Finding the top trending hashtags on social media can be a great way to understand what topics are resonating with your target audience right now. Hashtags allow people to join in conversations about shared interests, so identifying trending hashtags gives insight into what those interests are. This information can then be used to optimize social media content, connect with influencers, and participate in viral discussions. Here’s a step-by-step guide to discovering today’s top trending hashtags.
Check hashtag rankings on specialized sites
There are a number of websites dedicated specifically to tracking trending hashtags across social platforms. These sites compile data to provide up-to-date rankings of which hashtags are being used most widely at any given moment. They monitor hashtags on platforms like Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok to provide a comprehensive overview of what’s trending. Some options to find hashtag rankings include:
- RiteTag’s Trending Hashtag Search – RiteTag’s tool lets you search recent trending hashtags by popularity. You can filter by social platform and location.
- Keyhole’s Hashtag Tracker – Keyhole tracks real-time and historical hashtag data. You can compare performance across hashtags and see related trends.
- Trendsmap – Trendsmap visually plots trending hashtags on a map so you can see geographic trends.
- Hashtags.org – Hashtags.org displays trending hashtags from Twitter and Instagram side-by-side for easy comparison.
Checking in on sites like these is a quick way to get a pulse on current trending hashtags. Focus on hashtags relevant to your brand or industry for the most useful insights.
Use social media platform tools
Most social media platforms have their own built-in tools to view trending hashtags. Take advantage of these to easily see what’s popular right now on each site:
- Twitter – Twitter’s Trending section shows currently trending hashtags on Twitter. You can filter by location and category.
- Instagram – Use Instagram’s Search page and select Tags to browse trending hashtags and see tag usage stats.
- TikTok – The Discover page shows trending hashtags on TikTok. Tap into hashtag pages to see associated videos.
- Facebook – Facebook Trends offers insights into trending topics. Look for related hashtags in the text descriptions.
Monitor these sections routinely to be among the first to capitalize on newly trending hashtags in your niche.
Use social media management tools
Robust social media management tools like Hootsuite, Sprout Social, and Buffer offer options for hashtag tracking. Features can include:
- Real-time feeds of recent hashtag usage
- Historical performance data around top hashtags
- Comparison between competitors’ hashtag strategies
- Tracking brand name hashtag mentions
The analytics available from these platforms allow for deep analysis into not just what’s trending, but also how those trends shift over time. This can really aid in planning timed content and harnessing shifting hashtag momentum.
Search by hashtag on social platforms
A simple way to gauge the popularity of a particular hashtag is by directly searching for it on each platform. This can give you a raw count of recent posts using the hashtag, which indicates how widely it’s being used. Conduct searches on sites like:
- TikTok
- YouTube
Compare hashtag usage among both industry-related terms and more general trends. Hashtags with higher usage signal greater traction.
Follow influencers and thought leaders
Often a hashtag starts trending when it’s adopted by an influencer or thought leader with a large following. Their followers quickly amplify the hashtag, sparking a trend. You can stay on top of nascent trends by following relevant influencers in your niche and monitoring the hashtags they use. Identify key influencers by:
- Looking for authors of viral posts in your niche
- Seeing who is tagged frequently in industry discussions
- Checking who has high follower counts and engagement
Follow their posts closely and be ready to jump on board with hashtags they initiate.
Leverage trend forecasting tools
Rather than just look at what’s trending right now, some tools aim to predict what will be trending soon. Sites like Trend Hunter, Trend Watching, and Next Big Thing compile data and analysis on budding trends to forecast what could gain traction next. Subscribe to their trend reports to get ahead of hashtag trends before they hit it big.
Analyze competitor hashtag use
Research how competitors use hashtags to complement their content strategies. Look for:
- Their own branded hashtags
- Niche industry hashtags
- Trending hashtags they adopt
This competitive analysis lets you model their successes and learn from their hashtag campaigns. You may also spot opportunities to start your own branded hashtags they haven’t capitalized on yet.
Use hashtag suggestion tools
Specialized AI tools can generate smart hashtag recommendations to extend your reach. Tools like Meta’s Suggested Hashtags, Display Purposes’ Hashtag Finder, and Hashtagify analyze factors like your post content, audience, and trending topics to suggest optimal hashtags. Their algorithms pinpoint hashtags your audience is using to refine your hashtag strategy.
Track campaign-specific hashtags
For specific campaigns, product launches, or events, create your own dedicated hashtag and track its usage. Encourage audience members and brand ambassadors to adopt your campaign hashtag when sharing related content. Monitoring the volume of content tagged with your campaign hashtag shows you how well it’s spreading.
Conclusion
Keeping up with the latest trending hashtags takes an ongoing effort using a mix of tools and strategies. But the payoff of increased visibility, engagement, and viral content makes it worth the effort. Stay nimble in your ability to respond to hashtag trends by checking in routinely with both your audience and the data. With practice, you can learn to ride the wave of each trending hashtag as it arises.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the most popular platforms for trending hashtags?
The platforms most known for launching trending hashtag are Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook. Each has unique algorithmic feeds causing different trends to emerge and gain traction.
How quickly do trending hashtags change?
The lifespan of a trending hashtag can range from a few hours to a few weeks. Some rare few, like #ThrowbackThursday, persist for years. But most trending topic hashtags experience a quick spike in popularity before fading. Agility in jumping onto current trends is key.
What causes a hashtag to start trending?
Viral events, memes, controversies, holidays, and pop culture moments can all catalyze hashtags to trend. Influencers and celebrities endorsing a hashtag leads to mass adoption. Trending hashtags spread quickly thanks to social sharing and algorithms favoring popular topics.
What are some examples of popular trending hashtags?
Some examples of past trending hashtags include:
- #IceBucketChallenge – This charity challenge went viral as users filmed ice bucket videos.
- #BlackLivesMatter – This hashtag rallied activism around racial justice.
- #MeToo – #MeToo connected women sharing stories of harassment.
- #ThrowbackThursday – #TBT is used for nostalgic throwback photos.
How do trending hashtags differ across social platforms?
While some hashtags trend across multiple sites, each platform also favors certain trending content:
- Twitter – News, politics, pop culture
- Instagram – Visuals, memes, influencers
- TikTok – Viral video challenges, music, creators
- Facebook – Broad topics, articles, groups
Should I use banned hashtags?
No, never intentionally use hashtags that you know are banned or prohibited on a platform. Usage of banned tags could lead to penalties, post deletion, or account suspension.
| Platform | Top 3 Trending Hashtags | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| #Trending | #Follow | #NowPlaying | |
| #PhotoOfTheDay | #InstaGood | #Follow | |
| TikTok | #FYP | #TikTok | #Viral |
| #ThrowbackThursday | #Follow | #Contest |
How can I measure the success of a trending hashtag campaign?
Metrics to track for hashtag campaign success include:
- Volume of content using the hashtag
- Social reach of hashtag
- Engagement rate on hashtag content
- Website clicks from hashtag
- New followers from hashtag exposure
Benchmarking against goals for each metric helps assess campaign impact.
Summary
Trending hashtags open up opportunities for brands to tap into viral conversations and increase visibility. Monitor trending topics across social platforms using a mix of tools like analytics sites, platform searches, influencer tracking, and campaign hashtags. Analyze performance on key metrics to refine your use of hashtags. Staying on the pulse of the latest trends lets you strategically leverage hashtag momentum.