Tools for Finding Trending Content Ideas on Social Media
No more staring at a blank screen. These tools help you figure out what people actually want to see.
Coming up with fresh content ideas every week gets old fast. But staying relevant means knowing what’s trending—not just what you want to post. Luckily, there are tools that do the digging for you, so you’re not stuck chasing random hashtags or copying what everyone else is doing.
Here are some tools that actually help you find trending topics, formats, and sounds—without spending hours scrolling.
TrendTok Analytics – For TikTok Trends That Aren’t Old News
TrendTok is built specifically for creators who want to catch viral TikTok trends before they blow up. You can see trending sounds, hashtags, and creators based on category or region. It even shows you how fast a trend is growing so you’re not hopping on something already played out.
If short-form video is your main thing, this one’s gold. It also gives tips on how to use trends in different niches, which takes out the guesswork.
Pinterest Trends – Built-In Insights for Visual Searches
Pinterest isn’t just a place to pin recipes anymore. Their built-in Pinterest Trends tool shows you what people are searching for in real time. You can filter by country and category and see which topics are rising week by week.
It’s especially useful for seasonal content, DIY, fashion, and wellness. And since Pinterest trends often show up before they hit Instagram or Facebook, you get a little head start.
Google Trends – Still One of the Best for Big-Picture Ideas
Google Trends gives you a peek at what people are searching across the internet—not just on social media. You can see what’s trending globally or locally, filter by time frame, and even compare search terms to spot patterns.
Let’s say you run a food page. You might search “air fryer recipes” vs. “one pot meals” and find out what’s climbing. That can shape your next few posts, blog topics, or video themes.
TikTok Creative Center – See What’s Hot Right Now
TikTok’s Creative Center is an underrated gem. It shows trending hashtags, top songs, breakout creators, and popular ads. You can even filter by industry or region.
It’s built for marketers, but anyone can use it to spark content ideas. Instead of just guessing what’s trending, you get real data straight from the source. Pair it with TrendTok, and you’ve got everything you need to jump on trends early.
Instagram Explore and Reels Tabs – Manual, But Effective
This isn’t technically a tool, but it still works. Spend 10–15 minutes a few times a week scrolling your Instagram Explore page and the Reels tab. The posts and videos that show up are often trending in your niche—or close to it.
Watch for patterns:
- Same audio used in multiple Reels?
- Common topics showing up in different styles?
- Certain visual styles or captions popping up more often?
Take notes, screenshot ideas, or save them to a private folder to refer to later.
AnswerThePublic – Great for Question-Based Content
AnswerThePublic pulls real Google search queries based on a keyword. It shows what people are actually asking, which makes it great for building tutorials, tip posts, and “did you know” content.
Type in a topic like “Instagram engagement” or “meal prep,” and you’ll get a giant list of questions you can turn into bite-sized posts, stories, or reels.
It’s also helpful if you’re planning content around blog traffic or SEO. Win-win.
Exploding Topics – For Early Trend Spotting
Exploding Topics tracks what’s just starting to rise in search volume—before it becomes saturated. You can browse by category or timeframe and spot early-stage content ideas that might not be mainstream yet.
If you want to be ahead of the curve rather than chasing old trends, this one’s worth bookmarking.
YouTube Trending Tab – Watch for Cross-Platform Trends
YouTube’s trending section helps you see what’s popping in longer video form, which often spills over into other platforms. If a challenge or topic is trending on YouTube, there’s a solid chance it’ll land on TikTok and Instagram next.
Even if you’re not on YouTube yourself, checking the trending tab once or twice a week can help you spot big themes you can break down into short, snackable posts.
