable packaging is making headlines, people are likely searching for terms like “eco-friendly shipping materials” or “biodegradable mailers.”
Think like your audience: What news affects them? Whether it’s a new tech breakthrough or an economic shift, staying ahead keeps your content fresh and relevant.
6. Use Google Trends to Find Hot Topics
Google Trends is a great way to spot trending keywords before they explode. It shows search interest over time, letting you see what’s gaining momentum and what’s fading.
Just enter a keyword, and you’ll get a chart of its popularity. You can filter by location, category, and time range to find trends relevant to your niche. Tracking seasonal trends? Adjust the date range, like how the keyword “best winter jackets” spikes every December.
Want to see where a search term is most popular? Scroll down to the interest by region section. This map highlights which states or cities are searching for your keyword the most.
This is perfect for tailoring local SEO strategies. 🗺️
One of the most useful features is “Related queries,” which highlights fast-growing searches connected to your keyword. Google Trends categorizes them as:
- Top queries: The most searched terms related to your topic.
- Rising queries: Keywords with the biggest recent increase in search volume.
- Breakout queries: Searches that have skyrocketed by over 5,000%—these are the hottest trends to catch early.
By monitoring these, you can stay ahead of search trends and create content before your competitors do.
7. Monitor Social Media for Real-Time Topics and Trends
By tracking popular hashtags and discussions, you get a real-time look at what’s capturing your audience’s attention. Platforms like Twitter, Instagram, Tiktok, and even Youtube are especially helpful for this.
For example, trending location-specific hashtags can make your content more relevant to regional audiences.
On platforms like X (formerly Twitter), the “Trending” section shows what’s buzzing. Instagram has a “tags” section where you can explore popular terms. On TikTok, the Creative Center provides insights into trending hashtags.
Once you find these keywords, use them for content ideas or refine them for SEO. With trends like “sustainable fashion,” check the keyword volume and difficulty before deciding if it’s worth targeting.
8. Run Competitor Analysis to See What Your Competition Is Doing Right Now
Understand what your competitors are doing well and tweak your own strategy to stay ahead.
Start by checking out competitors’ websites and blogs to see which keywords are driving traffic and engagement.
You can also use tools like Keyword Gap to dive deeper into your competitors’ keyword performance. These tools offer keyword gap analysis, which highlights the terms your competitors rank for that you don’t, helping you discover new opportunities.
Consistently track what these keywords are to stay on top of trends and make adjustments to your SEO strategy.
9. Analyze the SERPs to Understand How Top Pages Are Changing
Observe features like featured snippets, knowledge panels, and “People Also Ask” to see how information is being presented and what questions users have.
These insights help you tailor your content to what people are actually searching for.
Tracking how the SERPs change over time is crucial. You can spot shifts in trending searches and adjust your strategy to stay competitive.
The SERPs can change in various ways that reveal evolving trends and user behavior. Here are some examples:
- Featured Snippets: A keyword that used to show regular organic results may suddenly start appearing in a featured snippet box, often ranking at the top of the page. This could indicate that users are looking for quick, concise answers to their queries.
- Knowledge Panels: If Google starts showing a knowledge panel for a topic, it suggests that there’s growing interest or importance around that subject.
- People Also Ask (PAA): As new questions or concerns emerge, the “People Also Ask” box will evolve. If a search term begins showing multiple follow-up questions, it’s a sign that more people are curious about various aspects of the topic.
- Seasonal Trends: Let’s say you’re tracking the keyword “best beach resorts.” A page that ranks at the top in summer might drop down in fall.
- Algorithm Updates: A page that ranks high today might not stay there after a Google algorithm update. A page may rank well due to backlinks, but a Google update on user intent could push a more comprehensive guide ahead.
- Content Refresh: Outdated content might rank well today but lose their position if competitors refresh their content or add more valuable information.
- User Intent Shifts: The top-ranking pages can change based on shifts in user intent. “How to start a podcast” might rank text guides, but if users prefer videos or interactive tools, those could replace text articles.
10. Track Content Performance to Know What’s Really Trending
Tracking how your content performs with trending keywords helps you see what’s working, what’s not, and what’s gaining traction. For example, you can tweak your content to stay relevant and ahead of trends.
To make your life easier, use a tool that integrates with both Google Search Console (GSC), Google Analytics (GA4), and keyword rank tracker (KRT) to monitor keyword performance.
Using these tools together in a single report gives you a clear picture of how your content is performing and if your keywords are still hitting the mark.
Using AI to Keep Up With Google’s Constant Updates and Industry Shifts
Staying on top of keyword trends is a goldmine for easy rankings, but let’s be real: it’s a never-ending job. 😵
Trends shift fast, and just when you think you’ve cracked the code, Google drops an update that reshuffles the SERPs. What’s ranking today might tank tomorrow, while new opportunities rise.
The good news? You don’t have to keep up with it all manually. Meet OTTO, the first AI SEO agent that automates almost every part of SEO: technical fixes, on-page optimization, content creation, and more.
Once you integrate your Google Search Console (GSC) and Google Business Profile (GBP), OTTO constantly tracks SERP changes in your niche. The moment Google or user behavior shifts, it identifies new keyword opportunities and can instantly update your content or create fresh pages.
Unlike other AI tools that just suggest changes, OTTO actually implements them. 😎
Plus, Search Atlas provides everything else for a complete SEO strategy—keyword research, backlinks, competitor analysis, site audits, and more.
Why keep struggling to stay ahead when you can automate your rankings? Try OTTO’s free trial today!
