631 lines
13 KiB
Markdown
631 lines
13 KiB
Markdown
# Trend Data Sources
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## Overview
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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.
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## Search Engines
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### Google Trends
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**URL**: https://trends.google.com
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**What it provides**:
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- Search volume over time (relative, not absolute)
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- Geographic distribution of interest
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- Related queries (rising and top)
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- Related topics
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- Comparison of multiple trends
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- Breakout trends (>5000% growth)
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**Best for**:
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- Validating sustained interest over time
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- Identifying seasonal patterns
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- Geographic trend analysis
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- Discovering related searches
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- Comparing multiple trends head-to-head
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**How to use**:
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- Search for specific keywords or topics
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- Set time range (past hour, day, month, year, 5 years, custom)
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- Filter by geography, category, search type
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- Look for "Rising" queries (most important for trend discovery)
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- Check "Interest over time" for trajectory
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- Export data for further analysis
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**Limitations**:
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- Relative data, not absolute search numbers
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- Requires sufficient search volume
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- Can't distinguish between positive/negative interest
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- US-focused by default (adjust geography)
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**Pro tips**:
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- Use "Compare" feature to validate one trend vs. another
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- Check both broad and specific keywords
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- Look at related queries for niche opportunities
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- Use category filters to reduce noise
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- Check "Breakout" designation for emerging trends
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---
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### Google Autocomplete & Related Searches
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**What it provides**:
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- Real-time query suggestions
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- "People also ask" questions
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- Related searches at bottom of results page
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**Best for**:
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- Discovering what questions people are asking
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- Finding related topics and niches
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- Understanding search intent
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- Content gap identification
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**How to use**:
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- Start typing a query, observe autocomplete suggestions
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- Search and scroll to "People also ask"
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- Scroll to bottom for "Related searches"
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- Try different seed keywords
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- Use incognito mode for unbiased results
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**Pro tips**:
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- Autocomplete reveals actual queries people type
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- Questions indicate information gaps
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- Related searches show semantic relationships
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- Compare autocomplete across different seed keywords
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---
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## Social Media Platforms
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### TikTok
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**Best for**:
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- Early signal detection (often trends here first)
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- Understanding how trends spread visually
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- Demographic insights (skews younger)
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- Content format ideas
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**What to monitor**:
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- Hashtag view counts (#trend → 100M views)
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- Sound/audio usage (songs, audio memes)
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- Creator adoption rate (how many making content)
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- Comment themes (what people are saying)
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- Engagement rates relative to followers
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**How to use**:
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- Search hashtags and track view counts over time
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- Browse "For You" page for emerging content types
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- Check trending sounds in video creation
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- Analyze comments for audience sentiment
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- Look for creator challenges and duets
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**Trend indicators**:
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- ✅ Hashtag views growing rapidly
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- ✅ Multiple creators adopting independently
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- ✅ Crossing to different creator niches
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- ✅ Comments asking "where to buy" or "how to do"
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- ✅ Mainstream brands starting to participate
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### Instagram
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**Best for**:
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- Visual trends (fashion, beauty, lifestyle, food)
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- Influencer adoption tracking
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- Aesthetic movements
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- Product discovery
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**What to monitor**:
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- Hashtag post counts
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- Trending audio in Reels
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- Save ratios (high saves = high interest)
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- Stories poll results and question responses
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- Collaborative posts and tags
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**How to use**:
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- Search hashtags, note post counts and recency
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- Check "Top" vs "Recent" to see what's gaining traction
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- Monitor influencer content in relevant niches
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- Track brands entering the trend space
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- Observe aesthetic patterns and style shifts
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**Trend indicators**:
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- ✅ Hashtag growing in post count
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- ✅ Influencers organically posting (not sponsored)
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- ✅ High engagement relative to follower count
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- ✅ Cross-posting from TikTok (trend maturing)
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- ✅ Multiple brands adopting
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### Reddit
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**Best for**:
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- Deep community insights
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- Product recommendations and reviews
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- Niche trend discovery
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- Authentic conversations
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**What to monitor**:
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- Subreddit subscriber growth
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- Post upvotes and comment counts
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- Recurring themes in top posts
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- Questions being asked repeatedly
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- Community wiki and FAQs (what's established)
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**Key subreddits for trend discovery**:
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- r/InternetIsBeautiful (new tools/sites)
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- r/shutupandtakemymoney (products people want)
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- r/BuyItForLife (quality/durability trends)
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- r/DidntKnowIWantedThat (discovery)
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- Category-specific subreddits (r/fitness, r/skincareaddiction, etc.)
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**How to use**:
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- Sort by "Top" → "This Month" to find rising topics
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- Search keywords, sort by recent and engagement
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- Read comments for nuanced opinions
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- Check multiple related subreddits
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- Monitor crossposting between communities
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**Trend indicators**:
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- ✅ Topic appearing in multiple subreddits
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- ✅ High engagement relative to subreddit size
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- ✅ New subreddits forming around topic
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- ✅ Repeated questions about where to find/buy
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- ✅ Community creating resources (wikis, guides)
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### Twitter/X
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**Best for**:
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- Real-time trend detection
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- News-driven trends
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- Thought leader opinions
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- B2B and tech trends
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**What to monitor**:
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- Trending hashtags and topics
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- Tweet volume around keywords
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- Influencer/expert discussions
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- Quote tweet ratios (indicates strong opinions)
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- Bookmark counts (indicates utility)
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**How to use**:
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- Check "Trending" section daily
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- Use Advanced Search for keyword monitoring
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- Follow industry thought leaders
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- Monitor branded hashtags
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- Track lists of relevant accounts
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**Trend indicators**:
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- ✅ Organic trending (not sponsored)
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- ✅ Sustained conversation over days
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- ✅ Multiple industries discussing
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- ✅ Media outlets covering
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- ✅ Brands responding
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### YouTube
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**Best for**:
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- Tutorial content demand
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- Long-form content trends
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- Educational interest
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- Product reviews and unboxings
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**What to monitor**:
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- Video view counts relative to channel size
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- Upload frequency on topic
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- Comment sentiment and questions
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- Views-per-day rate (velocity)
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- Thumbnail/title patterns
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**How to use**:
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- Search topic, filter by upload date
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- Sort by view count or relevance
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- Check "Related videos" sidebar
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- Read top comments for questions/sentiment
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- Monitor specific channels in your niche
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**Trend indicators**:
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- ✅ New channels forming around topic
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- ✅ Established creators adopting topic
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- ✅ High views relative to channel subscribers
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- ✅ Comments indicating intent to try/buy
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- ✅ Multiple video formats (tutorials, reviews, vlogs)
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### Pinterest
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**Best for**:
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- Visual search trends
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- Planning-phase interests (weddings, home, recipes)
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- Craft and DIY trends
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- Seasonal trend forecasting
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**What to monitor**:
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- "Popular" and "Trending" sections
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- Save counts on pins
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- Board creation around topics
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- Search volume indicators
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- Emerging categories
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**How to use**:
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- Check Pinterest Trends tool (if available)
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- Search keywords, note results count
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- Look at "Related searches"
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- Monitor boards being created
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- Track pin saves over time
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**Trend indicators**:
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- ✅ High save rates
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- ✅ Multiple distinct pin styles on same topic
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- ✅ Appears in "Trending" section
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- ✅ Related searches expanding
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- ✅ Commercial pins from brands appearing
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## E-Commerce Platforms
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### Amazon
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**Best Sellers & Movers and Shakers**
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**URL**: amazon.com/gp/bestsellers
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**What it provides**:
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- Best Sellers (current top-selling items)
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- Movers & Shakers (biggest gainers in sales rank, last 24 hours)
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- Hot New Releases
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- Category rankings
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**Best for**:
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- Commercial validation (people actually buying)
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- Discovering new products gaining traction
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- Price point analysis
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- Category trends
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**How to use**:
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- Check "Movers & Shakers" daily for trending products
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- Browse category-specific best sellers
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- Note products with low review counts but high rank (new and trending)
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- Read reviews for customer insights and pain points
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- Track BSR (Best Sellers Rank) over time
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**Trend indicators**:
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- ✅ Product climbing in Movers & Shakers
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- ✅ Multiple similar products in same category
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- ✅ New brands entering established categories
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- ✅ High rating + growing review count
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- ✅ Frequent "out of stock" status
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### Etsy Trending
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**What it provides**:
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- Handmade and custom product trends
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- Niche and artisan movements
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- Gift and occasion trends
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**Best for**:
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- Early craft/DIY trends
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- Personalization trends
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- Niche aesthetic movements
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- Gift trends
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**How to use**:
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- Browse trending searches
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- Check categories for volume growth
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- Monitor "Bestseller" and "Popular now" badges
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- Read shop announcements (sellers share trends)
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- Track favorites and reviews
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### Shopify Exchange/Flippa
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**Best for**:
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- Seeing what types of stores are being built/sold
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- Revenue data for trend validation
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- Niche saturation indicators
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## Content Platforms
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### Medium
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**Best for**:
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- Written content trends
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- Thought leadership topics
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- Deep-dive interest areas
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**What to monitor**:
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- Top stories in categories
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- Tag following counts
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- Clap counts and read ratios
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- Publication topic focus
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### Substack
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**Best for**:
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- Newsletter topic trends
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- Subscription business ideas
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- Niche community interests
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**What to monitor**:
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- Top publications
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- Growing publications
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- Topic categories
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- Subscriber counts (when public)
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## News & Media
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### Google News
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**Best for**:
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- Mainstream trend validation
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- Understanding media narratives
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- B2B trends
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**How to use**:
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- Search for keywords, filter by date
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- Set up Google Alerts for trend tracking
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- Monitor "Top Stories" for trends hitting mainstream
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### Industry Publications
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**Examples**:
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- Tech: TechCrunch, The Verge, Hacker News
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- Fashion: Vogue, WWD
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- Food: Eater, Food & Wine
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- Wellness: Well+Good, Healthline
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**Best for**:
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- Industry-specific trends
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- Expert perspectives
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- Deeper context
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## Communities & Forums
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### Discord Servers
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**Best for**:
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- Real-time community conversations
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- Gaming, crypto, creator trends
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- Early adopter communities
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### Facebook Groups
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**Best for**:
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- Older demographics (30+)
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- Parent communities
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- Local community trends
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- Buy/sell/trade activity
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### Quora
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**Best for**:
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- Questions people are asking
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- Content gaps
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- Educational interests
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## Specialized Tools
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### Google Keyword Planner
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**What it provides**:
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- Monthly search volume estimates
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- Keyword competition data
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- Related keywords
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**Best for**:
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- SEO planning
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- Content topic validation
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- Search volume quantification
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**Limitations**:
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- Requires Google Ads account
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- Estimates, not exact numbers
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- Primarily for paid search
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### Answer The Public
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**What it provides**:
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- Question-based search queries
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- Preposition-based queries
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- Comparison queries
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**Best for**:
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- Content ideation
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- Understanding search intent
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- Finding question-based opportunities
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### Exploding Topics
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**What it provides**:
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- Curated list of growing trends
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- Search growth percentages
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- Trend discovery without manual research
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**Best for**:
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- Quick trend scanning
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- Inspiration for deeper research
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- Validating your own findings
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**Limitations**:
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- Paid tool
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- Less granular than doing your own research
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- May include trends others already know
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---
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## Data Collection Best Practices
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### Multi-Source Validation
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Always cross-reference at least 3 independent sources:
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- Search (Google Trends)
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- Social (TikTok OR Instagram OR Reddit)
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- Commerce (Amazon OR reviews OR sales data)
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### Temporal Validation
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Don't rely on single-day snapshots:
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- Track trends over at least 4-8 weeks
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- Note weekly/monthly patterns
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- Compare year-over-year when possible
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### Geographic Considerations
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Trends often start regionally:
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- Check US, UK, Australia separately
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- Note urban vs. rural patterns
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- Consider cultural context
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### Demographic Awareness
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Different platforms represent different demographics:
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- TikTok: Gen Z, younger millennials
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- Instagram: Millennials, Gen Z
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- Facebook: Older millennials, Gen X, Boomers
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- Reddit: Male-skewing, tech-oriented
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- Pinterest: Female-skewing, planning mindset
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### Document Everything
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Keep a trend tracking spreadsheet:
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- Trend name
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- First observed date
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- Data sources
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- Key metrics
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- Notes and observations
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- Follow-up dates
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## Source Credibility Assessment
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**High Credibility** 🟢:
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- Multiple independent sources
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- Commercial activity (products being sold)
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- Sustained interest over time
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- Cross-demographic adoption
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**Medium Credibility** 🟡:
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- 1-2 sources
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- Some commercial activity
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- Recent emergence (2-4 months)
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- Single-demographic focused
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**Low Credibility** 🔴:
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- Single source
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- No commercial validation
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- Spike without sustained interest
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- Potentially manipulated metrics
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## Conclusion
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Effective trend discovery requires:
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1. **Breadth**: Monitor multiple source types
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2. **Depth**: Go deep on promising signals
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3. **Consistency**: Check sources regularly
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4. **Skepticism**: Validate before believing
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5. **Documentation**: Track what you find
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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.
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Happy trend hunting! 🔍
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