# Trend Data Sources

## Overview

This document catalogs the primary data sources for discovering and validating trends through the Internet Pipes methodology. Each source provides different insights, and cross-referencing multiple sources increases confidence in trend identification.

## Search Engines

### Google Trends

**URL**: https://trends.google.com

**What it provides**:

- Search volume over time (relative, not absolute)
- Geographic distribution of interest
- Related queries (rising and top)
- Related topics
- Comparison of multiple trends
- Breakout trends (>5000% growth)

**Best for**:

- Validating sustained interest over time
- Identifying seasonal patterns
- Geographic trend analysis
- Discovering related searches
- Comparing multiple trends head-to-head

**How to use**:

- Search for specific keywords or topics
- Set time range (past hour, day, month, year, 5 years, custom)
- Filter by geography, category, search type
- Look for "Rising" queries (most important for trend discovery)
- Check "Interest over time" for trajectory
- Export data for further analysis

**Limitations**:

- Relative data, not absolute search numbers
- Requires sufficient search volume
- Can't distinguish between positive/negative interest
- US-focused by default (adjust geography)

**Pro tips**:

- Use "Compare" feature to validate one trend vs. another
- Check both broad and specific keywords
- Look at related queries for niche opportunities
- Use category filters to reduce noise
- Check "Breakout" designation for emerging trends

---

### Google Autocomplete & Related Searches

**What it provides**:

- Real-time query suggestions
- "People also ask" questions
- Related searches at bottom of results page

**Best for**:

- Discovering what questions people are asking
- Finding related topics and niches
- Understanding search intent
- Content gap identification

**How to use**:

- Start typing a query, observe autocomplete suggestions
- Search and scroll to "People also ask"
- Scroll to bottom for "Related searches"
- Try different seed keywords
- Use incognito mode for unbiased results

**Pro tips**:

- Autocomplete reveals actual queries people type
- Questions indicate information gaps
- Related searches show semantic relationships
- Compare autocomplete across different seed keywords

---

## Social Media Platforms

### TikTok

**Best for**:

- Early signal detection (often trends here first)
- Understanding how trends spread visually
- Demographic insights (skews younger)
- Content format ideas

**What to monitor**:

- Hashtag view counts (#trend → 100M views)
- Sound/audio usage (songs, audio memes)
- Creator adoption rate (how many making content)
- Comment themes (what people are saying)
- Engagement rates relative to followers

**How to use**:

- Search hashtags and track view counts over time
- Browse "For You" page for emerging content types
- Check trending sounds in video creation
- Analyze comments for audience sentiment
- Look for creator challenges and duets

**Trend indicators**:

- ✅ Hashtag views growing rapidly
- ✅ Multiple creators adopting independently
- ✅ Crossing to different creator niches
- ✅ Comments asking "where to buy" or "how to do"
- ✅ Mainstream brands starting to participate

---

### Instagram

**Best for**:

- Visual trends (fashion, beauty, lifestyle, food)
- Influencer adoption tracking
- Aesthetic movements
- Product discovery

**What to monitor**:

- Hashtag post counts
- Trending audio in Reels
- Save ratios (high saves = high interest)
- Stories poll results and question responses
- Collaborative posts and tags

**How to use**:

- Search hashtags, note post counts and recency
- Check "Top" vs "Recent" to see what's gaining traction
- Monitor influencer content in relevant niches
- Track brands entering the trend space
- Observe aesthetic patterns and style shifts

**Trend indicators**:

- ✅ Hashtag growing in post count
- ✅ Influencers organically posting (not sponsored)
- ✅ High engagement relative to follower count
- ✅ Cross-posting from TikTok (trend maturing)
- ✅ Multiple brands adopting

---

### Reddit

**Best for**:

- Deep community insights
- Product recommendations and reviews
- Niche trend discovery
- Authentic conversations

**What to monitor**:

- Subreddit subscriber growth
- Post upvotes and comment counts
- Recurring themes in top posts
- Questions being asked repeatedly
- Community wiki and FAQs (what's established)

**Key subreddits for trend discovery**:

- r/InternetIsBeautiful (new tools/sites)
- r/shutupandtakemymoney (products people want)
- r/BuyItForLife (quality/durability trends)
- r/DidntKnowIWantedThat (discovery)
- Category-specific subreddits (r/fitness, r/skincareaddiction, etc.)

**How to use**:

- Sort by "Top" → "This Month" to find rising topics
- Search keywords, sort by recent and engagement
- Read comments for nuanced opinions
- Check multiple related subreddits
- Monitor crossposting between communities

**Trend indicators**:

- ✅ Topic appearing in multiple subreddits
- ✅ High engagement relative to subreddit size
- ✅ New subreddits forming around topic
- ✅ Repeated questions about where to find/buy
- ✅ Community creating resources (wikis, guides)

---

### Twitter/X

**Best for**:

- Real-time trend detection
- News-driven trends
- Thought leader opinions
- B2B and tech trends

**What to monitor**:

- Trending hashtags and topics
- Tweet volume around keywords
- Influencer/expert discussions
- Quote tweet ratios (indicates strong opinions)
- Bookmark counts (indicates utility)

**How to use**:

- Check "Trending" section daily
- Use Advanced Search for keyword monitoring
- Follow industry thought leaders
- Monitor branded hashtags
- Track lists of relevant accounts

**Trend indicators**:

- ✅ Organic trending (not sponsored)
- ✅ Sustained conversation over days
- ✅ Multiple industries discussing
- ✅ Media outlets covering
- ✅ Brands responding

---

### YouTube

**Best for**:

- Tutorial content demand
- Long-form content trends
- Educational interest
- Product reviews and unboxings

**What to monitor**:

- Video view counts relative to channel size
- Upload frequency on topic
- Comment sentiment and questions
- Views-per-day rate (velocity)
- Thumbnail/title patterns

**How to use**:

- Search topic, filter by upload date
- Sort by view count or relevance
- Check "Related videos" sidebar
- Read top comments for questions/sentiment
- Monitor specific channels in your niche

**Trend indicators**:

- ✅ New channels forming around topic
- ✅ Established creators adopting topic
- ✅ High views relative to channel subscribers
- ✅ Comments indicating intent to try/buy
- ✅ Multiple video formats (tutorials, reviews, vlogs)

---

### Pinterest

**Best for**:

- Visual search trends
- Planning-phase interests (weddings, home, recipes)
- Craft and DIY trends
- Seasonal trend forecasting

**What to monitor**:

- "Popular" and "Trending" sections
- Save counts on pins
- Board creation around topics
- Search volume indicators
- Emerging categories

**How to use**:

- Check Pinterest Trends tool (if available)
- Search keywords, note results count
- Look at "Related searches"
- Monitor boards being created
- Track pin saves over time

**Trend indicators**:

- ✅ High save rates
- ✅ Multiple distinct pin styles on same topic
- ✅ Appears in "Trending" section
- ✅ Related searches expanding
- ✅ Commercial pins from brands appearing

---

## E-Commerce Platforms

### Amazon

**Best Sellers & Movers and Shakers**
**URL**: amazon.com/gp/bestsellers

**What it provides**:

- Best Sellers (current top-selling items)
- Movers & Shakers (biggest gainers in sales rank, last 24 hours)
- Hot New Releases
- Category rankings

**Best for**:

- Commercial validation (people actually buying)
- Discovering new products gaining traction
- Price point analysis
- Category trends

**How to use**:

- Check "Movers & Shakers" daily for trending products
- Browse category-specific best sellers
- Note products with low review counts but high rank (new and trending)
- Read reviews for customer insights and pain points
- Track BSR (Best Sellers Rank) over time

**Trend indicators**:

- ✅ Product climbing in Movers & Shakers
- ✅ Multiple similar products in same category
- ✅ New brands entering established categories
- ✅ High rating + growing review count
- ✅ Frequent "out of stock" status

---

### Etsy Trending

**What it provides**:

- Handmade and custom product trends
- Niche and artisan movements
- Gift and occasion trends

**Best for**:

- Early craft/DIY trends
- Personalization trends
- Niche aesthetic movements
- Gift trends

**How to use**:

- Browse trending searches
- Check categories for volume growth
- Monitor "Bestseller" and "Popular now" badges
- Read shop announcements (sellers share trends)
- Track favorites and reviews

---

### Shopify Exchange/Flippa

**Best for**:

- Seeing what types of stores are being built/sold
- Revenue data for trend validation
- Niche saturation indicators

---

## Content Platforms

### Medium

**Best for**:

- Written content trends
- Thought leadership topics
- Deep-dive interest areas

**What to monitor**:

- Top stories in categories
- Tag following counts
- Clap counts and read ratios
- Publication topic focus

---

### Substack

**Best for**:

- Newsletter topic trends
- Subscription business ideas
- Niche community interests

**What to monitor**:

- Top publications
- Growing publications
- Topic categories
- Subscriber counts (when public)

---

## News & Media

### Google News

**Best for**:

- Mainstream trend validation
- Understanding media narratives
- B2B trends

**How to use**:

- Search for keywords, filter by date
- Set up Google Alerts for trend tracking
- Monitor "Top Stories" for trends hitting mainstream

---

### Industry Publications

**Examples**:

- Tech: TechCrunch, The Verge, Hacker News
- Fashion: Vogue, WWD
- Food: Eater, Food & Wine
- Wellness: Well+Good, Healthline

**Best for**:

- Industry-specific trends
- Expert perspectives
- Deeper context

---

## Communities & Forums

### Discord Servers

**Best for**:

- Real-time community conversations
- Gaming, crypto, creator trends
- Early adopter communities

---

### Facebook Groups

**Best for**:

- Older demographics (30+)
- Parent communities
- Local community trends
- Buy/sell/trade activity

---

### Quora

**Best for**:

- Questions people are asking
- Content gaps
- Educational interests

---

## Specialized Tools

### Google Keyword Planner

**What it provides**:

- Monthly search volume estimates
- Keyword competition data
- Related keywords

**Best for**:

- SEO planning
- Content topic validation
- Search volume quantification

**Limitations**:

- Requires Google Ads account
- Estimates, not exact numbers
- Primarily for paid search

---

### Answer The Public

**What it provides**:

- Question-based search queries
- Preposition-based queries
- Comparison queries

**Best for**:

- Content ideation
- Understanding search intent
- Finding question-based opportunities

---

### Exploding Topics

**What it provides**:

- Curated list of growing trends
- Search growth percentages
- Trend discovery without manual research

**Best for**:

- Quick trend scanning
- Inspiration for deeper research
- Validating your own findings

**Limitations**:

- Paid tool
- Less granular than doing your own research
- May include trends others already know

---

## Data Collection Best Practices

### Multi-Source Validation

Always cross-reference at least 3 independent sources:

- Search (Google Trends)
- Social (TikTok OR Instagram OR Reddit)
- Commerce (Amazon OR reviews OR sales data)

### Temporal Validation

Don't rely on single-day snapshots:

- Track trends over at least 4-8 weeks
- Note weekly/monthly patterns
- Compare year-over-year when possible

### Geographic Considerations

Trends often start regionally:

- Check US, UK, Australia separately
- Note urban vs. rural patterns
- Consider cultural context

### Demographic Awareness

Different platforms represent different demographics:

- TikTok: Gen Z, younger millennials
- Instagram: Millennials, Gen Z
- Facebook: Older millennials, Gen X, Boomers
- Reddit: Male-skewing, tech-oriented
- Pinterest: Female-skewing, planning mindset

### Document Everything

Keep a trend tracking spreadsheet:

- Trend name
- First observed date
- Data sources
- Key metrics
- Notes and observations
- Follow-up dates

## Source Credibility Assessment

**High Credibility** 🟢:

- Multiple independent sources
- Commercial activity (products being sold)
- Sustained interest over time
- Cross-demographic adoption

**Medium Credibility** 🟡:

- 1-2 sources
- Some commercial activity
- Recent emergence (2-4 months)
- Single-demographic focused

**Low Credibility** 🔴:

- Single source
- No commercial validation
- Spike without sustained interest
- Potentially manipulated metrics

## Conclusion

Effective trend discovery requires:

1. **Breadth**: Monitor multiple source types
2. **Depth**: Go deep on promising signals
3. **Consistency**: Check sources regularly
4. **Skepticism**: Validate before believing
5. **Documentation**: Track what you find

No single source tells the complete story. The magic happens when signals align across multiple independent sources - that's when you've found a real trend worth pursuing.

Happy trend hunting! 🔍