Identifying trending topics on Instagram can mean the difference between a flop post and one that goes viral. Everyone wants their content to reach as many users as possible, but social media algorithms favor engagement. Capturing audience interest by creating content on trending topics is the best way to boost engagement. But how to find Social Media Trends? This guide will share valuable tips on finding trending topics on Instagram to help you achieve your social media goals. 

One of the most effective tools for finding viral social media trends is the virality analysis tool from Virlo AI. This tool helps users analyze social media posts so they can uncover trends and learn how to create content that will go viral.

Table of C0ntents

• Benefits of Instagram Marketing for Brands

• How to Leverage Trends on Instagram

• How to Find Trending Topics on Instagram in 9 Simple Ways

• 10 Famous Instagram Influencers Leveraging Trends

• Go Viral with Virlo's Virality Analysis Tool

Benefits of Instagram Marketing for Brands

1. Build Your Brand Identity

Brands often struggle to define their identity and connect with customers. Instagram can help you create and enhance your brand identity through consistent visual content, which lets you showcase your personality and values. A screenshot of Mari Maria's Instagram grid Take Instagrammer Mari Maria as a great example of this in action. The influencer hosts a following of 22M on Instagram. She recently launched her cosmetics and hair products brand and curates everything to her signature color, bright orange. Although subtle, every post is curated to her brand color and tone.

2. It’s Visually Appealing

As a platform centered on visual content, Instagram allows you to showcase your products and services visually appealingly, which is particularly beneficial for the fashion, food, and beauty industries. A screenshot of OPI's reel showing someone painting nails Image Source OPI is a nail polish brand that embraces Instagram's visual aspect. Through eye-catching reels and videos, the brand successfully shares its products and manicures' outcomes, motivating its target audience to use and purchase them.

3. Engagement Can Easily Skyrocket

Instagram typically has higher engagement rates than other social media platforms. You can interact directly with your audience on Instagram through comments, likes, and stories. Wendy's is a brand that rocks engagement. The brand invests in community management by actively commenting, replying, and tagging others. Wendys' brand voice is known for "roasting" others, and they have garnered quite the following through this unique and highly effective strategy.

4. It's an Easy Way to Grow Your Audience Following

With over a billion active users, Instagram provides a vast audience base that businesses can tap into. It's an excellent platform for reaching new and diverse customer groups. Nike is a brand with a strong Instagram following. In 2024, the brand has more than 305M followers and continues to grow yearly. Once you find your target audience on the platform, you can niche market directly toward them and grow your brand.

5. You Can Get a Great ROI Through Targeted Advertising

Instagram's integration with Facebook's advertising platform allows you to use advanced targeting options to reach specific demographics, interests, and behaviors. Plus, you can get creative in how you target people. For example, you want to go beyond targeting by age. In that case, you can target users with interests similar to your field. For example, if you are a brand that sells curated meal plans, you could target your ads to people interested in fitness, bodybuilding, or even parenthood. Additionally, you want to get a little crafty. In that case, you can also target users interested in your competitor's products and showcase your brand.

6. Through Insights and Analytics, You Can Analyse Your Performance

Instagram offers tools that provide insights into your follower demographics, content performance, and engagement metrics, enabling you to make better strategic decisions. Without these analytics, it can be hard to adjust your strategy if you aren't sure where it is effective. So, deeply dive into Instagram's insights and analytics and see where to boost or modify things to fit your strategy best.

7. Influencer Collaborations are Popular and Efficient

If a stranger told you that food was yummy, you probably wouldn't believe them. However, if someone you knew or trusted recommended their favorite food brand, you might be inclined to try it out. That's precisely how influencer collaborations work and why they are essential to your brand. The platform is known for its strong influencer community. So, you can partner with influencers to gain credibility and reach broader audiences. The popular Instagrammer from The Broke Generation is an excellent example of influencer collaboration. 

The Broke Generation hosts a following of almost 90k, and the influencer partnered with Every Plate for affiliate marketing. She shared her experience and reviews, and when her followers signed up for Every Plate, she was compensated through a kickback—a win-win situation for both parties.

8. You Can Spice Things Up with Different Types of Content

Instagram supports various types of content, including photos, videos, stories, reels, and live broadcasts, which allows you to keep your content fresh and engaging. So, this is an excellent opportunity for you to recycle content. If you have a reel you created, post a short clip as a story or use the reel creation time to snap a few top-notch photos. Instead of just one method, you have used three approaches to get the word out on Instagram. 

The significant part is that with Instagram's insights and analytics, you can see which version of your content resonates best with your brand. That way, you can learn how to invest your time in content creation best. Sendible's content libraries feature is a great way to pull from a library full of inspiration. You can store ideas in frequently used hashtags, organize content by tags, and pair this with integrations like Canva to pull images in.

9. E-Commerce Features Have a Strong Pull

Instagram has integrated shopping features, like shoppable posts and Instagram Checkout, which make it easier for users to shop directly from the app. Check out how the brand CupShe uses Instagram's features. On almost every post, it encourages users to check out the link in their bio. The links are shortened bitly links that connect users to their website where they can shop. Although there are several methods that e-commerce can be used, this is also a simple and effective strategy.

10. Instagram Encourages Community Building

As a business brand, you can build a community around your brand by engaging with followers, responding to comments, and participating in or starting conversations. Your posts don't need just to be informational or linked to content. Instead, you can creatively engage users and encourage them to talk with your brand. Check out the remarkable example of an engaging post from Colour Pop Cosmetics. The brand posted two photos and asked users which one they would wear to a music festival. By giving users something to talk about, the brand opened the door to comments, which increased engagement and boosted the post to the top of many users' Instagram feeds.

11. It's Optimised for Mobile

Since Instagram is designed primarily for mobile use, it aligns well with the increasing trend of consumers using mobile devices for shopping and browsing. Studies show that the most common way people view social media is on their phones, so it's essential to create optimized content for mobile. When creating content for your brand's Instagram account, stick to vertical videos for short-form content and be aware of the best sizes for photos and stories on the Instagram platform.

12. Your Budget Will Go a Lot Further

Starting and maintaining an Instagram account is free; even paid promotions are relatively cost-effective compared to other marketing channels. Creating a marketing strategy using Instagram does not necessarily mean you need to invest exorbitant amounts of money. A little bit goes a long way in terms of marketing on Instagram.

How to Leverage Trends on Instagram

1. Pinpoint the Right Trends for Your Niche

Not every trend is created equal. Some will be better for your brand than others. Here’s how to identify the right ones for your business. 

Use Trend Tracking Tools 

You can use several resources to research what’s trending on Instagram. Websites like Google Trends, Twitter, and TikTok can help you locate popular content. You can also find conversations about your industry on Reddit or niche forums.

Focus On Your Audience’s Interests

Consider what matters most to your audience. For example, if you’re a fitness blogger, look for trends relating to exercise routines, diets, or health issues.

2. Make Sure You Understand the Trend 

Before you jump on a trend, spend some time learning about it. Consider the following questions: 

• Where did this trend start?

• Why is it popular now?

Is it positive, funny, or controversial?

A solid understanding of the trend will help you confidently approach the subject. For example, your content might explore the features of a new app, explain how it works, or offer sage advice if it’s becoming popular.

3. Put Your Spin on It 

The key to getting noticed is to add your twist to a trend. Rather than restating what has already been said, strike a new angle. Here are a few ideas: 

Tell a personal Story

Make a connection between the trend and your personal life. People love relatable content. 

Share expert Insights 

If you’re an authority on the subject, explain why the trend matters or how it impacts your audience. 

Be Creative

Use narrative, humor, or visuals to make your content more enjoyable. 

4. Choose the Right Format and Platform 

Once you fully grasp your viewpoint, it’s time to decide on the ideal format for sharing your content. As a Certified Social Media & Content Marketing Professional, you’ll create trend-appropriate, impactful blogs, videos, or reels. 

Short-form Content

Use social media sites like Instagram or TikTok to create brief, digestible films on the trend. 

Long-form Content

Write in-depth blog posts or create detailed YouTube videos if the trend needs explaining. 

5. Act Quickly Without Sacrificing Quality 

When it comes to trends, timing is everything. Wait too long, and folks lose interest. Rush to publish, and you could produce shoddy work. Here’s how to find a balance between quality and speed: 

Set up a Workflow

Establish a simple process for brainstorming, producing, and quickly posting content. 

Use templates

Create content templates to fill them in when a trend emerges quickly. 

Stick to your Standards

Even if you’re working quickly, ensure your writing appears clean and professional. 

6. Track Results and Learn 

After publishing your content, monitor its performance by counting views, likes, and shares. While setbacks will teach you essential lessons to sharpen your strategy for future trends and audience engagement, success will show you what works. 

How Can Virlo Help Me Go Viral on TikTok?  

Virlo helps short-form content creators crack the code of virality through AI-powered trend analysis. Our platform combines creator insights with advanced analytics to identify winning content patterns, optimal posting times, and successful audio/video combinations that help your content stand out in today’s fast-moving social landscape. Perfect for independent creators looking to build a sustainable side business, Virlo takes the guesswork out of content strategy. 

We analyze the latest viral trends and help you understand when to post and what combinations of elements drive engagement. Whether you’re just starting or looking to optimize your existing content, Virlo enables you to navigate the ever-changing algorithms to increase your chances of going viral. Go viral with Virlo’s virality analysis tool.

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How to Find Trending Topics on Instagram in 9 Simple Ways

1. Use Virlo to Find Instagram Trends

Through AI-powered trend analysis, Virlo helps short-form video content creators crack the virality code. Our platform combines creator insights with advanced analytics to identify winning content patterns, optimal posting times, and successful audio/video combinations that help your content stand out in today’s fast-moving social landscape. Perfect for independent creators looking to build a sustainable side business, Virlo takes the guesswork out of content strategy. 

We analyze the latest viral trends and help you understand when to post and what combinations of elements drive engagement. Whether you’re just starting or looking to optimize your existing content, Virlo enables you to navigate the ever-changing algorithms to increase your chances of going viral. Go viral with Virlo’s virality analysis tool. 

2. Explore the Latest Reels

The Instagram Reels feed can be the best place to start your search for trending content. Here, you can see what’s popular from a viewer’s perspective while watching fun new videos. Instagram’s Reels feed and Explore page are based on in-app trends. What you find in these places only reaches you because the algorithm knows how to show you the most popular materials. 

This means you can use this research to understand better what’s trending on Instagram Reels. As you scroll, look for common themes or styles that often occur for Reels that are relevant to your industry or niche. Can you spot any trending sounds or video ideas? Which videos engage best when you review likes, comments, and shares? Use this information to inform your following content creation decisions.

3. Use the Instagram Search Bar 

The Instagram search bar is another effective tool for finding trends on Instagram. Follow these steps to identify popular and engaging hashtags: Open the Instagram app and tap the search icon at the bottom of the screen. Type a keyword or phrase related to your niche or post in the search bar and hit the icon. Click on the “Tags” tab at the top of the screen to see the relevant hashtag search results. 

Scroll through the list of hashtags to see which ones are most used. Hashtags with higher posts are generally better indicators of hashtags with great potential to get more likes, followers, and comments. Click on a hashtag relevant to your content to see top or recent posts and reels using those hashtags. Open some of the top posts/reels and explore what hashtags people used and the ones you searched.

4. Use Instagram’s Explore Page

Like the method mentioned, using the Instagram Explore page is another easy way to find trending hashtags. Follow these simple steps: Open the Instagram app and click the magnifying glass icon at the bottom of the screen to go to the Explore page. In the search bar at the top of the screen, type in a keyword related to your niche or topic of interest. 

For example, if you’re a fitness blogger, you might search for “fitness” or “workout.” Once you’ve entered your keyword, you’ll see a grid of posts related to that topic. Instead of going to the “Tags” tab, choose the “For you” tab. You can also tap on any of the posts to see the complete caption and view additional trending hashtags that are being used.

5. View Trend Stats on the App

You can now access Reel trends directly using the Instagram app! Simply navigate to the professional dashboard and choose the Reels trends option to view trending audio and hashtags. By researching trends on Instagram, you can trust that you’re getting the most up-to-date information. Reel trends are designed to show you trending music and hashtag options that you can easily use to produce your on-trend video content. 

You can also find trending songs by checking the audio name on the screen when you watch someone else’s Reel. A trending sound will be displayed with an upward arrow to show its success is rising. You can then save top trending songs and add them to your upcoming Instagram Reels. Easy!

6. View Instagram’s Weekly Trend Report

Why not get the scoop directly from the team at Instagram? The weekly trend report on Instagram’s @creators account can be a great source of inspiration and current Instagram tips. The Creators account is home to great insights about new Reels trends, from popular audio tracks to growing visual trends and challenges. The weekly report event offers fast facts to help you better understand the algorithm and how to make it work for you! 

Simply follow the Instagram Creator’s account and stay updated with their posts. This can give you the edge in producing your Reels, making your content more likely to find its way to explore the page. Get ready to create your own trending Reels for unbeatable growth results.

7. Check Out New Instagram Reels Templates

Instagram templates don’t just make content creation easier. They can also help you spot which formats and video styles are growing in popularity on the app. Open the Reels editor and slide into the templates tab. Here, find popular templates you can use to create original content automatically. If you choose a template with a trending sound matched to it, your video could be the next to join in the trend. 

Using Instagram templates in this way can also help you save time, which allows you to create content quickly while trends are still growing. This can help you be part of building new trends, which may make it more likely for your video to be discovered. Who knows? Your content might be used as another user’s template someday!

8. Find Out What’s Trending on TikTok

While the best and most current insights come from Instagram, exploring TikTok trends can help you see what’s in store for the gram. Often, an Instagram Reels trend gets its start on TikTok. When you find trending TikTok content, you can begin to predict upcoming Insta trends before they make their way to the Instagram app. This allows you to be part of the transition from TikTok to Instagram and can help position you as a trending Reels leader. 

Whether you’re looking for styles, techniques, ideas, or trending audio, the latest TikTok insights can help you plan. You’ll stay one step ahead of what’s popular and take pride in your ability to find trending materials before anyone else does. A headstart like this could be a game-changer in social media marketing!

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10 Famous Instagram Influencers Leveraging Trends

1. Chiara Ferragni (@chiaraferragni): The Fashion Trendsetter Who Started It All

Chiara Ferragni is one of the original fashion influencers, and she has paved the way for countless others to follow. With over 40 million Instagram followers, she has much clout in the fashion industry. As trends come and go, Chiara has mastered incorporating them into her lifestyle posts to keep her content fresh and engaging. For instance, she focuses on sustainability and digital transformation in the fashion industry. You can see this in her posts as she promotes eco-friendly brands and practices and incorporates emerging technologies like AI into her content.  

2. Zach King (@zachking): The King of Visual Effects  

Zach King is a master of video editing. He is known for his “magic” videos that blend the real world with visual effects to create enchanting and mind-bending illusions. With over 25 million followers on Instagram, Zach has a talent for evolving and keeping his content fresh. As technology advances, he adapts his work to incorporate these changes. For instance, he continually improves his skills with new video editing software, and as augmented reality becomes more mainstream, he has begun using it in his videos.  

3. Bretman Rock (@bretmanrock): The Beauty Influencer Who Makes Trends Fun

Bretman Rock is a beauty influencer who isn’t afraid to show off his personality. With over 18 million followers on Instagram, Bretman’s content combines humor with beauty trends, making his posts relatable and entertaining. He keeps his content fresh by participating in viral makeup challenges, curating content around pop culture moments, and using his platform to promote inclusivity.  

4. Huda Kattan (@hudabeauty): The Beauty Mogul Capitalizing on Trends

With over 50 million Instagram followers, Huda Kattan uses her platform to showcase her products and capitalize on viral beauty hacks. The founder of Huda Beauty, Huda’s feed is filled with aesthetically pleasing photos and videos demonstrating trending beauty techniques, like dewy makeup looks and glass skin tutorials.  

5. Marques Brownlee (@mkbhd): The Tech Guru  

Marques Brownlee is a tech reviewer who updates his followers on the latest gadgets and trends. With over 17 million subscribers on YouTube and 2 million followers on Instagram, he is renowned for his in-depth reviews and high production quality. Marques keeps his content fresh by covering trends like foldable phones, AI tools, and sustainable tech solutions.  

6. Emma Chamberlain (@emmachamberlain): The Quirky Influencer Next Door

Emma Chamberlain’s authentic and quirky personality resonates with younger audiences. Her YouTube channel features a variety of content, from lifestyle to fashion, but Emma is also a popular Instagram influencer with over 14 million followers. She keeps her content fresh by incorporating nostalgic aesthetics into her posts and trending coffee recipes that appeal to her audience’s current interests.  

7. Addison Rae (@addisonraee): The Dance Queen  

TikTok star turned Instagram influencer Addison Rae has taken the social media world by storm. With over 36 million followers on Instagram, she quickly rose to fame by posting dance videos on TikTok. When she’s not busy creating music with her favorite artists or starring in movies, she keeps her content fresh by capitalizing on the latest pop culture trends and viral music.  

8. Chris Burkard (@chrisburkard): The Adventure Photographer

Chris Burkard is a travel and nature photographer known for his breathtaking outdoor photography. With over 3 million Instagram followers, Chris keeps his content fresh by integrating trending adventure spots and eco-tourism initiatives. His stunning photos highlight the importance of preserving our planet’s natural environments and keeping them intact for future generations.  

9. Nikkie de Jager (@nikkietutorials): The Inclusivity Advocate  

Nikkie de Jager is a renowned makeup artist leveraging Instagram for tutorials and advocacy. She gained fame after her “The Power of Makeup” video went viral; today, she has over 14 million followers. Nikkie keeps her content fresh by highlighting trending makeup techniques and collaborating with inclusivity-driven brands.  

10. Will Smith (@willsmith): The Entertainer  

Will Smith is a Hollywood actor turned digital creator who uses Instagram to share motivational and humorous content. He engages his audience with over 50 million followers by participating in viral challenges and creating humorous spins on trending memes.

Go Viral with Virlo's Virality Analysis Tool

Virlo helps short-form content creators crack the code of virality through AI-powered trend analysis. Our platform combines creator insights with advanced analytics to identify winning content patterns, optimal posting times, and successful audio/video combinations that help your content stand out in today’s fast-moving social landscape. Perfect for independent creators looking to build a sustainable side business, Virlo takes the guesswork out of content strategy. 

We analyze the latest viral trends and help you understand when to post and what combinations of elements drive engagement. Whether you’re just starting or looking to optimize your existing content, Virlo enables you to navigate the ever-changing algorithms to increase your chances of going viral. Go viral with Virlo’s virality analysis tool.

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